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Former leading SDLP figure Brid Rodgers has called for her party to go into formal opposition at Stormont.
Ms Rodgers last night said the SDLP should leave the Executive because it is not doing enough to bring people together.
The former Agriculture Minister said though it was contrary to party policy, she was calling on her party's sole minister Alex Attwood to abandon the Stormont Executive to become part of the opposition.
"I think we would be better to be in real opposition. I know it wouldn't be an official opposition, but it would be an opposition which would give us the freedom to become, in a sense, a real opposition."
The comments by Ms Rodgers come as the debate about establishing an official opposition at Stormont has recently attracted attention.
Moves towards an opposition were championed by the Westminster-based Northern Ireland Affairs committee when they visited Stormont this week.
It is understood a Private Members Bill seeking the creation of an opposition at Stormont will be presented to MLAs shortly.
