What's the point of the SDLP? It's seven years since Column Eastwood took over his leader,

and while his performance as an MP might be described as solid, the same can't be said for the

fortunes of the party he leads. So as we face into another period of political hiatus with local

government elections due next May and talk of assembly and general elections in the air,

we're devoting this week's red lines to an old-fashioned rummage under the SDLP's bonnet.

Enda, would it pass the MOT the way things are?

Well, not right now, Mark, when you consider what happened in the last Assembly election,

the party now down to eight seats when you consider this was a party,

once the largest vote getter in Northern Ireland, now been reduced to just eight seats when you consider this was a party. Once the largest vote getter in Northern Ireland,

now being reduced to just eight seats in the Assembly and being forced into opposition

so you can see the massive challenge ahead for Colomiswina. I think his problem is that so much of

his party's fate is out of his hands. Fidel, how perilous a position is the party in at the moment, do you think?

Well, to that previous question, I thought if there was a mechanic, the car knew, and the

mechanic knew them well, I think it probably would pass the MOT.

He'd do something, he almost certainly would do something miraculous.

What state are they in now?

What's the state they've been in for some considerable time?

And it is in their nature to survive

because the base vote they've got will always be their vote.

Brendan, what's your assessment of things as they currently stand?

I think there's no way you could describe it as being a healthy situation for the SDLP.

They got a fill up in 2019 with the Westminster vote to very, very solid results.

...