This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8266176.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Battle for SDLP leadership begins | Battle for SDLP leadership begins |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The battle over who will be the leader of the SDLP following Mark Durkan's resignation, has begun. | |
Mr Durkan intends to stand down after the next Westminster election. He plans to defend his Foyle seat but give up his place at Stormont. | Mr Durkan intends to stand down after the next Westminster election. He plans to defend his Foyle seat but give up his place at Stormont. |
BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell may go for the position. | |
But he would face the dilemma of a dual mandate. Margaret Ritchie and Alban Maginness could also go for the role. | |
Mr Durkan told BBC Radio Foyle on Monday that he would be handing over the leadership role firmly. | |
"I won't be hanging over anybody else's shoulder. | |
"I will be standing firmly behind all of my party colleagues in the future. I will have a hugely important role to play in Westminster both for this constituency and for wider interests and issues. I will be doing that and doing it very proudly if I am elected by the people in Foyle. | |
The SDLP leader broke the news of his resignation on the BBC's Inside Politics programme on Sunday. | |
He said he had already indicated he'd give up the post at the age of 50. The 49-year-old replaced John Hume as leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party in 2001. | |
He is still the youngest of Northern Ireland's main party leaders by nine years. | He is still the youngest of Northern Ireland's main party leaders by nine years. |
'Double jobbing' | 'Double jobbing' |
Mark Devenport said Mr Durkan's intentions were known within SDLP circles over the last fortnight. | Mark Devenport said Mr Durkan's intentions were known within SDLP circles over the last fortnight. |
He said Mr Durkan had made it clear to colleagues privately that he did not want to carry on. This was partly to do with his views on double jobbing and also his 50th birthday which falls in June next year. | He said Mr Durkan had made it clear to colleagues privately that he did not want to carry on. This was partly to do with his views on double jobbing and also his 50th birthday which falls in June next year. |
"He wants to defend his Foyle seat and carry on in Westminster. He thinks there is a job of work to be done there, particularly because the next government will be instituting cuts and he wants to keep an eye on that. He does not think the SDLP can be led from Westminster," he said. | "He wants to defend his Foyle seat and carry on in Westminster. He thinks there is a job of work to be done there, particularly because the next government will be instituting cuts and he wants to keep an eye on that. He does not think the SDLP can be led from Westminster," he said. |
"There is speculation that we could see the party's deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell putting his hat in for the job but he, too, would face the dilemma of what you do about the dual mandate. | |
"There is speculation that the party's only minister Margaret Ritchie could be the new leader as there seems to be an increasing view Eddie McGrady might stand again for Westminster." | "There is speculation that the party's only minister Margaret Ritchie could be the new leader as there seems to be an increasing view Eddie McGrady might stand again for Westminster." |
Former SDLP director of communications and current managing director of Weber Shandwick public relations Conall McDevitt said the party should now consider its direction. | |
"The real issue is whether the SDLP chooses to make that a conversation about its renewal and about bringing forward a new generation, which are undoubtedly missing, or whether it reduces to just a personality contest," he said. | |
Previous version
1
Next version