The Lagan Valley MP was speaking ahead of her Westminster Hall debate, taking place on Tuesday (13 Jan), when she will call on the government to get serious when it comes to Stormont reform.

Ms Eastwood has said: "With a new year underway and the Budget deadline fast approaching, we can no longer delay reform of Northern Ireland’s institutions. I’m using my platform to once again bring this issue to the heart of government, making the case for concrete change that gives the people of Northern Ireland a political system they deserve.

"We are stuck in a cycle of collapse and stagnation. Our current system bakes division and dysfunction into politics, making another collapse all but inevitable. It wouldn't be tolerated in any other part of the UK and Ireland.

"We all deserve a system of government we can rely on, one that’s stable, trustworthy, and whose continued existence is not dependent on the whim of any one party. Whether you’re nationalist, unionist, or unaligned, the overwhelming majority of people across Northern Ireland are demanding change.

"The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. People just want functioning government and public services that deliver. We cannot achieve it alone within a system that entrenches chaos and dysfunction. The UK and Irish Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, must step up to help deliver the reform we all need.

"The Alliance Party has campaigned on this for over 20 years, and our commitment has never wavered. This is no longer a niche talking point – it’s a mainstream discussion happening in every community across Northern Ireland. It belongs to the people of Northern Ireland, and it is their future at stake. Let 2026 be the year we finally see meaningful commitment to reform."

ENDS//