Even then, if Labour to be in government, the SDLP would still be considered part of the opposition, right?
That was certainly the case when they were in government from 1997, but something in the back of my head seems to recall they did sit with them on the backbenches whilst doing so (maybe someone can correct me)
For the purposes of calculating the Government's majority, allocating chairmanships of committees, etc. the SDLP would be classed as an opposition party if there were a Labour Government. I understand though (someone correct me if I'm wrong) the SDLP informally, not "officially", take the Labour whip.