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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 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. | 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. | 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, Dr 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. | |
| Analysis Gareth Gordon BBC NI political correspondent | |
| The deadline for a potential challenge expired at 17:00 BST on Friday. | |
| Normally the party leader is returned unopposed at each party conference. But not this year. | |
| At least five branches of the SDLP have nominated Foyle MLA Colum Eastwood. | |
| Dr McDonnell has faced calls to step down before, notably from the man who held the post before him, Mark Durkan. | |
| Now it looks like all of Dr McDonnell's famous fighting qualities are to be tested like never before. | |
| 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." |
| Dr McDonnell has been the South Belfast MP since May 2005 and an MLA since 1998. | |
| Meanwhile, the South Belfast MLA Fearghal McKinney is expected to make a bid for the deputy leader's post. It is currently held by Dolores Kelly. | |
| The former reporter replaced Connall McDevitt who stood down in 2013 and sits on a number of Stormont scrutiny committees, including health and justice. | |
| Mr McKinney is a close ally of Dr McDonnell. | |
| Like the leadership contender, he has to secure nominations from at least five local branches. |