THE SDLP Assembly party has presented a unified front at Stormont in the wake of Mark Durkan’s surprise announcement that he wishes to vacate the leadership after the next Westminster election.
Two senior colleagues, viewed as the likeliest contenders in a leadership contest, flanked Mr Durkan as he outlined the motives behind his announcement. Both deputy leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell and Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said there was “no vacancy” as yet and both committed themselves to their current positions. They also said there was an agreed programme of work to which all were committed.
Privately sources within the party spoke of the tensions around the leadership and Mr Durkan’s announced intention to quit.
Mr Durkan (49) said he wished to concentrate on Westminster should he retain his seat at the next election due next year and expressed doubts that the party could be “long led” from London. He said he was committed to ending “dual mandates”, indicating he would quit Stormont in favour of Westminster.
Mr Durkan believes the SDLP had done more than any other party to create the Stormont institutions and should be led by a figure elected to the Assembly.
He has also insisted he had repeatedly made clear his intentions to move on by his 50th birthday.
He said the mood of a party meeting at Stormont yesterday morning was decisively against “precipitating a leadership election”. Party sources, though, admitted they were unsure when Mr Durkan would stand down. Some thought he may stand aside around next February’s annual conference while others felt he should go sooner than that.
Dr McDonnell also publicly distanced himself from his leader’s views on dual mandates and the ability to lead the party while attending Westminster. However, he added that his primary objective was the retention of his seat in the House of Commons.
“I am going to retake my South Belfast seat at the next election. All my energies are going there, that’s where the priority is.” Asked about standing down to facilitate a leadership election which coincided with the party’s annual conference in February, Mr Durkan said: “I would not be uncomfortable with that but, very clearly, party colleagues are saying that they believe it is important to lead into the Westminster election. I am more than happy to do that. I am in the service of the SDLP and the SDLP is in the service of all the people of Northern Ireland.”
Ms Ritchie (51) also said there was “no vacancy” at the leadership and that she was “very busy at Social Development, seeking to put housing on a sound financial footing”.