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SDLP leader Durkan 'to step down' | SDLP leader Durkan 'to step down' |
(10 minutes later) | |
SDLP leader Mark Durkan has said he intends to stand aside as party leader after the next Westminster election, which is expected around May next year. | SDLP leader Mark Durkan has said he intends to stand aside as party leader after the next Westminster election, which is expected around May next year. |
Mr Durkan said he will defend his Foyle seat but does not believe he should continue to hold a dual mandate at the Stormont Assembly. | Mr Durkan said he will defend his Foyle seat but does not believe he should continue to hold a dual mandate at the Stormont Assembly. |
He made the comments on BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politics programme. | He made the comments on BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politics programme. |
Mr Durkan said he already indicated he did not want to continue as SDLP leader after his 50th birthday. | Mr Durkan said he already indicated he did not want to continue as SDLP leader after his 50th birthday. |
The 49-year-old replaced John Hume as leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party in 2001. | The 49-year-old replaced John Hume as leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party in 2001. |
Implications | Implications |
He said: "My position is that if I am elected again to Westminster as MP for Foyle I will be stepping down from the Assembly. | He said: "My position is that if I am elected again to Westminster as MP for Foyle I will be stepping down from the Assembly. |
I need to be a full time MP for Foyle Mark Durkan Profile: Mark Durkan | I need to be a full time MP for Foyle Mark Durkan Profile: Mark Durkan |
"I've said that openly on the record because I don't believe that that you can sustain dual mandates any longer." | "I've said that openly on the record because I don't believe that that you can sustain dual mandates any longer." |
Mr Durkan added that he believed Northern Ireland would be significantly impacted by cuts in public expenditure after the next election, and this had influenced his decision. | Mr Durkan added that he believed Northern Ireland would be significantly impacted by cuts in public expenditure after the next election, and this had influenced his decision. |
"If there is a Tory government elected, the implications in terms of the welfare system and other matters are such that I think there is more work to done at Westminster now. | "If there is a Tory government elected, the implications in terms of the welfare system and other matters are such that I think there is more work to done at Westminster now. |
"I think in that instance I need to be a full time MP for Foyle." | "I think in that instance I need to be a full time MP for Foyle." |
He also said that he did not believe that the SDLP, as a nationalist party, could "long be led from Westminster" but said he would to continue to play a strong leadership role in the party. | He also said that he did not believe that the SDLP, as a nationalist party, could "long be led from Westminster" but said he would to continue to play a strong leadership role in the party. |
Mr Durkan took over from John Hume as SDLP leader in 2001, inheriting a party that was losing its place to Sinn Fein as the largest nationalist party. | Mr Durkan took over from John Hume as SDLP leader in 2001, inheriting a party that was losing its place to Sinn Fein as the largest nationalist party. |
He dropped out of his politics course at Queen's University in 1983 to work for Mr Hume, going on to become a Derry City councillor in 1993. He was SDLP chairman from 1990 to 1995. | He dropped out of his politics course at Queen's University in 1983 to work for Mr Hume, going on to become a Derry City councillor in 1993. He was SDLP chairman from 1990 to 1995. |
After his involvement in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, he was elected to the assembly. | After his involvement in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, he was elected to the assembly. |
He served as finance minister in the new power-sharing executive from 1999 until 2001, when he replaced party colleague Seamus Mallon to serve as deputy first minister until the assembly's suspension the following year. | |
In 2005, he became an MP, retaining Mr Hume's Foyle seat at the general election. | In 2005, he became an MP, retaining Mr Hume's Foyle seat at the general election. |