The former SDLP mayor of Belfast, Martin Morgan, has decided to retire from politics.
Mr Morgan told his party leader Mark Durkan he wants to concentrate on his career as a social worker. He will not stand for the SDLP at the local elections to Belfast City Council next year after 12 years as a councillor.
It will be a blow for the party because Mr Morgan (37) is one of the new generation in a party that accepts it does not have many younger figures in its higher ranks.
He stood as the SDLP candidate in the European elections in June but failed to retain the seat John Hume had held since 1979. Sinn Féin's Bairbre de Brún easily beat him at the polls.
Party colleague, Assembly member Alban Maginness, said today the party had known about his decision to quit for several weeks.
"I regret the fact that he is leaving politics, but he has made a very real and impressive contribution both to the party and to Belfast City Council where he was lord mayor," Mr Maginness added.