SDLP choose Ritchie as sole Assembly minister

The SDLP today confirmed Margaret Ritchie will be it’s sole minister on the North's power-sharing executive when it reforms next month.

The South Down Assembly member will take charge of the department of Social Development.

She vowed to address the issues of affordable housing and urban renewal once she took office.

“I look forward to going in and working with all of the people throughout Northern Ireland on the issues that count to them, particularly the major issues of affordable housing, urban renewal, neighbourhood regeneration and lots of other ones such as welfare reform,” she said.

“Those are the issues that impact on the lives of people on a day-to-day basis.”