Social Democratic and Labour Party

This article is about the political party of Northern Ireland. For other uses, see Social Democratic Labour Party (disambiguation).

"SDLP" redirects here. For the unit within the French National Police, see Service de la protection. For the research programme, see Stanford Digital Library Project.

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; Irish: Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre)^[9] is a social-democratic^[6][10][11] and Irish nationalist^[10][12][13] political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLAs) and two members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

Social Democratic and Labour Party Páirtí Daonlathach Sóisialta agus an Lucht Oibre^[1]
Abbreviation	SDLP
Leader	Colum Eastwood
Chairperson	Daniel McCrossan
Party Manager	Catherine Matthews
Founders	Gerry Fitt John Hume Ivan Cooper Austin Currie Paddy Devlin Paddy O'Hanlon Paddy Wilson
Founded	21 August 1970; 53 years ago (1970-08-21)^[2]
Preceded by	Republican Labour Party National Democratic Party ^[a]
Headquarters	121 Ormeau Road Belfast BT7 1SH^[3]
Youth wing	SDLP Youth
Women's wing	SDLP Women
LGBT wing	SDLP LGBT+
Ideology	Social democracy^[4] Irish nationalism^[5]
European affiliation	Party of European Socialists
International affiliation	Socialist International (observer)
Colours	Green   Red
House of Commons (NI seats)	2 / 18
NI Assembly	8 / 90
Local government in Northern Ireland^[8]	39 / 462
Website
www.sdlp.ie
Politics of Northern Ireland Political parties Elections

The SDLP party platform advocates Irish reunification^[4] and further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom. During the Troubles, the SDLP was the most popular Irish nationalist party in Northern Ireland, but since the Provisional IRA ceasefire in 1994, it has lost ground to the republican party Sinn Féin, which in 2001 became the more popular of the two parties for the first time. Established during the Troubles, a significant difference between the two parties was the SDLP's rejection of violence, in contrast to Sinn Féin's then-support for (and organisational ties to) the Provisional IRA and physical force republicanism.

History

Foundation and early history (1970-1972)

The party was founded on 21 August 1970, when six Stormont MPs (Gerry Fitt, Republican Labour Party; Austin Currie, Nationalist Party; Paddy Devlin, Northern Ireland Labour Party; John Hume, Ivan Cooper and Paddy O’Hanlon, Independent) and one Senator (Paddy Wilson, Republican Labour), joined to form a new party.^[6] They were joined on 10 November by a second Senator (Claude Wilton, Ulster Liberal Party), bringing the total parliamentary party to eight members.^[14] Gerry Fitt was chosen to lead the new party while John Hume was appointed its deputy. Paddy Wilson also became the party’s first General Secretary.

The smaller National Democratic Party dissolved itself in October of that year and encouraged all its members to join the new party.^[15] Additionally, individual members and branches from other parties joined including from the Irish Labour Party, Nationalist Party, Northern Ireland Labour Party, Republican Labour Party and Ulster Liberal Party.^[16]

The SDLP contested its first election in a by-election for the Belfast St. Anne’s seat on 12 November. Their candidate Gerry Laverty won 24.2% of the vote in the traditionally Unionist seat.^[17]

The SDLP initially rejected the Nationalist Party's policy of abstentionism and sought to fight for civil rights within the Stormont system.^[18] However, the SDLP quickly came to the view that Stormont was unreformable, refusing to attend the state opening on 18 June 1971, and withdrawing altogether in response the shooting dead of Seamus Cusack and Desmond Beattie in Derry on 8 July.^[19]

On 15 August the SDLP announced they would lead a Campaign of Civil Disobedience in response to the introduction of internment the previous week. This involved the withdrawal of SDLP representatives from public bodies, the organisation of a rent and rates strike and SDLP MPs participating in a 48 hour hunger strike outside 10 Downing Street.^[20]

The SDLP held its first annual conference in Dungiven on 23 October that year. The party adopted its draft constitution, Eddie McGrady was elected the party’s first chairman while Sheila Carson becomes its first secretary. Several motions were passed including committing the party firmly to socialism, supporting the parliamentary party’s decision to withdraw from Stormont and condemning the 11-plus.^[21]

After the abolition of the Parliament of Northern Ireland in 1972, the SDLP emerged as the largest party representing the nationalist community. On 20 September the party issued its first major policy document, entitled "Towards a New Ireland".^[22] It recommended that the British Government issue a declaration that it would recognise that Ireland is better off united, and that as an interim proposal Northern Ireland should be administered jointly by the British and Irish Governments. It also proposed the establishment of a National Senate drawn equally from a devolved Assembly in Belfast and the Oireachtas in Dublin to plan for the integration of the island.

Sunningdale Agreement (1973-1974)

The first major electoral contest for the SDLP were elections to Northern Ireland’s 26 new district councils, held on 30 May 1973. The SDLP won 13.4% of the vote and 82 seats, becoming the second largest party in Northern Ireland and the largest party in the districts of Derry, Magherafelt and Newry and Mourne. Other nationalist parties failed to achieve much success, leaving the SDLP as the largest party representing the nationalist community.^[23]

Paddy Wilson, the SDLP’s General Secretary and councillor in the new Belfast City Council was murdered on the 26 June, two days before the election to the new Northern Ireland Assembly. Wilson and another woman, Irene Andrews, were killed by the UFF, a codename for the UDA. John White was later convicted for his part in the killings.^[24]

Following publication of the British Government’s White Paper, elections were held to the new Northern Ireland Assembly on 28 June, where the party won 19 out of 75 seats and once again emerged as the voice of the nationalist community, increasing its vote share to 22% of the vote.^[25] Negotiations occurred throughout October and November on the formation of a new power-sharing Executive to govern Northern Ireland with the SDLP, UUP and Alliance taking part. On 21 November Northern Ireland Secretary of State, William Whitelaw, announced that agreement had been reached on the composition and functions of the new Executive, with the SDLP entitled to four of the eleven members and a further two non-Executive office holders. Agreement was still to be reached on many other aspects of the White Paper, particularly regarding the Council of Ireland.^[26]

Following discussions between the British Prime Minister and Irish Taoiseach, as well as the political parties, it was announced on 9 December at Sunningdale that an agreement had been reached on the remaining elements of the White Paper, including the implementation of a Council of Ireland.^[27]

On 1 January 1974 the Northern Ireland Executive took office, with Gerry Fitt as Deputy Chief Executive, John Hume as Minister of Commerce, Paddy Devlin as Minister of Health and Social Services and Austin Currie as Minister of Housing, Local Government and Planning.^[26]

The SDLP faced its first Westminster election shortly afterwards in February in what became a referendum on power-sharing. The anti-power-sharing Unionists united under the UUUC banner and won 11 seats, with Gerry Fitt being the only pro-power-sharing MP returned, dealing a critical blow to the fledgling Executive. The Executive eventually collapsed after 5 months following several weeks of the Ulster Workers’ Council strike.^[28]

Searching for agreement (1975-1980)

Attempting to find agreement, the Secretary of State called elections for a Constitutional Convention on 1 May 1975, for which the SDLP won 17 seats and 24% of the vote.^[29] The UUUC however won a majority of seats and votes, the Constitutional Convention made no progress and the British Government brought it to an end in early 1976. Later that year on 1 September SDLP member Denis Mullen was shot dead at his home.^[30]

Following the failure of the Constitutional Convention the SDLP continued searching for a long term solution, at times engaging in talks with the UUP. In 1977 the party issued a policy document titled "Facing Reality". This called for the party to put a stronger emphasis on the "Irish dimension". In response to this perceived move away from the party’s Labour values Paddy Devlin, then party chairperson, resigned from the party.^[26]

In 1978 SDLP deputy leader John Hume presented his proposal for an "agreed Ireland". In contrast to the two main options at the time of full integration into Britain or full withdrawal, Hume’s solution proposed the British government declaring that its aim was to bring the main traditions in Ireland together in reconciliation.^[31]

After years of little progress 1979 brought considerably more action for the SDLP. A vote of confidence in the Labour Government failed in March that year. Gerry Fitt abstained on the vote as the Government had failed to act on the Bennett Report into RUC interrogation techniques.^[32] In the following general election, the Conservatives came to power in Westminster and Fitt held his seat in Belfast West.

In June that year the first direct election to the European Parliament were held. The SDLP candidate was John Hume who won a seat with 25% of the first preference vote. He went on to sit in the Socialist Group in the European Parliament.^[33]

The new Conservative Secretary of State, Humphrey Atkins, invited Northern Ireland parties including the SDLP to a conference on the future of Northern Ireland. There was intense debate in the SDLP whether or not to attend a conference which would not discuss any all-island dimension, with Gerry Fitt wanting to attend regardless of any discussion on an "Irish dimension" while many others, including John Hume, refusing to attend. As a result of this dispute Fitt resigned as SDLP leader.^[34] On 28 November John Hume was elected as his replacement, and Seamus Mallon became his deputy.^[35]

The SDLP eventually made the decision to attend the Atkins conference, on the condition that there would be parallel discussions involving the "Irish dimension". These talks, like others, failed to reach agreement.^[36]

Entry of Sinn Féin (1981-1982)

Following the death of Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Frank Maguire and the selection of hunger striker Bobby Sands as a candidate in the following by-election the SDLP decided to withdraw Austin Currie as their candidate.^[37] The election was held on 9 April and Bobby Sands won the seat by a slim margin. As the strikes went on, SDLP leader John Hume met Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to ask that she concede some of the demands of the hunger strikers. No agreement was forthcoming. When Sands died, the SDLP also stood aside for Owen Carron, who also won the seat by a narrow margin.^[38]

The hunger strikes also had an impact on the electoral fortunes of the SDLP. In local government elections in 1981 the SDLP vote share fell to 17.5% as nationalist voters began to support more candidates from parties like the Irish Independence Party and Irish Republican Socialist Party.^[39]

In Spring 1982 Northern Ireland Secretary of State Jim Prior proposed “rolling devolution” by which a consultative Assembly be established. John Hume labelled the proposals as unworkable as they offered no realistic prospect of power-sharing or offered any role for the Irish Government.^[40]

In May of that year the SDLP secured a seat in Seanad Éireann as new Taoiseach Charles Haughey appointed SDLP Deputy Leader Seamus Mallon to serve as a voice for Northern nationalists.

As the elections to the Assembly approached the party announced that although it would contest the election, none of its representatives would take their seats. The election, held on 20 October, mirrored the SDLP’s performance in the local elections the previous year as the party won 18.8% of the vote and took 14 seats. The decision by Sinn Féin to stand also had an impact on the SDLP vote as the party, considered to be the political wing of the Provisional IRA, took 10.1% of the vote and 5 seats.

As a result of Seamus Mallon’s membership of Seanad Éireann he was removed as a member of the Assembly and a by-election was held in Armagh the following spring. The SDLP called for a boycott and amidst low turnout the UUP won the election.

Good Friday Agreement and return to government

The SDLP was a key player in the talks throughout the 1990s that led to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.^[41] John Hume won a Nobel Peace Prize that year with Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble in recognition of their efforts.^[42]

As a result of the Agreement, elections to a new Northern Ireland Assembly were held in June 1998; the SDLP emerged as the second-largest party overall, and the largest nationalist party, with 24 out of 108 seats.^[43] The party was then returned to government later in the year when a power-sharing Executive was established for Northern Ireland. The SDLP took office alongside the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and Sinn Féin, and the SDLP's Seamus Mallon became Deputy First Minister alongside the UUP's First Minister, David Trimble.^[44]

Upon Mallon's retirement in 2001, Mark Durkan succeeded him as Deputy First Minister.

All-island Merger

There had been a debate in the party on the prospects of amalgamation with Fianna Fáil.^[45] Little came of this speculation and former party leader Margaret Ritchie, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick rejected the idea. Speaking at the 2010 Labour Party (Ireland) national conference in Galway she said that a merger would not happen while she was leader – "Merger with Fianna Fáil? Not on my watch."^[46] After his election as Fianna Fáil Leader in January 2011, Micheál Martin repeatedly dismissed the possibility of a merger or electoral alliance with the SDLP. In January 2019, the SDLP membership were e-mailed on the issue with the text "continuing on as normal is not an option", a reference to the party's declining fortunes.^[47]

In February 2019, at a special party conference, the members approved a partnership with Fianna Fáil,^[48] the main opposition party in the Republic of Ireland. Both parties shared policies on key areas including addressing the current political situation in Northern Ireland, improving public services in both jurisdictions of Ireland, such as healthcare and education, and bringing about further unity and co-operation of the people on the island and arrangements for a future poll on Irish reunification.^[49]

Claire Hanna, MLA for Belfast South and party spokesperson on Brexit, quit the assembly group as a result.^[50]

In the lead up to the 2022 Assembly election, party leader Colum Eastwood played down the partnership stating, "The SDLP stands on its own two feet."^[51] This led people to commentate that the partnership is no longer active, with comments from as early as 2020 determining that it had been "quietly forgotten".^[52][53][54] The partnership officially ended on 28 September 2022.^[55]

Westminster Parliament

In contrast to Sinn Féin, which follows a policy of abstentionism, the SDLP MPs have always taken their seat in the Westminster parliament. The party's first MP was leader Gerry Fitt who was already a sitting MP when the SDLP was founded.^[56] The SDLP's best result was in 1992 general election when they won four out of 17 seats. Its worst result was in 2017 when they lost all their seats. In 2019 they won two seats.

Although not abstentionist, SDLP MPs have protested the parliamentary oath required of every member of parliament. At the swearing in ceremony after the 2019 general election, the party leader Colum Eastwood said:

"Under protest and in order to represent my constituency, I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law. My true allegiance is to the people of Derry and the people of Ireland."^[57]

Proposed Dáil participation

The SDLP, along with Sinn Féin, have long sought speaking rights in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Republic's parliament. In 2005, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, leader of Fianna Fáil, put forward a proposal to allow MPs and MEPs from Northern Ireland to participate in debates on the region. However, the plan was met with vociferous opposition from the Republic's main opposition parties, Fine Gael and the Labour Party, and was subsequently shelved.^[58] Unionists had also strongly opposed the proposal.

Remembrance Day 2010

On Remembrance Day in 2010, party leader Margaret Ritchie became the first leader of a nationalist party to wear a poppy while attending a wreath-laying ceremony in Downpatrick, County Down. The poppy is worn on the lapel in the United Kingdom as a mark of respect and remembrance for fallen British soldiers in the period around Remembrance Day and is controversial in Northern Ireland, as it is viewed by many as a political symbol representing support for the British Army.^[59] Because of this, it has long been the preserve of the unionist/loyalist community.^[60] Her actions drew praise from unionists.^[61][62][63]

Leadership challenges and elections, 2011–2015

On 27 July 2011, it was reported that Margaret Ritchie faced a leadership challenge from deputy leader Patsy McGlone.^[64] 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".^[65]

Alasdair McDonnell was confirmed as Ritchie's successor after the subsequent leadership election on 5 November 2011.^[66]

Colum Eastwood challenged McDonnell and replaced him as leader after the party's 2015 leadership election.^[67]

Ideology and policies

The SDLP is a social democratic party that opposes austerity and Brexit.^[68] It is also an Irish nationalist party advocating for a shared home place for all the people on the island of Ireland.^[69]

While the party is officially anti-abortion it does not apply a party whip on the issue.^[70] The party supports LGBT rights including marriage equality, the roll out of PrEP across Northern Ireland and LGBT education in schools. The SDLP is anti-xenophobic and opposes plans to create what it deems a hostile environment for immigrants.^[71] The party also supports an Irish language act.^[72]

The SDLP believes that 3,000 social and affordable houses should be built every year. They oppose the gig economy and zero-hour contracts.^[73] The party opposes welfare reform and the cut to universal credit.^[74][75]

Despite opposing academic selection the party does not advocate the abolition of grammar schools.^[76] The party supports the abolition of tuition fees. It wants to make a modern language up to GCSE and the teaching of maths up to the age of 18 compulsory.

The party believes that the Magee campus in Derry should be expanded to 10,000 student places.^[77]

The party supports a green corporate levy on businesses who contribute large amounts of greenhouse gases and a green jobs strategy. They also believe that a climate emergency should be declared and the government should be required to reach net zero emissions.^[78]

Leadership

Colum Eastwood is the sixth leader of the SDLP, taking over from Alasdair McDonnell in 2015.

Leader

No.	Portrait	Leader	Period	Constituency
1		Gerry Fitt	1970–1979	MP (Parliament of Northern Ireland) for Belfast Dock (1962–1972) MP (UK Parliament) for Belfast West (1966–1983)
2		John Hume	1979–2001	MP (Parliament of Northern Ireland) for Foyle (1969–1972) MEP for Northern Ireland (1979–2004) MP (UK Parliament) for Foyle (1983–2005) MLA for Foyle (1998–2000)
3		Mark Durkan	2001–2010	MLA for Foyle (1998–2010) MP for Foyle (2005–2017)
4		Margaret Ritchie	2010–2011	MLA for South Down (2003–2012) MP for South Down (2010–2017)
5		Alasdair McDonnell	2011–2015	MLA for Belfast South (1998–2015) MP for Belfast South (2005–2017)
6		Colum Eastwood	2015–present	MLA for Foyle (2011–2019) MP for Foyle (from 2019)

Deputy leader

No.	Portrait	Leader	Period	Constituency	Leader
1		John Hume	1970–1979	MP (Parliament of Northern Ireland) for Foyle (1969–1972) MEP for Northern Ireland (1979–2004) MP (UK Parliament) for Foyle (1983–2005) MLA for Foyle (1998–2000)	Gerry Fitt
2		Seamus Mallon	1979–2001	MP for Newry and Armagh (1986–2005) MLA for Newry and Armagh (1998–2003)	John Hume
3		Bríd Rodgers	2001–2004	MLA for Upper Bann (1998–2003)	Mark Durkan
4		Alasdair McDonnell	2004–2010	MLA for Belfast South (1998–2015) MP for Belfast South (2005–2017)
5		Patsy McGlone	2010–2011	MLA for Mid-Ulster (from 2003)	Margaret Ritchie
6		Dolores Kelly	2011–2015	MLA for Upper Bann (2003–2016; 2017–2022)	Alasdair McDonnell
7		Fearghal McKinney	2015–2016	MLA for Belfast South (2013–2016)	Colum Eastwood
		Position Vacant	2016-2017
8		Nichola Mallon	2017–2022	MLA for Belfast North (2016–2022)
		Position Vacant	2022-present

Elected representatives

The SDLP currently have two MPs in the UK Parliament, eight MLAs in the Northern Ireland Assembly and 39 councillors across Northern Ireland's 11 councils.^[79]

Northern Ireland council seats
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council	1 / 40
Ards and North Down Borough Council	1 / 40
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council	1 / 41
Belfast City Council	5 / 60
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council	3 / 40
Derry City and Strabane District Council	10 / 40
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council	3 / 40
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council	2 / 40
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council	0 / 40
Mid Ulster District Council	5 / 40
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council	8 / 41

MPs

MP	Constituency	Period	Notes
Colum Eastwood	Foyle	2019–present	SDLP Leader; Spokesperson for a New Ireland; Foyle MLA 2011–2019
Claire Hanna	Belfast South	2019–present	Spokesperson for Europe and International Affairs; Belfast South MLA 2015–2019

MLAs

MLA	Constituency	Period	Notes
Mark H. Durkan	Foyle	2011–present	Spokesperson for Climate Change and Infrastructure
Cara Hunter	East Londonderry	2020–present	Spokesperson for Children and Young People
Daniel McCrossan	West Tyrone	2015–present	SDLP Chairperson; Spokesperson for Social Justice
Patsy McGlone	Mid Ulster	2003–present	Assembly Deputy Speaker; Spokesperson for Rural Communities
Colin McGrath	South Down	2016–present	Spokesperson for Health and Wellbeing
Sinead McLaughlin	Foyle	2020–present	Spokesperson for Jobs, the Economy and Justice
Justin McNulty	Newry and Armagh	2016–present	Spokesperson for Reconciliation and Sport
Matthew O'Toole	Belfast South	2020–present	Leader of the Opposition; Spokesperson for the Cost of Living Crisis

Other Spokespeople

Councillor	District	DEA	Notes
Cllr. Joe Boyle	Ards and North Down	Ards Peninsuala	Spokesperson for Rural Transport
Cllr. Pete Byrne	Newry, Mourne and Down	Slieve Gullion	Spokesperson for All-Island Rail
Cllr. Laura Devlin	Newry, Mourne and Down	The Mournes	Spokesperson for Tourism and Hospitality
Cllr. Paul Doherty	Belfast	Black Mountain	Spokesperson for Ending Poverty
Cllr. Adam Gannon	Fermanagh and Omagh	Erne West	Spokesperson for Education Reform
Cllr. Roisin Lynch	Antrim and Newtownabbey	Antrim	Spokesperson for Rural Isolation and Loneliness
Cllr. Dónal Lyons	Belfast	Balmoral	Spokesperson for Heritage, Culture and Arts
Cllr. Kerri Martin	Mid Ulster	Cookstown	Spokesperson for Community Integration
Cllr. Gary McKeown	Belfast	Botanic	Spokesperson for Climate Emergency and Net Zero
Cllr. Margaret Anne McKillop	Causeway Coast and Glens	The Glens	Spokesperson for Rural Opportunities
Cllr. Malachy Quinn	Mid Ulster	Torrent	Spokesperson for Regional Investment
Cllr. Ashleen Schenning	Causeway Coast and Glens	Limavady	Spokesperson for Training and Skills
Cllr. Gareth Sharvin	Newry, Mourne and Down	Downpatrick	Spokesperson for Equalities
Cllr. Brian Tierney	Derry City and Strabane	Ballyarnett	Spokesperson for University Expansion
Cllr. Carl Whyte	Belfast	Castle	Spokesperson for Health Service Reform

Electoral performance

Upon its formation, the SDLP quickly established itself as the second largest party and the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland. It largely held this position until the beginning of the 21st century. In the 1998 Assembly election, it became the biggest party overall in terms of votes received and the first nationalist party to do so. This would be the largest seat share it would ever hold as it slowly saw declining support following the retirement of John Hume in 2001.

Under leader Mark Durkan, the 2001 general election and the 2003 Assembly election saw fellow Irish nationalist party Sinn Féin win more seats and votes than the SDLP for the first time, a position they would continue to hold. In the 2004 European elections, Hume stood down and the SDLP failed to retain the seat he had held since 1979, losing it to Sinn Féin. Alban Maginness attempted to take the seat again in the 2009 European elections the party fielded as their candidate and failed to gain a seat with 78,489 first preference votes.^[80] The party further declined in the 2011 Assembly elections and the 2016 Assembly election, as the total number of votes received continued to drop.

The 2017 Assembly election saw the party retain its 12-seat count from the prior election, increasing its seat share due to a drop in the size of the assembly for the first time since 1998. This was followed by the 2017 general election where the SDLP lost all three seats and returned its worst ever vote share. In the 2019 European election, the final in the United Kingdom's history, party leader Colum Eastwood ran, increasing his party's vote but failing to take a seat. In the general election later that year the party recaptured Belfast South and Foyle with the highest ever vote recorded for the party in both constituencies and managed to increase its vote across Northern Ireland to its highest in almost fifteen years for a general election. The two seats held by the party currently have the largest majorities of any constituencies in Northern Ireland.

In the 2022 Assembly election, the SDLP slipped to the 5th largest party with only eight seats in the Assembly.^[81]

Some see the SDLP as first and foremost a party now representing Catholic middle-class interests, with voters concentrated in rural areas and the professional classes, rather than a vehicle for Irish nationalism.^[82][83] The SDLP reject this argument, pointing to their strong support in Derry and their victory in South Belfast in the 2005 Westminster election. Furthermore, in the lead up to that election, they published a document outlining their plans for a politically united Ireland. Their decline in Northern Ireland outside of two particular strongholds had led some to dub the party, the "South Down and Londonderry Party".^[84][85]

Devolved legislature elections

Election	Body	Leader	First Preference Votes		Seats		Position	Government
			No.	Share	No.	Change
1973	1973 Assembly	Gerry Fitt	159,773	22.1%	19 / 78	19	2nd	UUP-SDLP-Alliance
1975	Constitutional Convention		156,049	23.7%	17 / 78	2	2nd	Direct rule
1982	1982 Assembly	John Hume	118,891	18.8%	14 / 78	3	3rd	Direct rule
1996	Forum		160,786	21.4%	21 / 110	7	3rd	Direct rule
1998	1st Assembly		177,963	22.0%	24 / 108	3	2nd	UUP–SDLP–DUP–Sinn Féin
2003	2nd Assembly	Mark Durkan	117,547	17.0%	18 / 108	6	4th	Direct rule
2007	3rd Assembly		105,164	15.2%	16 / 108	2	4th	DUP–Sinn Féin–UUP–SDLP–Alliance
2011	4th Assembly	Margaret Ritchie	94,286	14.2%	14 / 108	2	4th	DUP–Sinn Féin–UUP–SDLP–Alliance
2016	5th Assembly	Colum Eastwood	83,364	12.0%	12 / 108	2	4th	DUP–Sinn Féin–Independent
2017	6th Assembly		95,958	11.9%	12 / 90		3rd	DUP–Sinn Féin–SDLP–UUP–Alliance
2022	7th Assembly		78,237	9.1%	8 / 90	4	5th	Opposition

Westminster elections

 

Election	House of Commons	Leader	Votes		Seats		Position	Government
			No.	Share	No.	Change
Feb 1974	46th	Gerry Fitt	160,137	22.4% (in NI) 0.5% (in UK)	1 / 12	1	3rd	Labour
Oct 1974	47th		154,193	22.0% (in NI) 0.6% (in UK)	1 / 12		3rd	Labour
1979	48th		126,325	18.2% (in NI) 0.4% (in UK)	1 / 12		3rd	Conservative
1983	49th	John Hume	137,012	17.9% (in NI) 0.4% (in UK)	1 / 17		3rd	Conservative
1987	50th		154,067	21.1% (in NI) 0.5% (in UK)	3 / 17	2	2nd	Conservative
1992	51st		184,445	23.5% (in NI) 0.5% (in UK)	4 / 17	1	2nd	Conservative
1997	52nd		190,814	24.1% (in NI) 0.6% (in UK)	3 / 18	1	2nd	Labour
2001	53rd		169,865	21.0% (in NI) 0.6% (in UK)	3 / 18		4th	Labour
2005	54th	Mark Durkan	125,626	17.5% (in NI) 0.5% (in UK)	3 / 18		3rd	Labour
2010	55th	Margaret Ritchie	110,970	16.5% (in NI) 0.4% (in UK)	3 / 18		3rd	Conservative-Liberal Democrats
2015	56th	Alasdair McDonnell	99,809	13.9% (in NI) 0.3% (in UK)	3 / 18		3rd	Conservative
2017	57th	Colum Eastwood	95,419	11.7% (in NI) 0.3% (in UK)	0 / 18	3		Conservative (DUP confidence and supply)
2019	58th		118,737	14.9% (in NI) 0.4% (in UK)	2 / 18	2	3rd	Conservative

Local government elections

Election	Leader	First Preference Votes		Seats		Position
		No.	Share	No.	Change
1973	Gerry Fitt	92,600	13.4%	82 / 517	82	2nd
1977		114,775	20.6%	113 / 526	31	2nd
1981	John Hume	116,487	17.5%	104 / 526	9	3rd
1985		113,967	17.8%	102 / 565	2	3rd
1989		129,557	21.0%	121 / 565	19	2nd
1993		136,760	22.0%	127 / 582	6	2nd
1997		130,387	21.0%	120 / 575	7	2nd
2001		153,424	19.0%	117 / 582	3	3rd
2005	Mark Durkan	121,991	17.4%	101 / 582	16	4th
2011	Margaret Ritchie	99,325	15.0%	87 / 583	14	4th
2014	Alasdair McDonnell	85,237	13.6%	66 / 462	21	4th
2019	Colum Eastwood	81,419	12.0%	59 / 462	7	4th
2023	Colum Eastwood	64,996	8.7%	39 / 462	20	5th

European elections

Election	Leader	First Preference Votes		Seats		Position
		No.	Share	No.	Change
1979	Gerry Fitt	140,622	25.5%	1 / 3	1	2nd
1984	John Hume	151,399	22.1%	1 / 3		2nd
1989		136,335	25.0%	1 / 3		2nd
1994		161,992	28.9%	1 / 3		2nd
1999		190,731	28.1%	1 / 3		2nd
2004	Mark Durkan	87,559	15.9%	0 / 3	1	4th
2009		78,489	16.1%	0 / 3		4th
2014	Alasdair McDonnell	81,594	13.0%	0 / 3		4th
2019	Colum Eastwood	78,589	13.7%	0 / 3		4th

See also

• Demography and politics of Northern Ireland
• Labour Party in Northern Ireland

Notes

1. splinter factions from Nationalist Party

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