Social Democratic and Labour Party

John Hume

The SDLP, the main Nationalist party in Northern Ireland, competes for Catholic votes with Sinn Fein. Founded in 1970 by members of the old Nationalist Party of Northern Ireland, the SDLP takes a moderate position, supporting power-sharing and building closer links with the Irish Republic.

As well as rejecting the IRA's terrorism campaign, the party states its aims in its written constitution: the SDLP seeks to "organise and maintain in Northern Ireland a socialist party...to co-operate with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in joint political or other action...to promote the cause of Irish Unity based on the consent of the majority of people in Northern Ireland..."

Lastly, the SDLP aspires to contest elections in Northern Ireland with a view to forming a government which would:

• abolish of all forms of discrimination;

• promote culture, particularly native culture;

• uphold public ownership and democratic control of essential industries and services;

• and use the powers of the state to provide employment through publicly-owned industries.

On the party's 25th anniversary in 1995, SDLP vice-chairman Jonathan Stephenson urged his party to broaden the base of its support by embracing more Protestants, community groups, women, youth and minorities.

The SDLP and the Peace Process

The SDLP was the main opposition party in the Stormont assembly until direct rule from Westminster was introduced to Northern Ireland in 1972. In 1973, the Sunningdale negotiations followed the dissolution of the Stormont Parliament. At the Constitutional Convention in 1974, attempts were made to establish a new assembly and draft a constitution for Northern Ireland, but ultimately failed when the Unionist Council rejected SDLP-endorsed power-sharing.

The SDLP began talks with Sinn Fein in 1988 in what it called "an attempt to convince Sinn Fein that the continued campaign of violence is futile."

Direct dialogue between SDLP leader John Hume and the Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams, was initiated in 1993. Widely perceived to be the broker of the 1994 ceasefire, Mr Hume is seen to be a crucial personality on the Northern Irish political landscape and a key player in negotiations for the all-party peace talks.

Elections

The party's first leader, Gerry Fitt, was elected to Westminster in both the 1974 British General Elections. He held his Parliamentary seat in the 1979 election, but resigned as party leader in November that year after internal disputes about the party's consitutional role. John Hume has led the party since then. He was first elected to represent the SDLP in Europe in 1979 and has been the MP for Foyle continuously since 1983.

At the Northern Ireland Forum elections in 1996, the SDLP received 21.37% of the vote, giving it 21 seats. However, by the end of 1996, after the collapse of the IRA ceasefire, the public had become increasingly uncertain and sceptical about the impasse in Northern Irish politics.

At New Year this year, there was some speculation that Mr Hume would not stand for re-election in his Parliamentary constituency, but this proved unfounded and he retained his seat. Two other SDLP MPs also kept their seats but the party lost Belfast West to Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams. In total, the SDLP polled 24.1% of the vote in the 1997 general election.

The SDLP MPs are:

John Hume	Foyle
Seamus Mallon	Newry & Armagh
Eddie McGrady	South Down

Party Headquarters:
Cranmore House
611c Lisburne Rd
Belfast

Tel: 01232 668100

SDLP Home Page
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