Alasdair McDonnell

When Manley met McDonnell-we now have some criteria for success or failure.

David McCann on November 4, 2013, 10:46 am

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In today’s Irish News, John Manley has an in-depth interview with the SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell. I have in an earlier piece tendered my views on the party’s future prospects and this is the part of the interview that I want to focus on in this piece but the entire interview is worth a read. In his talk with McDonnell, Manley probed the SDLP leader about his electoral ambitions are for the party under his stewardship. Either it was a …

Successful McKinney co-option suggests the SDLP leader is slowly getting a grip…

Mick Fealty on September 13, 2013, 7:34 am

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In a time of crisis, you have to do small things well. Much of the SDLP’s decline (which has been slower and gentler than that of the UUP), was marked by doing some small things really badly. The leader, in this case, got his man in, again it has to be said. That’s not necessarily easy for party like the SDLP to pull off. There’s no politbureau, no central intelligence office which constantly grades candidates and has the heft to order …

Victims have been promised many things ever since the GFA, but…

Mick Fealty on June 6, 2013, 11:45 pm

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Just came across this this evening towards the end of the week. It’s from Newsline, on Tuesday, I think… It’s only short, but just about here Alasdair McDonnell says something well worth noting at least… Victims have been for fifteen years promised truth, promised solutions, promised reconciliation, promised hope and are not getting closure. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a …

Alasdair McDonnell quizzed on his party’s position on the #SpAdBill

Mick Fealty on June 3, 2013, 3:30 pm

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I don’t have anything particular to note about this interview other than, it’s been a very long time since the SDLP leader gave an interview to anyone. And it shows. There’s not a lot he can do about the bull in the china shop thing, but just by doing it and getting something of a pro victims party line out he may have helped to steady some nerves both inside and outside the chamber today. Jude Collins thinks (and he …

Reflections on the SDLP conference and Alasdair McDonnell’s speech

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on November 10, 2012, 8:53 pm

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Alasdair McDonnell speaking at 2012 SDLP Conference

After Delores Kelly naughtily referred to opposition in her deputy leader’s speech, all ears where pinned to see whether party leader Alasdair McDonnell would reciprocate. But there wasn’t a single mention. Instead there was a critique of other parties that would have been better left to a more sharp-tongued colleague and little to inspire party members other than references to past influence and bright ideas that took more than ten years to deliver. Don’t get me wrong; the mood in …

SDLP try an ‘insider trading card’ to connect with Sinn Fein’s base?

Mick Fealty on September 13, 2012, 1:23 pm

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So the Commissioner for Public Appointments says that OFMdFM were bang out of order in their appointments to the board of the new Maze facility… Why? Because much of the political activity of the new appointees was not declared according to the rules of the CPA. [Where have we heard that one before? – Ed] Ironically, by the strict rules of the CPA, the chair – you know, the one Sinn Fein officials initially made a great fuss over, does …

McDonnell: “We must face up to the reality that the Agreement has run out of road”

Mick Fealty on November 7, 2011, 12:24 pm

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Today’s Belfast Telegraph editorial notes what it believes are the choices facing the new SDLP leader: There are a number of choices facing Dr McDonnell. Does he take on Sinn Fein directly in the Assembly, trying to point up that party’s failings in dealing with the current economic crisis and arguing that Sinn Fein’s cosy relationship with the DUP is just an exercise of political muscle with little end result? Will he take the party into opposition at Stormont? That …

And the new SDLP leader is…. Alasdair McDonnell! (updated with graph, audio and speeches)

Mick Fealty on November 5, 2011, 5:01 pm

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In contrast to Newcastle February 2010 (aye, just last year), which felt like the beginning of a process (disappointed Alasdair supporters muttering darkly into their soup), this feels like the end of a process. Alan will shortly bring you audio of tonight’s speeches, but judging from each of last nights speeches the hustings process seems to have enhanced the stature of all four men. And this afternoon there seemed to be a determination not simply to tolerate the result but …

The SDLP leadership candidates, ranked on internet use and internal organisation

Nicholas Whyte on November 3, 2011, 11:44 am

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The SDLP elects its fifth leader this coming weekend, with four male candidates in the running (the deputy leadership has been filled, without contest, by a woman). Since 1998, when the party topped the first preference tallies for the first Assembly election, the SDLP has lost votes and seats at almost every election cycle (the one exception being a sliver of a gain at the last European election) and now runs consistently 10% behind Sinn Féin, whereas twenty years ago …

“This position could prove a political liability…”

Pete Baker on February 14, 2011, 5:33 pm

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Via Newshound. In the Sunday Times Liam Clarke picked up on the reaction by the Sinn Féin president, and still Crown Steward and Bailiff of Northstead, Gerard Adams to the recent reports of a possible visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth II later this year. Here’s the An Phoblacht report of that reaction I don’t think the queen should come. There are hugely unresolved matters in terms of the British still claiming jurisdiction even though in terms of the Good Friday …