2024 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election
A leadership election is to be held for the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) of Northern Ireland on 5 October 2024 following the resignation of Colum Eastwood on 29 August 2024 to focus on his role in the party's New Ireland Commission and as Member of Parliament (MP) for Foyle. The SDLP's other MP, Claire Hanna, ran unopposed for the leadership

Background
Eastwood was elected SDLP leader in 2015 after successfully challenging Dr Alasdair McDonnell to become the party's sixth leader in what was regarded as a "meteoric rise".

The party lost 4 seats in the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election, losing ground to Sinn Féin. They held their two seats at the 2024 United Kingdom general election, but their performance was felt to be disappointing. Eastwood's own majority in Foyle was reduced from about 17,000 to just over 4,000.

The leadership election briefly overlapped with an Ulster Unionist Party leadership election and an Alliance Party deputy leadership election.

Procedure
Eastwood will formally resign at the party's conference on 5 October 2024 to allow a new leader to be elected. Nominations for the leadership opened on 30 August with only Member of Parliament (MP) for Belfast South and Mid Down Claire Hanna and the party's eight Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) eligible to put their names forward over the following seven days.
+Key datesDateEvent30 AugustNominations opened.6 SeptemberNominations closed at 12:00 BST.5 OctoberEastwood will formally resign at the party's conference.https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2024-09-01/claire-hanna-confirms-bid-to-seek-sdlp-leadership The new leader will be elected or ratified.

Candidates

 Declared 
CandidateBornPolitical officeSource133x133pxGalway, Republic of IrelandDeputy Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party  
MP for Belfast South and Mid Down 

 Declined 
CandidateBornPolitical officeSource133x133pxBelfast, Northern IrelandLeader of the Opposition  
MLA for Belfast South 

Results
On 6 September 2024, Claire Hanna was announced as the only nominated candidate for leader. She will be ratified in the post at the SDLP conference on 5 October.

References

Category:Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership elections
Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership
Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election
Category:October 2024 events in the United Kingdom