SDLP Foyle MLA Colum Eastwood set to challenged for leadership of party
AS first predicted by the Derry Dail in June, the SDLP’s Foyle MLA Colum Eastwood has today announced that he is to challenge Alasdair McDonnell’s leadership of the party.
The election will take place at the SDLP’s annual conference in November.
Mr Eastwood said his party has had poor election results, was lacking in ideas and he wanted to take it in a fresh direction.
The 32-year-old, who is the SDLP’s youngest MLA, said an Irish nationalist party cannot be led from Westminster.
He said Dr McDonnell has “given his life to the SDLP ” and would continue to be South Belfast MP.
Mr Eastwood has been nominated by nine party branches to challenge the SDLP leader.
He said his challenge “was not personal ” and said politics needed “a new generation”.
Mr Eastwood is a former Mayor of Derry.
The MLA, who has been in the party since he was 14, said the SDLP should “stand for a positive brand of progressive nationalism”.
Dr McDonnell has led the SDLP since November 2011.
If Mr Eastwood does assume the reins of the party, he will be third politician from Derry to be leader of the SDLP after John Hume and Mark Durkan.
In May, SDLP MP Mark Durkan called on Dr McDonnell to step aside as leader, arguing that the party leader needs to be at Stormont.
Dr McDonnell sparked controversy last week both inside and outside his party when he said that the DUP “didn’t want a Taig about the place” at Stormont.
Tags: