Menu
07/05/2010
Ritchie Win Underlines Leadership
A Sinn Fein Stormont Minister has been displaced by an Assembly Executive colleague.
The SDLP's new leader Margaret Ritchie has won the South Down Westminster seat held by her party's outgoing MP, Eddie McGrady, (both pictured here).
The NI Minister for Social Development polled 20,648 votes, well ahead of NI Education Minister Caitriona Ruane of Sinn Fein, with 12,236.
Jim Wells of the DUP received 3,645 votes, John McCallister, Ulster Conservatives and Unionists - New Force, 3,093, Ivor McConnell, TUV, 1,506, Cadogan Enright, Greens, 901, and David Griffin, Alliance Party, 560.
Ms Ritchie was only elected as the leader of the SDLP in February of this year and is the sole member of the party in the Northern Ireland Executive.
"I am proud of the people of South Down, because the people of South Down are the salt of the earth and they have shown that they want real representation for all of the community in South Down," she said.
The party leader was at 'dangers-drawn' with the Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, over the SDLP's rejection of a poll agreement to allow a single candidate in Fermanagh South Tyrone, after SF withdrew from the South Belfast constituency.
Margaret Ritchie underlined the SF policy of abstention from Westminster as her main reason for rejection.
(BMcC/GK)
The SDLP's new leader Margaret Ritchie has won the South Down Westminster seat held by her party's outgoing MP, Eddie McGrady, (both pictured here).
The NI Minister for Social Development polled 20,648 votes, well ahead of NI Education Minister Caitriona Ruane of Sinn Fein, with 12,236.
Jim Wells of the DUP received 3,645 votes, John McCallister, Ulster Conservatives and Unionists - New Force, 3,093, Ivor McConnell, TUV, 1,506, Cadogan Enright, Greens, 901, and David Griffin, Alliance Party, 560.
Ms Ritchie was only elected as the leader of the SDLP in February of this year and is the sole member of the party in the Northern Ireland Executive.
"I am proud of the people of South Down, because the people of South Down are the salt of the earth and they have shown that they want real representation for all of the community in South Down," she said.
The party leader was at 'dangers-drawn' with the Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, over the SDLP's rejection of a poll agreement to allow a single candidate in Fermanagh South Tyrone, after SF withdrew from the South Belfast constituency.
Margaret Ritchie underlined the SF policy of abstention from Westminster as her main reason for rejection.
(BMcC/GK)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
09 September 2011
McGlone And McDowell Bid For SDLP Leadership
Two candidates have come forward with the view of taking leadership of the SDLP. South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell has said he will make a formal decision next week on whether to step up. Meanwhile Deputy leader Pasty McGlone has confirmed his intention to run for the position.
McGlone And McDowell Bid For SDLP Leadership
Two candidates have come forward with the view of taking leadership of the SDLP. South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell has said he will make a formal decision next week on whether to step up. Meanwhile Deputy leader Pasty McGlone has confirmed his intention to run for the position.
16 August 2010
SF Opposes Ritchie Calls For Police Primacy
Sinn Fein have condemned a nationalist call for the PSNI to again run secret anti-terror operations instead of members of MI5.
SF Opposes Ritchie Calls For Police Primacy
Sinn Fein have condemned a nationalist call for the PSNI to again run secret anti-terror operations instead of members of MI5.
25 May 2010
SDLP Unity 'U-Turn' Sees MLA Shunned
There's embarrassment today after a leading north Antrim SDLP politician was forced to withdraw a call for nationalist unity - before being shunned by his own party this afternoon.
SDLP Unity 'U-Turn' Sees MLA Shunned
There's embarrassment today after a leading north Antrim SDLP politician was forced to withdraw a call for nationalist unity - before being shunned by his own party this afternoon.
27 May 2014
40 Jobs Announced Through Crossgar Supermarket
40 jobs are expected to be created through the construction of a new SuperValu store in Crossgar, County Down. The 6,000sq ft store and filling station is due to open in September on the Belfast Road. SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said: "This is very welcome news and I congratulate the owner in partnership with SuperValu for this development.
40 Jobs Announced Through Crossgar Supermarket
40 jobs are expected to be created through the construction of a new SuperValu store in Crossgar, County Down. The 6,000sq ft store and filling station is due to open in September on the Belfast Road. SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said: "This is very welcome news and I congratulate the owner in partnership with SuperValu for this development.
17 August 2010
SDLP Leader Slammed For MI5 Comments
There has been an angry response to yesterday's call to give the PSNI back its former lead role in intelligence gathering. Speaking after SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie claimed that MI5 should hand over dissident republican intelligence to the PSNI as it had failed to prevent terror attacks across NI.
SDLP Leader Slammed For MI5 Comments
There has been an angry response to yesterday's call to give the PSNI back its former lead role in intelligence gathering. Speaking after SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie claimed that MI5 should hand over dissident republican intelligence to the PSNI as it had failed to prevent terror attacks across NI.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
