SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has called on other political parties to support an emergency motion of no confidence in First Minister Arlene Foster over her handling of the RHI scandal.
The Foyle MLA is to table the motion in order to exclude the DUP leader as First Minister as she continues to face critical questions about her involvement in the biggest public finance scandal in the history of devolution.
Mr Eastwood says that Mrs Foster has lost the confidence of the public and of the Assembly, and should stand aside, or face exclusion from office while she faces questions about her conduct in the much criticised initiative.
The Stormont Renewable Heat Initiative, now stopped, is to pay up to an estimated £400 million to hundreds of claimants throughout the north over the next 20 years, due to the renewable heating energy payment tariffs being set at an inflated rate than the UK initiative.
Mrs Foster has faced intense public scrutiny over her role in the RHI when she was economy minister.
So far she has rebutted all suggestions that she should resign.
However, Mr Eastwood will need the support of at least 30 other MLAs to pass the motion and has called on Sinn Féin members to sign the motion and to stand with the public who are demanding accountability.
"In light of the First Minister’s continued failure to answer the most serious questions about the biggest public finance scandal in the history of devolution, it’s clear that the matter has to be forced," said Mr Eastwood.
"The SDLP will table a motion of no confidence to exclude Arlene Foster as First Minister while she continues to face these critical questions and until she has accounted for her conduct in relation to the Renewable Heat Incentive fiasco."
“Ms Foster should follow the precedent set by her predecessor and resign to restore confidence in the office of First Minister while these questions hang over her. She has lost all credibility and anything less will further erode faith in our institutions. If the First Minister will not stand aside, then the Assembly must act to remove her from office and fully scrutinise this scandal.
Challenging Sinn Féin to support his party's stance, he added: "They have a choice. They can stand with the us and with the public who are demanding the highest standard of accountability or they can continue to stand in the shadow of the DUP, propping up a First Minister who treats accountability with disdain.”
