sdlp

SDLP: O’Loan breaks ranks and then is pulled sharply back in…

| Readers 11

Well, that didn’t last long. Within hours of suggesting the unthinkable, North Antrim MLA has pulled out of his bold statement earlier in which he noted: I believe that a major realignment of northern nationalism is now called for and I think that this means the formation of a new single nationalist party. The values of the SDLP and its ability to command respect and at least second preference votes across the whole community are not something that should be …

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FST redux – the defeated

| Readers 16

Thanks to Aldous Duke we have something most didn’t get hear on election day: Rodney Connor’s ungracious defeat speech – taking time to round on Douglas Bain and threaten legal options -how many other candidates didn’t congratulate the victor, praise the count staff etc? A humilated Fearghal McKinney attacking unionism for not offering ‘choice’. Blank

SDLP getting down to business

| Readers 42

After several requests we bring you coverage of what will be the SDLP’s first bit of parliamentary business: Blank

SDLP performance between May 2005 and May 2010

| Readers 14
SDLP percentage point changes between 2005 and 2010

The SDLP successfully held onto their three Westminster seats, and passed the baton between Eddie McGrady and Margaret Ritchie without a fumble. However, how healthy is their share of the vote across the 18 constituencies? They lost their deposits in two seats – North Down and Belfast East – and other than two of the seats they won, they only made gains in share in three others. The graph below shows the percentage point difference in their share between May …

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SDLP still in trouble – five areas going under

| Readers 5

While the SDLP easily retained its three seat other areas indicated that ship may not be out of troubled waters just yet as five candidates recorded the party’s worst results in decades (looks more like ever): FST – 7.6% worst result ever for SDLP West Tyrone – 14% (excluding Deeny’s candidacy in 2005) worst result ever Mid Ulster – 17.4% equal worst result ever with 2005 General election South Antrim – 8.7% worst result ever Upper Bann – 12.7% worst …

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Winners and losers

| Readers 9

A few weeks ago I tried to present some ways the parties could judge if the election was a success or not. DUP Retaining seats all their Westminster seats will be the main aim. Adding a seat in South Belfast, as a full gain or countering a single seat loss elsewhere, would also be an excellent result. The can’t expect a gain in vote in percentage or real terms from the last Westminster election as the TUV are now involved …

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Labhraionn Mac Giolla Eoin amach

| Readers 11

Tá ráiteas déanta ag leascheannaire an SDLP, Patsaí Mac Giolla Eoin ar an Ghaeilge : “Irish language must be above all party side deals”. Ag labhairt dó i mBéarla Deardaoin seo chuaigh thart dúirt sé : “It is simply untrue and harmful when Gerry Adams claims that Sinn Fein is the only party fighting for the language”. Mhaigh sé gurbh é an Bille Teanga de chuid an SDLP an dóigh leis an teanga a ‘dhí-pholaitiú’. Is doiligh a thuiscint cén …

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Nationalist backroom

| Readers 8

The SDLP rarely get a share of the headlines, but Mark Durkan’s visit to the Shankill has certainly bought him plenty of column inches, here, here and here. However he followed up with an attack on Jeffrey Donaldson’s article (see here), saying: If Ulster Unionists give Jeffrey Donaldson a role in Agreement politics, it “would be like trusting Sellafield with environmental safety’ Speaking of the upcoming UUC meeting, he comments: …we do know is that every single strategy that he …

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