claire hanna

Claire Hanna resigns from SDLP whip at Assembly (or does she?) after FF vote but remains member of party

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on February 11, 2019, 2:42 pm

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South Belfast MLA Claire Hanna has resigned from the SDLP’s whip will withdraw from of SDLP group meetings at the NI Assembly and has resigned from the position of party Brexit spokesperson. She remains an ordinary member of the SDLP. But it’s complicated. “Following the conference on Saturday, I have thought long and hard about the outcome and implications. I remain unconvinced that an exclusive partnership with Fianna Fáil is the right vehicle with which to deliver the non-sectarian, transparent …

SDLP – One Woman Party or Just the Nature of the Beast?

Kris Nixon (Belfast Barman) on September 10, 2016, 6:15 pm

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When the SDLP require a representative for a media appearance, who are they going to call? Claire Hanna. It’s become obvious over the last number of months that as and when the SDLP need to present their party position to the electorate, if at all possible they will turn to just one person – time after time. Claire Hanna has been ever-present in the press for most of 2016, even more so in the run up to the Assembly election, …

Competing visions – the leave and remain campaigns present their pitch

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on June 2, 2016, 1:07 pm

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Listen back to the short pitches by representatives of the Remain and Leave campaigns at this morning’s final event by EU Debate NI: Owen Paterson, Claire Hanna, Glyn Roberts & Lee Reynolds

8 pitches for #EUref: 3 academic, 5 political; 2 to leave, 6 to remain #EUDebateNI

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on February 24, 2016, 10:48 pm

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Eight speakers deliver their pitch for the leaving or remaining in the European Union in QUB Student’s Union – Leslie Budd (OU), Hugo MacNeill (British/Irish Assoc), David Phinnemore (QUB), David McNarry (UKIP), Duncan Morrow (APNI), Declan Kearney (SF), Christopher Stalford (DUP) & Claire Hanna (SDLP)

Corbynomics inspiration Richard Murphy on the dogma behind demands to lower NI Corporation Tax

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on September 12, 2015, 1:13 am

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Richard Murphy is the Quaker chartered accountant and blogger who is credited with inspiring Corbynomics. He spoke at Tax Haven Ulster: Faith, Justice & Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland, a Christians on the Left event held on Friday night in Belfast that examined the counter arguments to dropping our local rate of Corporation Tax. You can listen back to the full event using the playlist at the bottom of this post. With Irish roots, Richard Murphy first heard arguments being …

Claire Hanna joins Fearghal McKinney on Stormont benches on Monday (interview)

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on June 25, 2015, 9:18 pm

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Claire Hanna and Fearghal McKinney were tonight selected as the SDLP’s two South Belfast candidates for the Belfast South constituency at May 2016’s NI Assembly election. Claire will also take over from Alasdair McDonnell up on the hill when she is co-opted into his seat on Monday morning. In the end, the selection of the two candidates was uncontested [Ed – so no opportunity for UUP mathematical gaffes?!] and party members in the Wellington Park Hotel room described the atmosphere …

SDLP South Belfast latest: Boyle pulls out as McDevitt endorses Hanna

David McCann on June 17, 2015, 6:01 pm

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SDLP Cllr, Declan Boyle has pulled out of the race to succeed Alasdair McDonnell as an MLA. Speaking about his decision Boyle said; I have taken this decision after reflecting on the direction on which I want to focus my political career. For many people, it is understandable that the natural progression for a councillor would be towards the Assembly. However since putting my name forward I have realised that my passion for politics resides within the council. This at …

Battle to replace Alasdair McDonnell as an MLA gets going

David McCann on June 16, 2015, 11:51 pm

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Something that will put the cat the amongst the pigeons emerged today and that is the entry into the race of Botanic Cllr, Declan Boyle to replace the party leader, Alasdair McDonnell. Boyle is up against the Balmoral Cllr, Claire Hanna, who came within just one vote of topping the poll last year and stood to replace Conall McDevitt in 2013, only to lose out to Fearghal McKinney. When the party select a replacement on 25th June it will be …

SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell confirms he will exit from the Assembly “in the next few months”

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on May 10, 2015, 6:34 pm

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I was in a very vulnerable seat in South Belfast. I’m re-elected there and I will be choosing Westminster [interrupted] We will sort out Stormont in the next few months, that will be done. (Alasdair McDonnell) Bookies will be opening two sets of odds today: Who will be Alasdair McDonnell’s replacement as MLA for Belfast South as he confirmed on today’s Sunday Politics that he will step down from his position as MLA? [Claire Hanna must surely be the favourite, …

Fearghal McKinney 113 – 69 Claire Hanna (South Belfast)

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on September 12, 2013, 9:35 pm

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Fearghal McKinney chairing a panel at the UUP conference

SDLP members in South Belfast voted this evening to select the replacement MLA for Conall McDevitt. He’ll become the MLA sometime tomorrow, once party leader and nominating officer Alasdair McDonnell informs the Chief Electoral Officer, and once the CEO confirms that Fearghal McKinney is happy to be returned as MLA for South Belfast. While the result isn’t in doubt, Martina Purdy who spent her evening at the Welly Park Hotel mentions that the voting statistic only had one source … …

UPDATE-Hanna v McKinney-SDLP new MLA Fearghal McKinney!

David McCann on September 11, 2013, 3:22 pm

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Well the battle is on as Balmoral councillor Claire Hanna will face off against former UTV journalist Fearghal McKinney in a bid to replace Conall McDevitt. Around 300 members of the South Belfast branch of the SDLP will gather to choose one of these two people to represent the constituency for the next three years. My money is still on Claire Hanna to win the ballot. She brings everything that the SDLP wants going forward, youth, hard work, ideas and …