The SDLP leadership battle is officially underway with challenger Colum Eastwood insisting his bid to unseat Alasdair McDonnell has nothing to do with personalities.
The 32-year-old Foyle MLA, who on Friday received the necessary backing from five SDLP branches to challenge Dr McDonnell at the party's November conference, said he planned to forge a "new brand of nationalism" that would have greater electoral appeal.
The former mayor of Derry already has the support of SDLP deputy leader Dolores Kelly and a number of fellow MLAs but he will face six-and-a-half weeks of intensive campaigning if he is to unseat a determined Dr McDonnell.
The SDLP leader will be four years in the party's top job by the time the November 13-14 conference comes around. Dr McDonnell (66) has said he is not precious about the party leadership and welcomes the opportunity to defend his record.
However, in the wake of a poor showing for the SDLP in May's general election, the South Belfast MP dismissed calls to step aside from colleagues and party grandees, including former deputy first minister Seamus Mallon.
Speaking to the Irish News yesterday, Mr Eastwood said his challenge was "not about personalties" but about reinvigorating the party which in the wake of the Good Friday Agreement had 24 seats in the assembly – ten more than it holds today.
"Alasdair McDonnell has given his life to the SDLP – he's a tremendous workhorse for his constituents and has done very well on reorganising the party," he said.
"But we need to move beyond that and work towards a new generation with new ideas and vision."
Mr Eastwood said he would pursue a "new brand of progressive nationalism"
"One that is not defined by birth but based on radical and realistic proposals and policies for a better future," he said.
"We need to make Northern Ireland work for everyone, by rising to the challenge of reconciliation, driving economic growth and striving for a truly fair and shared society."
The Foyle MLA said those advocating a united Ireland in the future "must give our all to make Northern Ireland work today".
"I want progressive nationalism to go much further on unity than the mere sloganising that until now has been trying to pass itself off as strategy," he said.
"I want the SDLP to set out exactly what a new united Ireland will look like, and to set about convincing all the people of Ireland of the value of our convictions."
As nominations for the party's top posts closed last Friday, it also emerged that former journalist Fearghal McKinney had received the necessary branch backing to challenge for Mrs Kelly's deputy leader's post. As yet, the South Belfast MLA, who was co-opted in 2013 to replace Conall McDevitt, has not confirmed that he will run.
