Politics

Former NI21 deputy leader joins SDLP

Johnny McCarthy has joined the SDLP just two months after quitting NI21. Picture by Cliff Donaldson
Johnny McCarthy has joined the SDLP just two months after quitting NI21. Picture by Cliff Donaldson Johnny McCarthy has joined the SDLP just two months after quitting NI21. Picture by Cliff Donaldson
By John Monaghan

THE former deputy leader of NI21 has joined the SDLP, party leader Colum Eastwood has said.

Johnny McCarthy, who was NI21's only elected councillor, quit the party last Christmas. He has now joined the SDLP, Mr Eastwood revealed during an interview on Tuesday.

His decision means the SDLP will have four councillors on Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council. Mr McCarthy has yet to comment publicly on the move.

In December, he said he "regretted" leaving NI21 but felt there was no other option.

He said: "Some people may wonder why I have stayed as long as I did and it is because I fully believed in the idea of NI21 and the need for a party that is non-sectarian and promotes the use of evidence to create policy and not ideology.

"I do regret having to come to this decision but it is the right thing for me to do."