THE secretary of state has given the SDLP assurances that she will speak "in a personal capacity only" during forthcoming campaigning on Britain's membership of the European Union.
Party leader Colum Eastwood said that when he met the Eurosceptic Theresa Villiers earlier this week he emphasised that she could not speak for the people of Northern Ireland when it came to the EU referendum.
There is an increased expectation that the Tory secretary of state will argue for Britain's exit from the EU – also known as 'Brexit' – after David Cameron confirmed that he will allow cabinet ministers to campaign for both 'in' and 'out' sides. However, the prime minister will only permit campaigning after a renegotiation deal has been done.
Although Mrs Villiers was previously an MEP – representing London for six years between 1999-2005 – she is an avowed Eurosceptic.
The majority of Stormont's parties are opposed to withdrawal from the EU, with only the DUP and fringe unionists supporting a break from Europe.
The Republic's government is also a strong advocate of Britain's continued EU membership, with senior politicians in the south warning of catastrophe should Brexit become a reality.
Speaking after his meeting with Ms Villiers on Thursday, Mr Eastwood said that the secretary of state had agreed that when she speaks about the EU referendum it will be in a personal capacity only.
"In her role as secretary of state, Ms Villiers must park her personal ideology and act in the best interest of the people of Northern Ireland – our best interests are served by remaining firmly within the EU," he said.
"The SDLP have argued that the mere prospect of a referendum is bad for our economy. It has already put foreign investors on hold as they wait to see if we lose our place as a gateway to Europe."
Mr Eastwood warned that the consequences of Britain leaving the EU would be "severe" for the north.
"It threatens to make competitors of our biggest trade partners in the rest of Ireland and will limit our access to energy supplies," he said.
"We know how unwilling Mr [George] Osborne is to spend money here; we cannot expect him to replace farm payments and peace funds that would be lost."
The SDLP leader said Brexit would herald "increased complications during travel" with customs agents on the border a strong possibility.
"The SDLP will resist any attempt to drag Northern Ireland out of the EU without the consent of people here," he said.
"The British government must recognise the strong opposition to this referendum in the devolved institutions of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and act for the benefit of everyone, not only to satisfy the demands of a Tory sect."
A spokesman for the secretary of state said: "The [British] government's position on the EU was set out clearly in the manifesto on which it was elected in May, that is renegotiation of our terms of membership with the outcome put to the people of the United Kingdom in an in/out referendum.
"It will be for the people of the UK to decide."
