Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election, 2011

An election for the leadership of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) was held on 4–5 November 2011. Alasdair McDonnell won the leadership election and was announced the new leader of the SDLP on 5 November 2011.^[1]

Background

Following poor election results in the 2010 UK general election as well as the 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election, it was reported that the then-SDLP leader, Margaret Ritchie, faced a leadership challenge from deputy leader Patsy McGlone.^[2] McGlone stated at the beginning of August, 2011, that he would challenge Ritchie for the party's leadership at the annual conference in November.^[3] Ritchie subsequently announced on 8 September 2011, that she would not run in the coming leadership race.^[4]

Candidates

Four SDLP members announced they would stand in the leadership election. These were:

• Alex Attwood - The Northern Ireland Executive's Minister for Social Development and MLA for West Belfast. Attwood was also the only MLA to fully endorse Margaret Ritchie's leadership of the SDLP.^[3]
• Conall McDevitt - MLA for South Belfast. At 39 years old, McDevitt was the youngest of all four candidates in the election.^[3] He was supported by the former SDLP minister Bríd Rodgers.^[5]
• Alasdair McDonnell - Another MLA for South Belfast, McDonnell is also the MP for South Belfast in the House of Commons. In the previous SDLP leadership election in 2010 he lost to Margaret Ritchie by 35 votes.^[2]
• Patsy McGlone - Deputy Leader of the SDLP and MLA for Mid-Ulster. His supporters included the SDLP founding member Ivan Cooper as well as North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness.^[3]

Results

Below is a table summarising the results of the leadership election.^[6] Alasdair McDonnell had the most votes in every round of voting.

References