Race on for SDLP leadership
With the announcement earlier today that John Hume is to step down as leader of the SDLP because of ill health, attention has now focussed on his successor.
Deputy leader Seamus Mallon, who is a few months older than Mr Hume, has not yet confirmed if he will allow his name to go forward.
Another possible contender is Mark Durkin of Derry, Minister for Finance in the power-sharing executive. He has yet to confirm is his hat is in the ring.
Nominations close on Friday.
Meanwhile, joint-Nobel prize-winner and leader of the UUP, David Trimble has praised Mr Hume’s general appraisal of the situation in northern Ireland.
He said the SDLP leader helped ‘redefine Irish nationalism to concentrate on people rather than territory’.
