Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election, 2010

Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election, 2010
2001 ←
 5–7 February 2010
 → 2011
 
Candidate Margaret Ritchie Alasdair McDonnell
Votes Received 222 187
Percentage 54.3% 45.7%
Leader before election

Mark Durkan

 Elected Leader

Margaret Ritchie

An election for the leadership of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) was held between 5-7 February, 2010. Margaret Ritchie defeated her only challenger, Alasdair McDonnell, by 222 votes to 187 votes.[1]

Contents

Background

The former SDLP leader, Mark Durkan, announced his intention to stand down as leader of the SDLP in September 2009,[2] citing that he did not want to continue to lead the party past his 50th birthday, and also to allow him to concentrate on his parliamentary career.[2] Subsequently, a leadership election was scheduled for the SDLP annual conference in February, 2010.[3]

Candidates

Two SDLP members contested the leadership election.[3] These were:

Results

Below is a table summarising the result of the leadership election:

Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election, 2010
Candidate Votes %
Margaret Ritchie Y 222 54.3
Alasdair McDonnell 187 45.7

Margaret Ritchie was duly named the new SDLP leader on 7 February, 2010.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d New SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie aims to be Northern Ireland's First Minister Minister Belfast Telegraph, 8 February 2010
  2. ^ a b Durkan announces intention to step down RTÉ News, 20 September 2009
  3. ^ a b McDonnell/Ritchie to contest SDLP leadership Social Democratic and Labour Party website, 16 November 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2011