Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election, 2011
Encyclopedia
An election for the leadership of the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP) was held on 4-5 November, 2011. Alasdair McDonnell
won the leadership election and was announced the new leader of the SDLP on 5 November, 2011.
leader, Margaret Ritchie
, faced a leadership challenge from deputy leader Patsy McGlone
. McGlone stated at the beginning of August, 2011, that he would challenge Ritchie for the party's leadership at the annual conference in November. Ritchie subsequently announced on 8 September, 2011, that she would not run in the coming leadership race.
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...
(SDLP) was held on 4-5 November, 2011. 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...
won the leadership election and was announced the new leader of the SDLP on 5 November, 2011.
Background
Following poor election results in the 2010 UK general election as well as the 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election, it was reported that the then-SDLPSocial 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...
leader, Margaret Ritchie
Margaret Ritchie
Margaret Ritchie was an English soprano who sang opera, oratorio and song. She created a number of operatic roles. In 1946 she was the first Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia by Benjamin Britten, and in 1947 she was the first Miss Wordsworth in the same composer's Albert Herring.She was one of four...
, 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....
. McGlone stated at the beginning of August, 2011, that he would challenge Ritchie for the party's leadership at the annual conference in November. Ritchie subsequently announced on 8 September, 2011, that she would not run in the coming leadership race.
Candidates
Four SDLP members announced they would stand in the leadership election. These were:- Alex AttwoodAlex AttwoodAlex 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....
- The Northern Ireland Executive's Minister for Social DevelopmentDepartment for Social DevelopmentThe 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:...
and MLAMember of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)Member of the Legislative Assembly is a representative elected by the voters to the Northern Ireland Assembly in Northern Ireland.- About :...
for West BelfastBelfast West (Assembly constituency)Belfast West is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
. Attwood was also the only MLA to fully endorse Margaret Ritchie's leadership of the SDLP. - Conall McDevittConall McDevittConall McDevitt became National Secretary of Labour Youth in 1993 and Vice President of ECOSY in 1994...
- MLA for South BelfastBelfast South (Assembly constituency)Belfast South is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
. At 39 years old, McDevitt was the youngest of all four candidates in the election. He was supported by the former SDLP minister Bríd RodgersBríd RodgersBríd Rodgers , born Bríd Stratford Bríd Rodgers (Irish: Bríd Mhic Ruairí), born Bríd Stratford Bríd Rodgers (Irish: Bríd Mhic Ruairí), born Bríd Stratford (born 20 February 1935, in Gweedore [Gaoth Dobhair], County Donegal, Ireland, is a former Irish nationalist politician....
. - Alasdair McDonnellAlasdair McDonnellDr 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...
- Another MLA for South Belfast, McDonnell is also the MPMember of ParliamentA 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 BelfastBelfast South (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast South is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
in the House of Commons. In the previous SDLP leadership election in 2010 he lost to Margaret Ritchie by 35 votes. - Patsy McGlonePatsy McGloneCllr 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....
- Deputy Leader of the SDLP and MLA for Mid-UlsterMid Ulster (Assembly constituency)Mid Ulster is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
. His supporters included the SDLP founding member Ivan CooperIvan CooperIvan Averill Cooper is a former politician from Northern Ireland who was a Member of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, and founding member of the SDLP...
as well as North BelfastBelfast North (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast North is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
MLA Alban MaginnessAlban MaginnessAlban Maginness is a Nationalist politician in Northern Ireland.Maginness was born in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland. He completed his secondary education at St. Malachy's College, Belfast. He then attended the New University of Ulster and subsequently Queen's University of Belfast where...
.