SDLP plans revamp to increase support

The SDLP is to undergo a major image revamp ahead of next year's Assembly elections in Northern Ireland.

The SDLP is to undergo a major image revamp ahead of next year's Assembly elections in Northern Ireland.

A new logo will be unveiled by leader Mr Mark Durkan during a keynote address to SDLP activists in Belfast's Odyssey Arena tomorrow.

The symbol, which replaces the SDLP's green and red logo, incorporates for the first time the colour orange to reflect the party's attempt to reach out to unionists.

The new logo by Mr Paul Martin, who designed symbols for Fianna Fail and the Green Party, consists of three swirls forming the shape of a shamrock.

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A party source said: "This is Mark Durkan putting his own stamp on the party and part of the modernisation process for the SDLP.

"The orange swirl is a powerful statement - it is the SDLP demonstrating that what it says it means. We want to reach out to unionism on the basis of equality and partnership . . . The shamrock style identifies us with something that is distinctly Irish."

The revamp is taking place eight months after Mr Durkan, Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, and Northern Agriculture Minister Ms Brid Rodgers took over the leadership of the SDLP from Mr John Hume and Mr Seamus Mallon.

PA