Matthew O'Toole

[8] O'Toole was selected as one of two SDLP candidates to contest the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election in Belfast South, alongside running mate Elsie Trainor.[14] O’Toole has also spoken on the financial cost of leaving the European Union on public finances, expressing concern at the “devastating” loss of £100m EU funding for the Department for the Economy.[15] Highlighting the SDLP’s position on the issue, O’Toole spoke at their annual conference in 2023 of the “one viable route back into the EU for the North and it is via a new Ireland”.[20] Speaking during its launch O’Toole was quoted as saying “For the SDLP, building a new Ireland is the greatest opportunity to reconcile our people, maximise opportunity for every community and create something that is truly new, shared and better than what we currently live with.” The SDLP returned with 8 seats in the May 2022 Assembly election, and did not nominate a replacement for Nichola Mallon as interim Minister for Infrastructure, instead choosing to form a "constructive opposition".[23] O'Toole has also used his position to raise concerns regarding the delivery of the UK Government's energy payment, due to help those struggling to pay for utilities during the Winter of 2022.
Matt O'TooleLeader of the Opposition(Northern Ireland)IncumbentNorthern Ireland AssemblyColum EastwoodNichola MallonMember of the Legislative AssemblyBelfast SouthClaire HannaBelfastCounty AntrimSocial Democratic and Labour Partycivil servantleader of the oppositionMember of the Northern Ireland AssemblyDownpatrickUniversity of St AndrewsHM Treasury10 Downing StreetBrexitIrish TimesGuardianFinancial TimesPoliticoNew Statesmanbrain drain2022 Northern Ireland Assembly electionBritish GovernmentCOVID-19 pandemicEuropean UnionMinister for InfrastructurePatsy McGloneSpeakerSecretary of StateNI ExecutiveWho's WhoThe Irish NewsEddie McAteerHouse of CommonsGerry FittJohn HumeMark DurkanMargaret RitchieAlasdair McDonnellSeamus MallonBríd RodgersDolores KellyFearghal McKinneyEddie McGradyDenis HaugheySean FarrenAlban MaginnessJonathan StephensonAlex AttwoodPatricia LewsleyJoe ByrneJohn DallatColin McGrathDaniel McCrossanPaddy WilsonMembers of the Northern Ireland AssemblyMark H. DurkanCara HunterSinéad McLaughlinJustin McNultyMembers of ParliamentHistorical listNational Democratic PartySDLP YouthElection results