The SDLP will face weeks of internal upheaval after it was confirmed that leader Alasdair McDonnell and his deputy Dolores Kelly will both face challenges when the party gathers for its annual conference.
As the deadline for nominations closed yesterday it emerged that Colum Eastwood’s name had been put forward as a leadership candidate, while former UTV journalist Fearghal McKinney has been nominated for the deputy leader’s post.
SDLP headquarters confirmed that the respective MLAs for Foyle and South Belfast had received the necessary backing to mount a challenge from five of the party’s branches. However, both men have yet to accept the nominations.
The move ends months of speculation that Dr McDonnell would face a leadership battle at the party’s conference in mid-November. In the aftermath of May’s general election, the South Belfast MP faced calls to go from colleagues and party grandees.
Even though the SDLP held its three Westminster seats, its share of the vote dropped by 2.6 per cent.
Former deputy leaders Seamus Mallon and Brid Rodgers were joined by Foyle MP Mark Durkan and East Derry MLA John Dallat in urging Dr McDonnell to relinquish the SDLP’s top job, which come November he will have held for four years.
Mr Eastwood was declining to comment on his nomination last night.
Mr McKinney’s nomination for the deputy leader’s job is more of a surprise though senior party sources said he had been actively canvassing support in recent days.
The South Belfast MLA, who is a close ally of Dr McDonnell, was co-opted to the assembly in 2013 following the resignation of Conall McDevitt.
The leadership and deputy leadership contests will officially get underway when the candidates accept their nominations.
Speaking before yesterday’s deadline closed, Dr McDonnell said he would remain as leader as long as a majority of the party supported him.
"I have always said that I am not precious about the leadership – I’ll do what I perceive to be needed and if someone comes along with better ideas and a better plan I’ll gladly make way for them," he told The Irish News.
Mrs Kelly, a long-time vocal critic of Dr McDonnell, said competition for key roles was healthy for the party.
"Fearghal has yet to accept but all indications are that’ll he’ll run," she said.
"I’ve been an elected representative since 1993 and have worked both as an MLA and a councillor so I have plenty of experience of winning elections."
