'PDs need new policies as well as new leader': Higgins

The former general secretary of the Progressive Democrats has said he believes that the party can have a real future.

However John Higgins has warned it will take more than the election of a new leader.

"I believe that if the party can bring forward new strong leadership and equally importantly if it can bring forward relevant, exciting, visionary policies and tough policies that the Progressive Democrats would have been associated with in the past then we can get back to our former glory" he said.

Mr Higgins has announced his decision to quit the post to take up a job as head of the Retirement Planning Council.

John Higgins has said he felt the start of the race for leadership of the PD's was the appropriate time for him to leave.