Minor Party Elects New leader

Be honest lads...

So finally after an incredibly riveting and heart thumping leadership challenge the youthful energetic SDLP have chosen Margaret Ritchie as their new commander and chief.

I lie, lets start again. So finally after an incredibly nauseating and mind numbingly boring leadership challenge the blue rinse brigade of the SDLP have chosen true blue Maggie over the other true blue Alisdair.

How exciting.

Lets hope Margaret Ritchie can finish a speech without whimpering the whole way through it. Sentiments that were even echoed by Tom Kelly the SDLP’s Irish News pin up boy. The Stoops really are in trouble when even he is getting the boot in.

The footnote that was the SDLP’s conference demonstrated with crystal clarity just how bad things are for the North’s upper middle class party. The week started of badly for the Stoops. Sinn Féin as the principle party of Northern Nationalists and Republicans secured the devolution of policing and justice, removing it and other powers from London to Ireland. Another step to the Republic. Not surprisingly political, media and public attention was focused on these talks, mercifully sparing us coverage of the big ‘build up’ to the SDLP conference.

And even over the weekend, the expectant news that the Sticks and the INLA would put their weapons beyond use over shadowed their conference even further.

I tell ya, things must be bad if the sticks get more attention.

The attacks of renegade MP Eddie Mc Grady on Fianna Fáil’s decision to mobilise North, has caused further division in an already badly fractured party. Many Stoops, like a damsel in distress are waiting to be rescued by the burly arms of BIFFO. A rescue by the looks of things that ain’t gonna happen.

Ritchie is not even standing in this Westminster election, instead her lack lustre performance at the last assembly election in which she came second to Sinn Féin’s Education Minister Caitronia Ruane, scared the bejesus out of them. So once again Mc Grady (with his Unionist voters) is rolled out in a desperate attempt to halt Sinn Féin’s rise.

So not only is their leader NOT standing in this election, their MP for south Belfast and leadership runner up will fight for his political life come May, if Unionism gets its act together its bye bye Alisdair. Mc Donnell is on borrowed time. Mark Durkan like Gerry Fitt before him is of to retire to Westminster. Although he will continue to fight for the Foyle seat, his diminished role will impact on his electoral performance in a constituency that, like south Down Sinn Féin is on the up.

Margaret Ritchie’s stating her ambition of being ‘First Minister’ was uncomfortable to watch so too were the - count on one hand ‘young’ SDLP members hauled in front of the camera to create the illusion that the party has members under 50.

Don't I look soooo young without my moustache?

Every speech and politician from the SDLP spent the weekend claiming either sole credit for the Good Friday Agreement or blaming every problem in the world on us - including the weather.

While the stoops look to the past, we look to the future.

Lets make sure they are given their P45’s come May.

The campaigning starts now.

An Phoblacht Abú!