2015 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election

April 2022 2015 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election 2011 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election 2011 2024 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election 2024 12–15 November 2015 1st pref. Percentage x160px|Colum Eastwood Colum Eastwood 172 56.4% x160px|Alasdair McDonnell Alasdair McDonnell 133 43.6% Leader Alasdair McDonnell Colum Eastwood A leadership election was held for the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) of Northern Ireland between 12 and 15 November 2015. The result was a victory for Colum Eastwood. Background Following poor election results in the 2014 local elections, the 2014 European Parliament election and the 2015 Westminster election, McDonnell resisted calls to stand down.Gerry Moriarty http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/sdlp-leader-resists-calls-to-stand-down-1.2212995 SDLP leader resists calls to stand down Irishtimes.com 2015-05-14 2016-07-24 2015-12-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20151227233726/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/sdlp-leader-resists-calls-to-stand-down-1.2212995 live Initially no challenger came forward, though early in June it was rumoured that eventual challenger Colum Eastwood would stand.Clarke Liam http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/sdlp-deputy-dolores-kelly-calls-for-leader-alasdair-mcdonnell-to-stand-down-31304840.html SDLP deputy Dolores Kelly calls for leader Alasdair McDonnell to stand down BelfastTelegraph.co.uk 2015-06-16 2016-07-24 2015-12-31 https://web.archive.org/web/20151231080629/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/sdlp-deputy-dolores-kelly-calls-for-leader-alasdair-mcdonnell-to-stand-down-31304840.html live It was not until late September that Eastwood confirmed that he would stand against McDonnell.http://www.u.tv/News/2015/09/28/Colum-Eastwood-confirms-SDLP-leadership-bid-45817 The ITV Hub - The home of ITV U.tv 2016-07-24 2016-05-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20160529181253/http://www.u.tv/News/2015/09/28/Colum-Eastwood-confirms-SDLP-leadership-bid-45817 live Candidates Two SDLP members announced they would stand in the leadership election. These were: Colum Eastwood - MLA for Foyle. At 32 years old, Eastwood was the youngest SDLP MLA.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34815556 SDLP leadership contest result to be announced later BBC News 2016-07-24 2016-10-11 https://web.archive.org/web/20161011071534/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34815556 live He counted among his supporters the former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Seamus Mallon and former leader Mark Durkan.Sheena Jackson http://www.derryjournal.com/news/mark-durkan-mp-joins-seamus-mallon-in-support-of-eastwood-as-sdlp-leader-1-7039690 Mark Durkan MP joins Seamus Mallon in support of Eastwood as SDLP leader Derry Journal 2015-10-30 2016-07-24 2016-03-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111812/http://www.derryjournal.com/news/mark-durkan-mp-joins-seamus-mallon-in-support-of-eastwood-as-sdlp-leader-1-7039690 dead Alasdair McDonnell - Leader of the SDLP and MP for Belfast South. Results Below is a table summarising the results of the leadership election. With just two candidates there was only one round of votes. 2015 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership electionhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34822651 SDLP leadership: Colum Eastwood wins contest against Alasdair McDonnell BBC News 2016-07-24 2015-11-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20151114234835/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34822651 live 1 Colum Eastwood Social Democratic and Labour Party 56.4 172 Alasdair McDonnell Social Democratic and Labour Party 43.6 133 1 315 305   154   References collapsed Category:Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership elections Category:2015 political party leadership elections in the United Kingdom