Social Democratic and Labour Party

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; Irish: Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre)[7] is a social-democratic[8][9][10] and Irish nationalist[9][11][12] political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLAs) and two members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

Social Democratic and Labour Party
Páirtí Daonlathach Sóisialta
agus an Lucht Oibre[1]
AbbreviationSDLP
LeaderColum Eastwood
ChairpersonDaniel McCrossan
Party ManagerCatherine Matthews
Founders
Founded21 August 1970 (1970-08-21)[2]
Preceded by
Headquarters121 Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 1SH[3]
Youth wingSDLP Youth
Women's wingSDLP Women
LGBT wingSDLP LGBT+
Ideology
European affiliationParty of European Socialists
International affiliationSocialist International (observer)
Colours  Green   Red
House of Commons
(NI seats)
2 / 18
NI Assembly
8 / 90
Local government in Northern Ireland[6]
39 / 462
Website
www.sdlp.ie

The SDLP party platform advocates Irish reunification[4] and further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom. During the Troubles, the SDLP was the most popular Irish nationalist party in Northern Ireland, but since the Provisional IRA ceasefire in 1994, it has lost ground to the republican party Sinn Féin, which in 2001 became the more popular of the two parties for the first time. Established during the Troubles, a significant difference between the two parties was the SDLP's rejection of violence, in contrast to Sinn Féin's then-support for (and organisational ties to) the Provisional IRA and physical force republicanism.

History

Foundation and early history (1970-1972)

The party was founded on 21 August 1970, when six Stormont MPs (Gerry Fitt, Republican Labour Party; Austin Currie, Nationalist Party; Paddy Devlin, Northern Ireland Labour Party; John Hume, Ivan Cooper and Paddy O’Hanlon, Independent) and one Senator (Paddy Wilson, Republican Labour), joined to form a new party.[8] They were joined on 10 November by a second Senator (Claude Wilton, Ulster Liberal Party), bringing the total parliamentary party to eight members.[13] Gerry Fitt was chosen to lead the new party while John Hume was appointed its deputy. Paddy Wilson also became the party’s first General Secretary.

The smaller National Democratic Party dissolved itself in October of that year and encouraged all its members to join the new party.[14] Additionally, individual members and branches from other parties joined including from the Irish Labour Party, Nationalist Party, Northern Ireland Labour Party, Republican Labour Party and Ulster Liberal Party.[15]

The SDLP contested its first election in a by-election for the Belfast St. Anne’s seat on 12 November. Their candidate Gerry Laverty won 24.2% of the vote in the traditionally Unionist seat.[16]

The SDLP initially rejected the Nationalist Party's policy of abstentionism and sought to fight for civil rights within the Stormont system.[17] However, the SDLP quickly came to the view that Stormont was unreformable, refusing to attend the state opening on 18 June 1971, and withdrawing altogether in response the shooting dead of Seamus Cusack and Desmond Beattie in Derry on 8 July.[18]

On 15 August the SDLP announced they would lead a Campaign of Civil Disobedience in response to the introduction of internment the previous week. This involved the withdrawal of SDLP representatives from public bodies, the organisation of a rent and rates strike and SDLP MPs participating in a 48 hour hunger strike outside 10 Downing Street.[19]

The SDLP held its first annual conference in Dungiven on 23 October that year. The party adopted its draft constitution, Eddie McGrady was elected the party’s first chairman while Sheila Carson becomes its first secretary. Several motions were passed including committing the party firmly to socialism, supporting the parliamentary party’s decision to withdraw from Stormont and condemning the 11-plus.[20]

After the abolition of the Parliament of Northern Ireland in 1972, the SDLP emerged as the largest party representing the nationalist community. On 20 September the party issued its first major policy document, entitled "Towards a New Ireland".[21] It recommended that the British Government issue a declaration that it would recognise that Ireland is better off united, and that as an interim proposal Northern Ireland should be administered jointly by the British and Irish Governments. It also proposed the establishment of a National Senate drawn equally from a devolved Assembly in Belfast and the Oireachtas in Dublin to plan for the integration of the island.

Sunningdale Agreement (1973-1974)

The first major electoral contest for the SDLP were elections to Northern Ireland’s 26 new district councils, held on 30 May 1973. The SDLP won 13.4% of the vote and 82 seats, becoming the second largest party in Northern Ireland and the largest party in the districts of Derry, Magherafelt and Newry and Mourne. Other nationalist parties failed to achieve much success, leaving the SDLP as the largest party representing the nationalist community.[22]

Paddy Wilson, the SDLP’s General Secretary and councillor in the new Belfast City Council was murdered on the 26 June, two days before the election to the new Northern Ireland Assembly. Wilson and another woman, Irene Andrews, were killed by the UFF, a codename for the UDA. John White was later convicted for his part in the killings.[23]

Following publication of the British Government’s White Paper, elections were held to the new Northern Ireland Assembly on 28 June, where the party won 19 out of 75 seats and once again emerged as the voice of the nationalist community, increasing its vote share to 22% of the vote.[24] Negotiations occurred throughout October and November on the formation of a new power-sharing Executive to govern Northern Ireland with the SDLP, UUP and Alliance taking part. On 21 November Northern Ireland Secretary of State, William Whitelaw, announced that agreement had been reached on the composition and functions of the new Executive, with the SDLP entitled to four of the eleven members and a further two non-Executive office holders. Agreement was still to be reached on many other aspects of the White Paper, particularly regarding the Council of Ireland.[25]

Following discussions between the British Prime Minister and Irish Taoiseach, as well as the political parties, it was announced on 9 December at Sunningdale that an agreement had been reached on the remaining elements of the White Paper, including the implementation of a Council of Ireland.[26]

On 1 January 1974 the Northern Ireland Executive took office, with Gerry Fitt as Deputy Chief Executive, John Hume as Minister of Commerce, Paddy Devlin as Minister of Health and Social Services and Austin Currie as Minister of Housing, Local Government and Planning.[25]

The SDLP faced its first Westminster election shortly afterwards in February in what became a referendum on power-sharing. The anti-power-sharing Unionists united under the UUUC banner and won 11 seats, with Gerry Fitt being the only pro-power-sharing MP returned, dealing a critical blow to the fledgling Executive. The Executive eventually collapsed after 5 months following several weeks of the Ulster Workers’ Council strike.[27]

Searching for agreement (1975-1980)

Attempting to find agreement, the Secretary of State called elections for a Constitutional Convention on 1 May 1975, for which the SDLP won 17 seats and 24% of the vote.[28] The UUUC however won a majority of seats and votes, the Constitutional Convention made no progress and the British Government brought it to an end in early 1976. Later that year on 1 September SDLP member Denis Mullen was shot dead at his home.[29]

Following the failure of the Constitutional Convention the SDLP continued searching for a long term solution, at times engaging in talks with the UUP. In 1977 the party issued a policy document titled "Facing Reality". This called for the party to put a stronger emphasis on the "Irish dimension". In response to this perceived move away from the party’s Labour values Paddy Devlin, then party chairperson, resigned from the party.[25]

In 1978 SDLP deputy leader John Hume presented his proposal for an "agreed Ireland". In contrast to the two main options at the time of full integration into Britain or full withdrawal, Hume’s solution proposed the British government declaring that its aim was to bring the main traditions in Ireland together in reconciliation.[30]

After years of little progress 1979 brought considerably more action for the SDLP. A vote of confidence in the Labour Government failed in March that year. Gerry Fitt abstained on the vote as the Government had failed to act on the Bennett Report into RUC interrogation techniques.[31] In the following general election, the Conservatives came to power in Westminster and Fitt held his seat in Belfast West.

In June that year the first direct election to the European Parliament were held. The SDLP candidate was John Hume who won a seat with 25% of the first preference vote. He went on to sit in the Socialist Group in the European Parliament.[32]

The new Conservative Secretary of State, Humphrey Atkins, invited Northern Ireland parties including the SDLP to a conference on the future of Northern Ireland. There was intense debate in the SDLP whether or not to attend a conference which would not discuss any all-island dimension, with Gerry Fitt wanting to attend regardless of any discussion on an "Irish dimension" while many others, including John Hume, refusing to attend. As a result of this dispute Fitt resigned as SDLP leader.[33] On 28 November John Hume was elected as his replacement, and Seamus Mallon became his deputy.[34]

The SDLP eventually made the decision to attend the Atkins conference, on the condition that there would be parallel discussions involving the "Irish dimension". These talks, like others, failed to reach agreement.[35]

Entry of Sinn Féin (1981-1982)

Following the death of Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Frank Maguire and the selection of hunger striker Bobby Sands as a candidate in the following by-election the SDLP decided to withdraw Austin Currie as their candidate.[36] The election was held on 9 April and Bobby Sands won the seat by a slim margin. As the strikes went on, SDLP leader John Hume met Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to ask that she concede some of the demands of the hunger strikers. No agreement was forthcoming. When Sands died, the SDLP also stood aside for Owen Carron, who also won the seat by a narrow margin.[37]

The hunger strikes also had an impact on the electoral fortunes of the SDLP. In local government elections in 1981 the SDLP vote share fell to 17.5% as nationalist voters began to support more candidates from parties like the Irish Independence Party and Irish Republican Socialist Party.[38]

In Spring 1982 Northern Ireland Secretary of State Jim Prior proposed “rolling devolution” by which a consultative Assembly be established. John Hume labelled the proposals as unworkable as they offered no realistic prospect of power-sharing or offered any role for the Irish Government.[39]

In May of that year the SDLP secured a seat in Seanad Éireann as new Taoiseach Charles Haughey appointed SDLP Deputy Leader Seamus Mallon to serve as a voice for Northern nationalists.

As the elections to the Assembly approached the party announced that although it would contest the election, none of its representatives would take their seats. The election, held on 20 October, mirrored the SDLP’s performance in the local elections the previous year as the party won 18.8% of the vote and took 14 seats. The decision by Sinn Féin to stand also had an impact on the SDLP vote as the party, considered to be the political wing of the Provisional IRA, took 10.1% of the vote and 5 seats.

As a result of Seamus Mallon’s membership of Seanad Éireann he was removed as a member of the Assembly and a by-election was held in Armagh the following spring. The SDLP called for a boycott and amidst low turnout the UUP won the election.

New Ireland Forum (1983-1984)

In the lead up to the 1982 Assembly election the SDLP proposed a “Council for a New Ireland” in its manifesto. This, with the assistance of the Irish Government, was realised in the creation of the New Ireland Forum in March 1983. It was a forum “all democratic parties which reject violence and which have members elected or appointed to either House of the Oireachtas or the Northern Ireland Assembly”. The SDLP, along with Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour all joined. The Forum met for the first time on 30 May with five SDLP members: John Hume, Austin Currie, Joe Hendron, Eddie McGrady and Seamus Mallon.[40]

Submissions were taken from sectors, individuals and organisations across the island of Ireland, examining the long-term future of the island. After a year of work the Forum published its report in May 1984, detailing three possible structures for a new Ireland. The three options of a unitary state, federal/confederal state and joint authority were rooted in previous SDLP policy and went on to influence the policies of the Irish Government and the major political parties in the Republic in relation to Northern Ireland in the following decade.[41]

In the general election in June 1983 the SDLP failed to regain the seat in Belfast West it had lost when Gerry Fitt resigned from the party. However, John Hume was elected to the House of Commons for the new constituency of Foyle.[42] The following year Hume also retained his seat in the European Parliament.[43]

Anglo-Irish Agreement (1985-1987)

Throughout the 1970s and 80s SDLP leader John Hume used his connections with influential Irish-American politicians Tip O'Neill, Ted Kennedy, Daniel Moynihan and Hugh Carey to push the SDLP’s analysis of the division and conflict on the island of Ireland.[44] The “Four Horsemen” and other senior politicians persuaded President Ronald Reagan to encourage British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to work with the Irish Government to agree a collective way forward. Negotiations began in early 1985 and concluded on 15 November with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.[45]

Although the agreement was supported by the SDLP, it faced considerable opposition from Unionist parties. Fifteen Unionist MPs resigned their Westminster seats forcing by-elections in January 1986. The SDLP targeted constituencies where support for the Anglo-Irish Agreement was strongest and subsequently managed to win Newry and Armagh, where deputy leader Seamus Mallon won the seat from the Ulster Unionists.[46]

This success continued into the 1987 general election where the SDLP’s support for the agreement saw its vote rise to levels last seen when the party was first founded in the early 70s, mostly at the expense of Sinn Féin. In addition to holding both their current seats, Eddie McGrady won the seat of South Down from Enoch Powell, finally ending his political career.[47]

Good Friday Agreement and return to government

The SDLP was a key player in the talks throughout the 1990s that led to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.[48] John Hume won a Nobel Peace Prize that year with Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble in recognition of their efforts.[49]

As a result of the Agreement, elections to a new Northern Ireland Assembly were held in June 1998; the SDLP emerged as the second-largest party overall, and the largest nationalist party, with 24 out of 108 seats.[50] The party was then returned to government later in the year when a power-sharing Executive was established for Northern Ireland. The SDLP took office alongside the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and Sinn Féin, and the SDLP's Seamus Mallon became Deputy First Minister alongside the UUP's First Minister, David Trimble.[51]

Upon Mallon's retirement in 2001, Mark Durkan succeeded him as Deputy First Minister.

All-island Merger

There had been a debate in the party on the prospects of amalgamation with Fianna Fáil.[52] Little came of this speculation and former party leader Margaret Ritchie, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick rejected the idea. Speaking at the 2010 Labour Party (Ireland) national conference in Galway she said that a merger would not happen while she was leader – "Merger with Fianna Fáil? Not on my watch."[53] After his election as Fianna Fáil Leader in January 2011, Micheál Martin repeatedly dismissed the possibility of a merger or electoral alliance with the SDLP. In January 2019, the SDLP membership were e-mailed on the issue with the text "continuing on as normal is not an option", a reference to the party's declining fortunes.[54]

In February 2019, at a special party conference, the members approved a partnership with Fianna Fáil,[55] the main opposition party in the Republic of Ireland. Both parties shared policies on key areas including addressing the current political situation in Northern Ireland, improving public services in both jurisdictions of Ireland, such as healthcare and education, and bringing about further unity and co-operation of the people on the island and arrangements for a future poll on Irish reunification.[56]

Claire Hanna, MLA for Belfast South and party spokesperson on Brexit, quit the assembly group as a result.[57]

In the lead up to the 2022 Assembly election, party leader Colum Eastwood played down the partnership stating, "The SDLP stands on its own two feet."[58] This led people to commentate that the partnership is no longer active, with comments from as early as 2020 determining that it had been "quietly forgotten".[59][60][61] The partnership officially ended on 28 September 2022.[62]

Westminster Parliament

In contrast to Sinn Féin, which follows a policy of abstentionism, the SDLP MPs have always taken their seat in the Westminster parliament. The party's first MP was leader Gerry Fitt who was already a sitting MP when the SDLP was founded.[63] The SDLP's best result was in 1992 general election when they won four out of 17 seats. Its worst result was in 2017 when they lost all their seats. In 2019 they won two seats.

Although not abstentionist, SDLP MPs have protested the parliamentary oath required of every member of parliament. At the swearing in ceremony after the 2019 general election, the party leader Colum Eastwood said:

"Under protest and in order to represent my constituency, I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law. My true allegiance is to the people of Derry and the people of Ireland."[64]

Proposed Dáil participation

The SDLP, along with Sinn Féin, have long sought speaking rights in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Republic's parliament. In 2005, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, leader of Fianna Fáil, put forward a proposal to allow MPs and MEPs from Northern Ireland to participate in debates on the region. However, the plan was met with vociferous opposition from the Republic's main opposition parties, Fine Gael and the Labour Party, and was subsequently shelved.[65] Unionists had also strongly opposed the proposal.

Remembrance Day 2010

On Remembrance Day in 2010, party leader Margaret Ritchie became the first leader of a nationalist party to wear a poppy while attending a wreath-laying ceremony in Downpatrick, County Down. The poppy is worn on the lapel in the United Kingdom as a mark of respect and remembrance for fallen British soldiers in the period around Remembrance Day and is controversial in Northern Ireland, as it is viewed by many as a political symbol representing support for the British Army.[66] Because of this, it has long been the preserve of the unionist/loyalist community.[67] Her actions drew praise from unionists.[68][69][70]

Leadership challenges and elections, 2011–2015

On 27 July 2011, it was reported that Margaret Ritchie faced a leadership challenge from deputy leader Patsy McGlone.[71] The Phoenix reported that only one MLA, Alex Attwood was prepared to back her and that "she will be humiliated if she puts her leadership to a vote".[72]

Alasdair McDonnell was confirmed as Ritchie's successor after the subsequent leadership election on 5 November 2011.[73]

Colum Eastwood challenged McDonnell and replaced him as leader after the party's 2015 leadership election.[74]

Ideology and policies

The SDLP is a social democratic party that opposes austerity and Brexit.[75] It is also an Irish nationalist party advocating for a shared home place for all the people on the island of Ireland.[76]

While the party is officially anti-abortion it does not apply a party whip on the issue.[77] The party supports LGBT rights including marriage equality, the roll out of PrEP across Northern Ireland and LGBT education in schools. The SDLP is anti-xenophobic and opposes plans to create what it deems a hostile environment for immigrants.[78] The party also supports an Irish language act.[79]

The SDLP believes that 3,000 social and affordable houses should be built every year. They oppose the gig economy and zero-hour contracts.[80] The party opposes welfare reform and the cut to universal credit.[81][82]

Despite opposing academic selection the party does not advocate the abolition of grammar schools.[83] The party supports the abolition of tuition fees. It wants to make a modern language up to GCSE and the teaching of maths up to the age of 18 compulsory.

The party believes that the Magee campus in Derry should be expanded to 10,000 student places.[84]

The party supports a green corporate levy on businesses who contribute large amounts of greenhouse gases and a green jobs strategy. They also believe that a climate emergency should be declared and the government should be required to reach net zero emissions.[85]

Leadership

Colum Eastwood is the sixth leader of the SDLP, taking over from Alasdair McDonnell in 2015.

Leader

No. Portrait Leader Period Constituency
1 Gerry Fitt 1970–1979 MP (Parliament of Northern Ireland) for Belfast Dock (19621972)
MP (UK Parliament) for Belfast West (19661983)
2
Nobel Peace prize winner John Hume 1998 from Wash. DC. (50184861292).jpg
John Hume 1979–2001 MP (Parliament of Northern Ireland) for Foyle (19691972)
MEP for Northern Ireland (19792004)
MP (UK Parliament) for Foyle (19832005)
MLA for Foyle (1998–2000)
3
MarkDurkan.jpg
Mark Durkan 2001–2010 MLA for Foyle (1998–2010)
MP for Foyle (20052017)
4
Official portrait of Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick crop 2.jpg
Margaret Ritchie 2010–2011 MLA for South Down (2003–2012)
MP for South Down (20102017)
5
Alasdair McDonnell MP.JPG
Alasdair McDonnell 2011–2015 MLA for Belfast South (1998–2015)
MP for Belfast South (20052017)
6
Colum Eastwood MLA.JPG
Colum Eastwood 2015–present MLA for Foyle (2011–2019)
MP for Foyle (from 2019)

Deputy leader

No. Portrait Leader Period Constituency Leader
1
John Hume 2008.jpg
John Hume 1970–1979 MP (Parliament of Northern Ireland) for Foyle (19691972)
MEP for Northern Ireland (19792004)
MP (UK Parliament) for Foyle (19832005)
MLA for Foyle (1998–2000)
Gerry Fitt
2
Seamus Mallon, 1998 (cropped).jpg
Seamus Mallon 1979–2001 MP for Newry and Armagh (19862005)
MLA for Newry and Armagh (19982003)
John Hume
3
Rodgers33.jpg
Bríd Rodgers 2001–2004 MLA for Upper Bann (19982003) Mark Durkan
4
Alasdair McDonnell MP.JPG
Alasdair McDonnell 2004–2010 MLA for Belfast South (1998–2015)
MP for Belfast South (20052017)
5
Patsy McGlone.jpg
Patsy McGlone 2010–2011 MLA for Mid-Ulster (from 2003) Margaret Ritchie
6
Dolores Kelly MLA.JPG
Dolores Kelly 2011–2015 MLA for Upper Bann (20032016; 20172022) Alasdair McDonnell
7 Fearghal McKinney 2015–2016 MLA for Belfast South (2013–2016) Colum Eastwood
Position Vacant 2016-2017
8
Nichola Mallon - SDLP Lord Mayor of Belfast.jpg
Nichola Mallon 2017–2022 MLA for Belfast North (20162022)
Position Vacant 2022-present

Elected representatives

The SDLP currently have two MPs in the UK Parliament, eight MLAs in the Northern Ireland Assembly and 39 councillors across Northern Ireland's 11 councils.[86]

Northern Ireland council seats
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
1 / 40
Ards and North Down Borough Council
1 / 40
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
1 / 41
Belfast City Council
5 / 60
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
3 / 40
Derry City and Strabane District Council
10 / 40
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
3 / 40
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
2 / 40
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
0 / 40
Mid Ulster District Council
5 / 40
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
8 / 41

MPs

MP Constituency Period Notes
Colum Eastwood Foyle 2019–present SDLP Leader; Spokesperson for a New Ireland; Foyle MLA 2011–2019
Claire Hanna Belfast South 2019–present Spokesperson for Europe and International Affairs; Belfast South MLA 2015–2019

MLAs

MLA Constituency Period Notes
Mark H. Durkan Foyle 2011–present Spokesperson for Climate Change and Infrastructure
Cara Hunter East Londonderry 2020–present Spokesperson for Children and Young People
Daniel McCrossan West Tyrone 2015–present SDLP Chairperson; Spokesperson for Social Justice
Patsy McGlone Mid Ulster 2003–present Assembly Deputy Speaker; Spokesperson for Rural Communities
Colin McGrath South Down 2016–present Spokesperson for Health and Wellbeing
Sinead McLaughlin Foyle 2020–present Spokesperson for Jobs, the Economy and Justice
Justin McNulty Newry and Armagh 2016–present Spokesperson for Reconciliation and Sport
Matthew O'Toole Belfast South 2020–present Leader of the Opposition; Spokesperson for the Cost of Living Crisis

Other Spokespeople

Councillor District DEA Notes
Cllr. Joe Boyle Ards and North Down Ards Peninsuala Spokesperson for Rural Transport
Cllr. Pete Byrne Newry, Mourne and Down Slieve Gullion Spokesperson for All-Island Rail
Cllr. Laura Devlin Newry, Mourne and Down The Mournes Spokesperson for Tourism and Hospitality
Cllr. Paul Doherty Belfast Black Mountain Spokesperson for Ending Poverty
Cllr. Adam Gannon Fermanagh and Omagh Erne West Spokesperson for Education Reform
Cllr. Roisin Lynch Antrim and Newtownabbey Antrim Spokesperson for Rural Isolation and Loneliness
Cllr. Dónal Lyons Belfast Balmoral Spokesperson for Heritage, Culture and Arts
Cllr. Kerri Martin Mid Ulster Cookstown Spokesperson for Community Integration
Cllr. Gary McKeown Belfast Botanic Spokesperson for Climate Emergency and Net Zero
Cllr. Margaret Anne McKillop Causeway Coast and Glens The Glens Spokesperson for Rural Opportunities
Cllr. Malachy Quinn Mid Ulster Torrent Spokesperson for Regional Investment
Cllr. Ashleen Schenning Causeway Coast and Glens Limavady Spokesperson for Training and Skills
Cllr. Gareth Sharvin Newry, Mourne and Down Downpatrick Spokesperson for Equalities
Cllr. Brian Tierney Derry City and Strabane Ballyarnett Spokesperson for University Expansion
Cllr. Carl Whyte Belfast Castle Spokesperson for Health Service Reform

Electoral performance

Upon its formation, the SDLP quickly established itself as the second largest party and the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland. It largely held this position until the beginning of the 21st century. In the 1998 Assembly election, it became the biggest party overall in terms of votes received and the first nationalist party to do so. This would be the largest seat share it would ever hold as it slowly saw declining support following the retirement of John Hume in 2001.

Under leader Mark Durkan, the 2001 general election and the 2003 Assembly election saw fellow Irish nationalist party Sinn Féin win more seats and votes than the SDLP for the first time, a position they would continue to hold. In the 2004 European elections, Hume stood down and the SDLP failed to retain the seat he had held since 1979, losing it to Sinn Féin. Alban Maginness attempted to take the seat again in the 2009 European elections the party fielded as their candidate and failed to gain a seat with 78,489 first preference votes.[87] The party further declined in the 2011 Assembly elections and the 2016 Assembly election, as the total number of votes received continued to drop.

The 2017 Assembly election saw the party retain its 12-seat count from the prior election, increasing its seat share due to a drop in the size of the assembly for the first time since 1998. This was followed by the 2017 general election where the SDLP lost all three seats and returned its worst ever vote share. In the 2019 European election, the final in the United Kingdom's history, party leader Colum Eastwood ran, increasing his party's vote but failing to take a seat. In the general election later that year the party recaptured Belfast South and Foyle with the highest ever vote recorded for the party in both constituencies and managed to increase its vote across Northern Ireland to its highest in almost fifteen years for a general election. The two seats held by the party currently have the largest majorities of any constituencies in Northern Ireland.

In the 2022 Assembly election, the SDLP slipped to the 5th largest party with only eight seats in the Assembly.[88]

Some see the SDLP as first and foremost a party now representing Catholic middle-class interests, with voters concentrated in rural areas and the professional classes, rather than a vehicle for Irish nationalism.[89][90] The SDLP reject this argument, pointing to their strong support in Derry and their victory in South Belfast in the 2005 Westminster election. Furthermore, in the lead up to that election, they published a document outlining their plans for a politically united Ireland. Their decline in Northern Ireland outside of two particular strongholds had led some to dub the party, the "South Down and Londonderry Party".[91][92]

Devolved legislature elections

Election Body Leader First Preference Votes Seats Position Government
No. Share No. Change
1973 1973 Assembly Gerry Fitt 159,773 22.1%
19 / 78
Increase19 Increase2nd UUP-SDLP-Alliance
1975 Constitutional Convention 156,049 23.7%
17 / 78
Decrease2 Steady2nd Direct rule
1982 1982 Assembly John Hume 118,891 18.8%
14 / 78
Decrease3 Decrease3rd Direct rule
1996 Forum 160,786 21.4%
21 / 110
Increase7 Steady3rd Direct rule
1998 1st Assembly 177,963 22.0%
24 / 108
Increase3 Increase2nd UUP–SDLP–DUP–Sinn Féin
2003 2nd Assembly Mark Durkan 117,547 17.0%
18 / 108
Decrease6 Decrease4th Direct rule
2007 3rd Assembly 105,164 15.2%
16 / 108
Decrease2 Steady4th DUP–Sinn Féin–UUP–SDLP–Alliance
2011 4th Assembly Margaret Ritchie 94,286 14.2%
14 / 108
Decrease2 Steady4th DUP–Sinn Féin–UUP–SDLP–Alliance
2016 5th Assembly Colum Eastwood 83,364 12.0%
12 / 108
Decrease2 Steady4th DUP–Sinn Féin–Independent
2017 6th Assembly 95,958 11.9%
12 / 90
Steady Increase3rd DUP–Sinn Féin–SDLP–UUP–Alliance
2022 7th Assembly 78,237 9.1%
8 / 90
Decrease4 Decrease5th Opposition

Westminster elections

Election House of Commons Leader Votes Seats Position Government
No. Share No. Change
Feb 1974 46th Gerry Fitt 160,137 22.4% (in NI)
0.5% (in UK)
1 / 12
Increase1 Increase3rd Labour
Oct 1974 47th 154,193 22.0% (in NI)
0.6% (in UK)
1 / 12
Steady Steady3rd Labour
1979 48th 126,325 18.2% (in NI)
0.4% (in UK)
1 / 12
Steady Steady3rd Conservative
1983 49th John Hume 137,012 17.9% (in NI)
0.4% (in UK)
1 / 17
Steady Steady3rd Conservative
1987 50th 154,067 21.1% (in NI)
0.5% (in UK)
3 / 17
Increase2 Increase2nd Conservative
1992 51st 184,445 23.5% (in NI)
0.5% (in UK)
4 / 17
Increase1 Steady2nd Conservative
1997 52nd 190,814 24.1% (in NI)
0.6% (in UK)
3 / 18
Decrease1 Steady2nd Labour
2001 53rd 169,865 21.0% (in NI)
0.6% (in UK)
3 / 18
Steady Decrease4th Labour
2005 54th Mark Durkan 125,626 17.5% (in NI)
0.5% (in UK)
3 / 18
Steady Increase3rd Labour
2010 55th Margaret Ritchie 110,970 16.5% (in NI)
0.4% (in UK)
3 / 18
Steady Steady3rd Conservative-Liberal Democrats
2015 56th Alasdair McDonnell 99,809 13.9% (in NI)
0.3% (in UK)
3 / 18
Steady Steady3rd Conservative
2017 57th Colum Eastwood 95,419 11.7% (in NI)
0.3% (in UK)
0 / 18
Decrease3 Steady Conservative
(DUP confidence and supply)
2019 58th 118,737 14.9% (in NI)
0.4% (in UK)
2 / 18
Increase2 Increase3rd Conservative

Local government elections

Election Leader First Preference Votes Seats Position
No. Share No. Change
1973 Gerry Fitt 92,600 13.4%
82 / 517
Increase82 Increase2nd
1977 114,775 20.6%
113 / 526
Increase31 Steady2nd
1981 John Hume 116,487 17.5%
104 / 526
Decrease9 Decrease3rd
1985 113,967 17.8%
102 / 565
Decrease2 Steady3rd
1989 129,557 21.0%
121 / 565
Increase19 Increase2nd
1993 136,760 22.0%
127 / 582
Increase6 Steady2nd
1997 130,387 21.0%
120 / 575
Decrease7 Steady2nd
2001 153,424 19.0%
117 / 582
Decrease3 Decrease3rd
2005 Mark Durkan 121,991 17.4%
101 / 582
Decrease16 Decrease4th
2011 Margaret Ritchie 99,325 15.0%
87 / 583
Decrease14 Steady4th
2014 Alasdair McDonnell 85,237 13.6%
66 / 462
Decrease21 Steady4th
2019 Colum Eastwood 81,419 12.0%
59 / 462
Decrease7 Steady4th
2023 Colum Eastwood 64,996 8.7%
39 / 462
Decrease20 Decrease5th

European elections

Election Leader First Preference Votes Seats Position
No. Share No. Change
1979 Gerry Fitt 140,622 25.5%
1 / 3
Increase1 Increase2nd
1984 John Hume 151,399 22.1%
1 / 3
Steady Steady2nd
1989 136,335 25.0%
1 / 3
Steady Steady2nd
1994 161,992 28.9%
1 / 3
Steady Steady2nd
1999 190,731 28.1%
1 / 3
Steady Steady2nd
2004 Mark Durkan 87,559 15.9%
0 / 3
Decrease1 Decrease4th
2009 78,489 16.1%
0 / 3
Steady Steady4th
2014 Alasdair McDonnell 81,594 13.0%
0 / 3
Steady Steady4th
2019 Colum Eastwood 78,589 13.7%
0 / 3
Steady Steady4th

See also

Notes

  1. splinter factions from Nationalist Party

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