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Alasdair McDonnell likely to face leadership challenge | Alasdair McDonnell likely to face leadership challenge |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Social Democratic and Labour Party's Alasdair McDonnell looks likely to face a challenge to his leadership. | The Social Democratic and Labour Party's Alasdair McDonnell looks likely to face a challenge to his leadership. |
The BBC understands at least five branches of the party have nominated Colum Eastwood to stand against him at the party conference in November. | |
Sources said Mr Eastwood, 32, will spend the weekend deciding what to do but supporters expect him to run for the leadership. | Sources said Mr Eastwood, 32, will spend the weekend deciding what to do but supporters expect him to run for the leadership. |
Mr Eastwood is the SDLP's youngest MLA and a former Mayor of Derry. | Mr Eastwood is the SDLP's youngest MLA and a former Mayor of Derry. |
In 2012, the Foyle MLA faced controversy after carrying the coffin of a friend who was a former member of the Official IRA and the INLA. | |
Dr McDonnell, 65, was elected SDLP leader in November 2011. | Dr McDonnell, 65, was elected SDLP leader in November 2011. |
On Thursday, Mr McDonnell accused the Democratic Unionist Party of not wanting to work with Catholics and said Sinn Féin "can't tell the truth" about the IRA. | On Thursday, Mr McDonnell accused the Democratic Unionist Party of not wanting to work with Catholics and said Sinn Féin "can't tell the truth" about the IRA. |
He defended his comments in an interview with the BBC on Friday. | He defended his comments in an interview with the BBC on Friday. |
He also said he did not expect to be challenged. | He also said he did not expect to be challenged. |
"I don't expect to face a challenge, but if there's a challenge, I'll face it," he said. | "I don't expect to face a challenge, but if there's a challenge, I'll face it," he said. |
"I have a very robust programme flowing at the moment, of renewal in the party and it's working and people are up for it and we're bringing in a lot of new members and a lot of new people. | "I have a very robust programme flowing at the moment, of renewal in the party and it's working and people are up for it and we're bringing in a lot of new members and a lot of new people. |
"We've a whole spate of new people proposing to go forward for the assembly. We brought in a fantastic spate of people for the council elections last year so I will stand on my record and it's democracy if somebody wants to come forward. | "We've a whole spate of new people proposing to go forward for the assembly. We brought in a fantastic spate of people for the council elections last year so I will stand on my record and it's democracy if somebody wants to come forward. |
"I will win, yes. I will stand on my record. I have a job to complete and I will complete it." | "I will win, yes. I will stand on my record. I have a job to complete and I will complete it." |
Mr McDonnell has been the South Belfast MP since May 2005 and an MLA since 1998. | Mr McDonnell has been the South Belfast MP since May 2005 and an MLA since 1998. |