2015 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2015 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election
| previous_election = 2011 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election
| previous_year = 2011
| next_election = 2024 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election
| next_year = 2024
| election_date = 12–15 November 2015
| 1blank = 1st pref.
| 2blank = Percentage
| image1 = File:Colum Eastwood MLA.JPG
| candidate1 = Colum Eastwood
| colour1 = 3A9E84
| 1data1 = 172
| 2data1 = 56.4%
| image2 = File:Alasdair McDonnell MP.JPG
| candidate2 = Alasdair McDonnell
| colour2 = 3A9E84
| 1data2 = 133
| 2data2 = 43.6%
| title = Leader
| before_election = Alasdair McDonnell
| after_election = 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.{{cite web |author=Gerry Moriarty |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/sdlp-leader-resists-calls-to-stand-down-1.2212995 |title=SDLP leader resists calls to stand down |publisher=Irishtimes.com |date=2015-05-14 |accessdate=2016-07-24 |archive-date=2015-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227233726/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/sdlp-leader-resists-calls-to-stand-down-1.2212995 |url-status=live }} Initially no challenger came forward, though early in June it was rumoured that eventual challenger Colum Eastwood would stand.{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Liam |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/sdlp-deputy-dolores-kelly-calls-for-leader-alasdair-mcdonnell-to-stand-down-31304840.html |title=SDLP deputy Dolores Kelly calls for leader Alasdair McDonnell to stand down |publisher=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |date=2015-06-16 |accessdate=2016-07-24 |archive-date=2015-12-31 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }} It was not until late September that Eastwood confirmed that he would stand against McDonnell.{{cite web |url=http://www.u.tv/News/2015/09/28/Colum-Eastwood-confirms-SDLP-leadership-bid-45817 |title=The ITV Hub - The home of ITV |publisher=U.tv |date= |accessdate=2016-07-24 |archive-date=2016-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529181253/http://www.u.tv/News/2015/09/28/Colum-Eastwood-confirms-SDLP-leadership-bid-45817 |url-status=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.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34815556 |title=SDLP leadership contest result to be announced later |publisher=BBC News |date= |accessdate=2016-07-24 |archive-date=2016-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011071534/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34815556 |url-status=live }} He counted among his supporters the former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Seamus Mallon and former leader Mark Durkan.{{cite web |author=Sheena Jackson |url=http://www.derryjournal.com/news/mark-durkan-mp-joins-seamus-mallon-in-support-of-eastwood-as-sdlp-leader-1-7039690 |title=Mark Durkan MP joins Seamus Mallon in support of Eastwood as SDLP leader |publisher=Derry Journal |date=2015-10-30 |accessdate=2016-07-24 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=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 |url-status=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.
{{STV Election box begin2
|title = 2015 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34822651 |title=SDLP leadership: Colum Eastwood wins contest against Alasdair McDonnell |publisher=BBC News |date= |accessdate=2016-07-24 |archive-date=2015-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114234835/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34822651 |url-status=live }}
|numcounts = 1
}}
{{STV Election box candidate2
|candidate = Colum Eastwood
|party = Social Democratic and Labour Party
|percentage = 56.4
|count1 =172
}}
{{STV Election box candidate2
|candidate = Alasdair McDonnell
|party = Social Democratic and Labour Party
|percentage = 43.6
|count1 = 133
}}
{{STV Election box end2
|numcounts = 1
|electorate = 315
|valid = 305
|spoilt =
|quota = 154
|turnout =
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Social Democratic and Labour Party}}
{{2015 United Kingdom party elections|state=collapsed}}
Category:Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership elections