SDLP plans major reform

Members of the SDLP will vote today on a new constitution to revamp the party.

Delegates are gathering for a special constitutional convention in Cookstown, Co Tyrone to consider major organisational changes. The reforms are designed to make the party more efficient.

However party strategists were insistent that the move was not a knee-jerk reaction to recent disappointing election results which had seen the SDLP fall behind Sinn Féin in the battle for the nationalist vote.

A leadership source said: “These are reforms that have been considered for a long time and would have been in place earlier had we not had to put our party conference night to February instead of November last year.

“The objective is to improve the overall decision-making processes within the SDLP, to make us a more efficient party and to ensure that our members time is being used to the best ability.”

Grassroot members of the party called for the convention at the SDLP conference Belfast in February.

Among the proposals they will be considering will be a plan to reduce the number of party committees – merging some of them.

The new constitution will also give a more clearly-defined role for the deputy leader, Dr Alastair McDonnell.

The new constitution will have to be backed by two thirds of the SDLP delegates to the convention.