| party = Labour (2021–present){{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4130/career|title=Parliamentary career for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament|website=members.parliament.uk}}

| otherparty = Independent (2019–2021){{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Gareth |title=Margaret Ritchie quits SDLP to become peer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49652646 |access-date=15 October 2019 |agency=BBC |publisher=BBC News |date=10 September 2019 |archive-date=15 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015202616/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49652646 |url-status=live }}
SDLP (1980–2019){{cite news |title=Margaret Ritchie: If the SDLP name disappears I will severely regret it |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/margaret-ritchie-if-the-sdlp-name-disappears-i-will-severely-regret-it-1-8757647 |access-date=15 October 2019 |work=newsletter.co.uk |agency=Newsletter |date=4 January 2019 |language=en |archive-date=15 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015202621/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/margaret-ritchie-if-the-sdlp-name-disappears-i-will-severely-regret-it-1-8757647 |url-status=live }}

| alma_mater = Queen's University Belfast

| nationality = Northern Irish

| website = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20061229204758/http://www.sdlp.ie/party/margaretritchiecv.shtm|Official website}}

| caption = Official portrait, 2022

}}

Margaret Mary Ritchie, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (born 25 March 1958), is a Northern Irish politician who was the Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 2010 to 2011. She was previously a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for South Down from 2003 to 2012, and was the Minister for Social Development in the Northern Ireland Executive from 2007 to 2010. Ritchie was the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Down from 2010 to 2017. She became a life peer in 2019 initially as a non-affiliated member, and then from October 2021 as a Labour member.

Political career

Lady Ritchie of Downpatrick is a graduate of The Queen's University of Belfast, and served as parliamentary assistant to Eddie McGrady, MP, from 1987 to 2003. Ritchie became a councillor on Down District Council in 1985 and was Vice-Chairman (1992–93) and Chairman of the Council (1993–1994). She has also served as International Secretary of the SDLP and as an alternate member of the European Committee of the Regions.

She was nominated as the Social Development Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly by the SDLP which took effect on 8 May 2007. Ritchie served as the sole SDLP minister in the Paisley/Robinson-McGuinness Northern Ireland Executive up to 2010.

Leadership

She became the leader of the SDLP, succeeding Mark Durkan on 7 February 2010, and was elected MP for South Down on 6 May 2010.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0207/sdlp.html|title=Cowen congratulates new SDLP leader |date=7 February 2010|work=RTÉ News and Current Affairs|access-date=7 February 2010|archive-date=10 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210181400/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0207/sdlp.html|url-status=live}}

On Remembrance Day 2010, Ritchie became the first leader of an Irish nationalist party to wear a remembrance poppy. She wore it at the wreath-laying ceremony at the cenotaph in Downpatrick. In Northern Ireland, the wearing of poppies is controversial as it is seen by many as a political symbol representing support for the British Army.{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/thousands-gather-to-remember-war-dead-28502427.html |first1=Lisa |last1=Smyth |date=7 Nov 2009 |title=Thousands gather to remember war dead|work=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=12 October 2015|archive-date=6 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106074949/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/thousands-gather-to-remember-war-dead-28502427.html|url-status=live}} Because of this, it has long been the preserve of the unionist/loyalist community.{{cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/images/symbols/unionloyal.htm|title= Symbols – Unionist and Loyalist|first=Martin|last=Melaugh|website=CAIN Archive - Ulster University |access-date=20 December 2010|archive-date=6 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806181854/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/images/symbols/unionloyal.htm|url-status=live}} She received praise from several unionist councillors for this.{{cite web |url-status=live |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11733457 |title=SDLP leader Ritchie to wear poppy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104053018/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11733457 |archive-date=4 January 2018 |website=BBC News |date=11 November 2010 }}{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/decision-to-wear-poppy-lsquodifficultrsquo-for-sdlp-leader-margaret-ritchie-15004207.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017094143/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/decision-to-wear-poppy-lsquodifficultrsquo-for-sdlp-leader-margaret-ritchie-15004207.html |archive-date=17 October 2012 |website=Belfast Telegraph |title=Decision to wear poppy 'difficult' for SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie |first1=Victoria |last1=O’Hara |date=15 November 2010 }}{{cite web |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910100753/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Ritchie39s-poppy-move-39is-a.6627303.jp |archive-date=10 September 2012 |title= Ritchie's poppy move 'is a major breakthrough' |website=The News Letter |date=16 November 2010 |url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/ritchie-s-poppy-move-is-a-major-breakthrough-1-1868258 }}

In December 2010 she launched a verbal attack on Sinn Féin by urging voters in the Republic of Ireland not to vote for Sinn Féin in the next Irish general election, describing their politics as 'sectarian' and causing 'division'.{{cite web |url-status=live |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ritchie-warns-voters-over-sinn-fein-28579039.html |title=Ritchie warns voters over Sinn Fein |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308163219/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ritchie-warns-voters-over-sinn-fein-28579039.html |archive-date=8 March 2016 |website=Belfast Telegraph |date=28 Dec 2010 }} A Sinn Féin spokesperson described the comments as "nonsense" and "an attempt to score cheap points".[http://www.louthleader.co.uk/news/ritchie_warns_voters_over_sinn_fein_1_2214179]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 2011, she voted against the military intervention in Libya.{{Cite news|date=2011-03-22|title=The full list of how MPs voted on Libya action|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-12816279|access-date=2021-10-20}}

In the 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election, the SDLP lost two seats and saw its vote decline by 1%. On 27 July 2011 it was reported that she faced a leadership challenge from deputy leader Patsy McGlone.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14316761 | work=BBC News | title=Margaret Ritchie: SDLP leader 'to face challenge' | date=27 July 2011 | access-date=20 June 2018 | archive-date=23 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123225708/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14316761 | url-status=live }} 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".[http://www.thephoenix.ie/phoenix/subscriber/library/volume-29/issue-16/contents.pdf] The Phoenix Magazine, 12 – 25 August 2011 Bird's Eye View Patsy McGlone's Leadership Strike p. 8. She stepped down in November 2011.

In a leaked US diplomatic cable, Ritchie was branded "wooden" and had her leadership of the SDLP questioned. Also she was considered to be burdened "with what some deem an unpleasant speaking voice" and lacking the "political muscle and business acumen" to rebuild the SDLP.[http://www.u.tv/News/US-cable-brands-SDLP-leader-wooden/3f9c00a3-4c12-488e-a67e-e29cec9375c8 US Cable brands SDLP leader wooden] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928230915/http://www.u.tv/News/US-cable-brands-SDLP-leader-wooden/3f9c00a3-4c12-488e-a67e-e29cec9375c8 |date=28 September 2012 }}BBC News{{cite news|last=Clarke|first=Liam|title=Ritchie quits as SDLP leader|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/ritchie-quits-as-sdlp-leader-sincere-and-focused-but-wooden-leaders-flaws-were-cruelly-exposed-28655746.html|work=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=18 May 2013|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306140944/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/ritchie-quits-as-sdlp-leader-sincere-and-focused-but-wooden-leaders-flaws-were-cruelly-exposed-28655746.html|url-status=live}}

Ritchie announced when leaving the leadership of the SDLP that she would also vacate her seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly in order to concentrate on her role as a Member of Parliament,{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0909/1224303759840.html |title=Ritchie to stand down from SDLP leadership |last=Moriarty |first=Gerry |date=9 September 2011 |access-date=27 February 2012 |newspaper=The Irish Times |archive-date=27 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927233724/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ritchie-to-stand-down-from-sdlp-leadership-1.594181 |url-status=live }} and the SDLP subsequently selected retired headteacher Seán Rodgers to replace her at Stormont.{{cite news |url=http://newrytimes.com/2011/12/07/former-kilkeel-headmaster-to-become-mla-for-south-down/ |title=Former Kilkeel Headmaster to become MLA for South Down |date=7 December 2011 |work=Newry Times |access-date=27 February 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035719/http://newrytimes.com/2011/12/07/former-kilkeel-headmaster-to-become-mla-for-south-down/ |url-status=live }} She submitted a letter of resignation to the Assembly at the end of February 2012, to take effect on 31 March.[http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Assembly-Business/Official-Report/Reports-11-12/27-February-2012-12-noon---1230-pm/#a1 Resignation of Margaret Ritchie]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Official Report, Northern Ireland Assembly, 27 February 2012.

Post-leadership

Ritchie spoke to senior Ulster Bank officials to emphasise the need for them to fully reimburse customers following their computer failure in 2012, saying: "Many customers are still experiencing difficulties with Ulster Bank in that they haven't been fully reimbursed for the money they lost as a result of the bank's computer system failure. This has been compounded by a complete lack of communication from the bank throughout the difficulties their customers have been experiencing."{{cite web|last=Malone|first=Paul|title=Ritchie urges Ulster Bank to "fully reimburse" customers|url=http://newrytimes.com/2012/08/24/ritchie-urges-ulster-bank-to-fully-compensate-customers/|work=Newry Times|access-date=28 August 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030107/http://newrytimes.com/2012/08/24/ritchie-urges-ulster-bank-to-fully-compensate-customers/|url-status=live}}

She lost her seat in the 2017 UK General election to the Sinn Féin candidate, Chris Hazzard.

=Peerage=

On 10 September 2019 it was announced that Ritchie had accepted a life peerage as part of Theresa May's resignation honours list.{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Connla |title=Former SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie to take seat in House of Lords |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2019/09/10/news/former-sdlp-leader-margaret-ritchie-to-take-seat-in-house-of-lords-1707997/ |access-date=15 October 2019 |agency=Irish News |publisher=Irish News |date=10 September 2019 |archive-date=25 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225014239/https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2019/09/10/news/former-sdlp-leader-margaret-ritchie-to-take-seat-in-house-of-lords-1707997/ |url-status=live }} Ritchie was created The Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, of Downpatrick in the County of Down, on 16 October 2019.{{London Gazette |issue=62802 |date=22 October 2019 |page=18924}} Due to the SDLP policy of not supporting appointments to the House of Lords, Ritchie resigned from the SDLP and decided to take a non-affiliated position in the chamber.{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ex-sdlp-mp-unapologetic-about-house-of-lords-elevation-1.4016354 |title=Ex-SDLP MP unapologetic about House of Lords elevation |publisher=The Irish Times |date=12 September 2019 |last=Moriarty |first=Gerry |accessdate=2 March 2022}} However, on 20 October 2021, she joined the Labour Party and now sits as a Labour member.{{cite web |title=Parliamentary career for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4130/career |website=members.parliament.uk |access-date=13 December 2021 |language=en}}

References

External links

{{UK MP links | parliament = ms-margaret-ritchie/4130 | publicwhip = margaret_ritchie | theywork = margaret_ritchie}}
[http://www.margaretritchie.com/ Margaret Ritchie's Website]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070309232719/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/members/biogs_03/ritchie_m.htm NI Assembly profile]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110716153508/http://www.stratagem-ni.com/resources_politician.aspx?dataid=358818 Stratagem profile]

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Northern Ireland Forum
for South Down|years=1996–1998}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Legislative Assembly
for South Down|years=2003–2012}}

{{s-vac

| reason = Office suspended

| last = Nigel Dodds

}}

{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party|years=2010–2011}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for South Down|years=2010–2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ritchie of Downpatrick, Margaret Ritchie, Baroness}}

Category:1958 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century women politicians from Northern Ireland