Margaret Ritchie (politician)
Encyclopedia
Margaret Ritchie is an Irish politician from Northern Ireland
. She was the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party
from 7 February 2010 to 5 November 2011 - being replaced in this role by Alasdair McDonnell
- and served as the Minister for Social Development
from 8 May 2007 until her election to the UK Parliament in May 2010. She was elected Member of Parliament
(MP) for the constituency of South Down
on 6 May 2010. On 24 May, she resigned from the Stormont Executive. She was succeeded as Minister for Social Development by her party colleague, Alex Attwood
.
MP from 1987 to 2003.
in 1985 and was Vice-Chairman (1992–93) and Chairman of the Council (1993–94). She has also served as International Secretary of the SDLP and as an alternate member of the European Committee of the Regions.
She was nominated as the Social Development minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly
by the SDLP which took effect on 8 May 2007. Ritchie served as the sole SDLP minister in the Paisley/Robinson-McGuinness Northern Ireland Executive
. She became the leader of the SDLP succeeding Mark Durkan
on 7 February 2010 and was elected MP
for South Down
on the 6th of May 2010.
Despite the SDLP's opposition to "double-jobbing", Ritchie currently retains her seat in the Assembly as well as her seat in the House of Commons.
On Remembrance Day
2010, Ritchie made history by becoming the first leader of a nationalist party to wear a remembrance poppy
. She wore it at the wreath-laying ceremony at the cenotaph
in Downpatrick
. In Northern Ireland, the wearing of poppies is controversial. It is seen by many as a political symbol representing support for the British Army
. Because of this, it has long been the preserve of the unionist
/loyalist
community. She received praise from several unionist councillors for this.
On December 2010 she launched a verbal attack on Sinn Féin
by urging voters in the Republic of Ireland
not to vote for Sinn Féin in the next Irish General Election describing their politics as 'sectarian' and causing 'division'. A Sinn Féin
spokesperson described the comments as "nonsense" and "an attempt to score cheap points"
In the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2011, the SDLP lost two seats and saw its vote decline by 1%. On the 27th of July 2011 it was reported that she faced a leadership challenge from deputy leader Patsy McGlone
. The Phoenix
reported that only one MLA
Alex Attwood
was prepared to back her and that "she will be humiliated if she puts her leadership to a vote"
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. She was the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
from 7 February 2010 to 5 November 2011 - being replaced in this role by Alasdair McDonnell
Alasdair McDonnell
Dr Alasdair McDonnell is an Irish politician, Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and both a Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and a Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Belfast. On 5 November, 2011, he was elected as the new leader of the SDLP.-Early...
- and served as the Minister for Social Development
Department for Social Development
The Department for Social Development is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister for Social Development.-Aim:...
from 8 May 2007 until her election to the UK Parliament in May 2010. She was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for the constituency of South Down
South Down (UK Parliament constituency)
South Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The county constituency was first created in 1885 from the southern part of Down...
on 6 May 2010. On 24 May, she resigned from the Stormont Executive. She was succeeded as Minister for Social Development by her party colleague, Alex Attwood
Alex Attwood
Alex Attwood, MLA is an Irish politician, currently serving in the Northern Ireland Executive, and is the Social Democratic and Labour Party MLA for Belfast West....
.
Early life
Ritchie is a graduate of Queen's University, Belfast and served as Parliamentary assistant to Eddie McGradyEddie McGrady
Edward Kevin McGrady, known as Eddie McGrady is an Irish nationalist politician and a former member of the British Parliament.One of eleven children, McGrady was educated at St...
MP from 1987 to 2003.
Political career
Ritchie became a councillor on Down District CouncilDown District Council
Down District Council is a Local Council in County Down in Northern Ireland. The Council is headquartered in Downpatrick. Other towns in the Council area are Ardglass, Ballynahinch, Castlewellan, Clough, Crossgar, Dundrum, Killough, Killyleagh, Newcastle, Saintfield, Seaforde and Strangford...
in 1985 and was Vice-Chairman (1992–93) and Chairman of the Council (1993–94). She has also served as International Secretary of the SDLP and as an alternate member of the European Committee of the Regions.
She was nominated as the Social Development minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
by the SDLP which took effect on 8 May 2007. Ritchie served as the sole SDLP minister in the Paisley/Robinson-McGuinness Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Executive
The Northern Ireland Executive is the executive arm of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland. It is answerable to the Assembly and was established according to the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which followed the Good Friday Agreement...
. She became the leader of the SDLP succeeding Mark Durkan
Mark Durkan
Mark Durkan is an Irish nationalist politician in Northern Ireland who was leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party from 2001 to 2010.-Early life:...
on 7 February 2010 and was elected MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for South Down
South Down
South Down can refer to:*The southern part of County Down in Northern Ireland:** electoral constituencies:*** South Down *** South Down *** South Down...
on the 6th of May 2010.
Despite the SDLP's opposition to "double-jobbing", Ritchie currently retains her seat in the Assembly as well as her seat in the House of Commons.
On Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
2010, Ritchie made history by becoming the first leader of a nationalist party to wear a remembrance poppy
Remembrance poppy
The remembrance poppy has been used since 1920 to commemorate soldiers who have died in war. They were first used in the United States to commemorate soldiers who died in World War I . Today, they are mainly used in current and former Commonwealth states to commemorate their servicemen and women...
. She wore it at the wreath-laying ceremony at the cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
in Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
. In Northern Ireland, the wearing of poppies is controversial. It is seen by many as a political symbol representing support for the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. Because of this, it has long been the preserve of the unionist
Unionism in Ireland
Unionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the continuation of some form of political union between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain...
/loyalist
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
community. She received praise from several unionist councillors for this.
On December 2010 she launched a verbal attack on Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
by urging voters in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
not to vote for Sinn Féin in the next Irish General Election describing their politics as 'sectarian' and causing 'division'. A Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
spokesperson described the comments as "nonsense" and "an attempt to score cheap points"
In the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2011, the SDLP lost two seats and saw its vote decline by 1%. On the 27th of July 2011 it was reported that she faced a leadership challenge from deputy leader Patsy McGlone
Patsy McGlone
Cllr Patsy McGlone MLA is a Social Democratic and Labour Party Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Mid Ulster from Ballinderry, and Deputy Leader of the SDLP . He has been an MLA since 2003....
. The Phoenix
The Phoenix (magazine)
The Phoenix is Ireland's best selling political and current affairs magazine. Inspired by the British magazine Private Eye, and a source of investigative journalism in Ireland...
reported that only one MLA
MLA
- Organizations :* Modern Language Association, United States of America** The MLA Style Manual, its works cited page guidelines* Massachusetts Library Association* Medical Library Association, United States...
Alex Attwood
Alex Attwood
Alex Attwood, MLA is an Irish politician, currently serving in the Northern Ireland Executive, and is the Social Democratic and Labour Party MLA for Belfast West....
was prepared to back her and that "she will be humiliated if she puts her leadership to a vote"