Northern Ireland

Colum Eastwood calls for GFA review 20 years on

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said a review should reverse flawed changes to the Good Friday Agreement. Picture by David Young/PA Wire
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said a review should reverse flawed changes to the Good Friday Agreement. Picture by David Young/PA Wire SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said a review should reverse flawed changes to the Good Friday Agreement. Picture by David Young/PA Wire

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has called for a reversal of "flawed changes" made to the Good Friday Agreement.

Speaking on the 20th anniversary of the accord, the Foyle MLA said it was time to trigger the agreement's in-built review and renewal mechanism.

"It would seek to show that the narrow issues that we now contend with are very minor compared with the broadness of progress and possibility which was mapped out for us in 1998," he said.

"It could provide a roadmap for the restoration of the executive and finally provide the north with a voice and answers to the looming Brexit threat."

Mr Eastwood said the review should "reverse the flawed changes of subsequent agreements, particularly at St Andrews", which he said had polarised politics.

"As guarantors, this process must be led by the Irish and British governments and involve all the parties in Northern Ireland," he said.