Senior SDLP member quits party

The nationalist SDLP was rocked today by the resignation from the party of one of its councillors.

Coleraine councillor Billy Leonard quit the party over the weekend and is expected to make an announcement soon on his political future.

Mr Leonard had been linked to an election for the post of SDLP chairman during next month’s party conference.

But party spokesmen confirmed that he had contacted the SDLP on Friday before nominations closed to say he was leaving.

Mr Leonard, who was a close ally of East Derry MLA John Dallat, was not available for comment this morning.

The decision to leave came as the party tried to recover from a disappointing performance in November’s Assembly elections in Northern Ireland.

The SDLP lost six seats, with Sinn Fein emerging the largest nationalist party with 24 seats.

Nominations closed last Friday for a number of key posts in the party ahead of its annual conference in Belfast next month.

Three candidates from the party’s 18-strong Assembly Team have put their names forward to replace former Stormont Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers.

They are North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness, South Belfast MLA Alasdair McDonnell and East Derry MLA Mr Dallat.