New SDLP logo ‘reaches out to unionists’
The SDLP is to undergo a major image revamp ahead of next year’s Assembly elections.
A new logo will be unveiled by leader Mark Durkan during a keynote address to SDLP activists in Belfast’s Odyssey Arena tomorrow.
The symbol, which replaces the SDLP’s green and red logo, incorporates for the first time the colour orange to reflect the party’s attempt to reach out to unionists.
The new logo by Paul Martin, who designed symbols for Bertie Ahern’s Fianna Fail, consists of three swirls forming the shape of a shamrock.
Each swirl is a different colour - green symbolising nationalism, red for socialism and orange to acknowledge the unionist tradition.
A party source told PA News: ‘‘This is Mark Durkan putting his own stamp on the party and part of the modernisation process for the SDLP.
‘‘The orange swirl is a powerful statement - it is the SDLP demonstrating that what it says it means. We want to reach out to unionism on the basis of equality and partnership.
‘‘The shamrock style identifies us with something that is distinctly Irish.
‘‘There is also a sense of movement and dynamic. The swirls do not meet, so you don’t get a fully formed shamrock - that creates a sense of things moving together but not yet fully integrated, something which has obvious echoes with our society.’’
The revamp is taking place eight months after Mr Durkan, Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, and Stormont agriculture minister Brid Rodgers took over the leadership of the SDLP from John Hume and Seamus Mallon.
It is also occurring ahead of an Assembly election which will see the party engage in a fierce contest with Sinn Fein to regain the top position in nationalism.
While party strategists concede the battle under the proportional representation system will be tough, they insist the SDLP can return more Assembly seats than Sinn Fein.
‘‘I don’t think any of us are under any illusions,’’ the source said. ‘‘This election is going to be tight.
‘‘However people in both communities are going to come to the point over the next year where they will ask themselves: how do we best sustain and strengthen the Agreement rather than diminish or deny it?
‘‘They will look at both extremes and think about their future - a future under the Agreement. Transfers will ultimately determine what happens.
‘‘You will also see Mark and Brid defining their leadership more and more over the coming months.’’
