The SDLP

[seafoid]

IMO if the SDLP want to go anywhere they need a new leader. I just don't think Eastwood is up to it.

Is there any decent political leader in NI at the minute ?

[Angelo]

IMO if the SDLP want to go anywhere they need a new leader. I just don't think Eastwood is up to it.

Is there any decent political leader in NI at the minute ?

Is there any on the island of Ireland?

[Armagh18]

IMO if the SDLP want to go anywhere they need a new leader. I just don't think Eastwood is up to it.

Is there any decent political leader in NI at the minute ?

Jim Allister!

[Fear Bun Na Sceilpe]

IMO if the SDLP want to go anywhere they need a new leader. I just don't think Eastwood is up to it.

Is there any decent political leader in NI at the minute ?

Is there any on the island of Ireland?

Peadar Toibín

[seafoid]

IMO if the SDLP want to go anywhere they need a new leader. I just don't think Eastwood is up to it.

Is there any decent political leader in NI at the minute ?

Is there any on the island of Ireland?

Is Michelle  O'Neill a good leader ?

[Angelo]

IMO if the SDLP want to go anywhere they need a new leader. I just don't think Eastwood is up to it.

Is there any decent political leader in NI at the minute ?

Is there any on the island of Ireland?

Is Michelle  O'Neill a good leader ?

Not particularly. Would say O'Dowd or Murphy are far more capable.

[Armagh18]

IMO if the SDLP want to go anywhere they need a new leader. I just don't think Eastwood is up to it.

Is there any decent political leader in NI at the minute ?

Is there any on the island of Ireland?

Peadar Toibín

Him, Mary Lou and Healy Rae. The rest are woeful.

[Rich Ricci]

O'Neill got the job because she's a female, a box ticking exercise so SF could be seen to be progressive..John O'Dowd was the best candidate and had already deputised for McGuinness.

[Armagh18]

O'Neill got the job because she's a female, a box ticking exercise so SF could be seen to be progressive..John O'Dowd was the best candidate and had already deputised for McGuinness.

Yeah I wouldnt be too impressed with her now.

[johnnycool]

O'Neill got the job because she's a female, a box ticking exercise so SF could be seen to be progressive..John O'Dowd was the best candidate and had already deputised for McGuinness.

Yeah I wouldnt be too impressed with her now.

She's poor enough alright.

Pierce Doherty is a decent talker and clued in.

It's the likes of him will bring the shinners to the next level in the south in particular, O'Dowd is probably the best in the North although he can be inclined to lose the cool once in a while.

[Armagh18]

O'Neill got the job because she's a female, a box ticking exercise so SF could be seen to be progressive..John O'Dowd was the best candidate and had already deputised for McGuinness.

Yeah I wouldnt be too impressed with her now.

She's poor enough alright.

Pierce Doherty is a decent talker and clued in.

It's the likes of him will bring the shinners to the next level in the south in particular, O'Dowd is probably the best in the North although he can be inclined to lose the cool once in a while.

Pearse is top class as is Mary Lou. Murphy is decent in the North.

[Angelo]

O'Neill got the job because she's a female, a box ticking exercise so SF could be seen to be progressive..John O'Dowd was the best candidate and had already deputised for McGuinness.

Yeah I wouldnt be too impressed with her now.

She's poor enough alright.

Pierce Doherty is a decent talker and clued in.

It's the likes of him will bring the shinners to the next level in the south in particular, O'Dowd is probably the best in the North although he can be inclined to lose the cool once in a while.

Pearse is top class as is Mary Lou. Murphy is decent in the North.

Doherty, O'Broin and Matt Carthy are definitely SF's top guys down south.

Mary Lou is good on the light stuff but gets tripped up on detail.

[Angelo]

Colum of Stopping Brexit fame saying Unionists leader must do better in light of the recent violence.

Maybe Colum would be better looking at his own little political stunt and the role it had in kicking things off.

The SDLP have been badly exposed in the past week.

[6th sam]

Colum of Stopping Brexit fame saying Unionists leader much do better in light of the recent violence.

Maybe Colum would be better looking at his own little political stunt and the role it has in kicking things off.

The SDLP have been badly exposed in the past week.

Totally agree. SDLP have contributed a lot over the years, but current strategy from leadership seems focussed on rivalry with SF above all else, thereby often letting unionism
Off the hook. "Nationalist/republican" political parties here haven't done well in recent years. Demographics indicate that there should be an increasing "N/R" vote but in fact SF seem to have lost voters to SDLP and SDLP lost voters to a resurgent alliance , and as a result the "N/R" vote hasn't effectively increased. I think SF will only increase their vote by attracting voters back from SDLP. Most republicans will remain loyal to SF, so there's not many more votes there, but SF will have to perform better in terms of formulating and selling a strategy for a UI, and continue to soften to attract SDLP voters , and/or be "more acceptable " for coalition, north and south. IMHO regardless of their rationale behind the IRA campaign , there has to be more contrition and remorse for the hurt caused, if SF are serious about securing their status as main party north/south.

[Angelo]

Colum of Stopping Brexit fame saying Unionists leader much do better in light of the recent violence.

Maybe Colum would be better looking at his own little political stunt and the role it has in kicking things off.

The SDLP have been badly exposed in the past week.

Totally agree. SDLP have contributed a lot over the years, but current strategy from leadership seems focussed on rivalry with SF above all else, thereby often letting unionism
Off the hook. "Nationalist/republican" political parties here haven't done well in recent years. Demographics indicate that there should be an increasing "N/R" vote but in fact SF seem to have lost voters to SDLP and SDLP lost voters to a resurgent alliance , and as a result the "N/R" vote hasn't effectively increased. I think SF will only increase their vote by attracting voters back from SDLP. Most republicans will remain loyal to SF, so there's not many more votes there, but SF will have to perform better in terms of formulating and selling a strategy for a UI, and continue to soften to attract SDLP voters , and/or be "more acceptable " for coalition, north and south. IMHO regardless of their rationale behind the IRA campaign , there has to be more contrition and remorse for the hurt caused, if SF are serious about securing their status as main party north/south.

I think SF will build on the last assembly elections. I see the SDLP becoming more and more an irrelevance as their little games this week show they have nothing of value to offer the nationalist/republican communities other than point scoring and optics.

The Westminster elections were a bit of an outlier. SF don't take their seats, Colum was voted in by a landslide by a pledge to stop Brexit. He's an absolutely worthless politician and we know there were big ructions within the party when he hitched their boat to s centre right partitionist party down south.

Eastwood has been the final nail in the coffin for them. I think he kind of typifies the perception of SDLP representatives. From what I know of local SDLP councillors they almost feel as if it is an affront to them when asked to relay their constituents concerns or needs. They are completely detached from those they expect to vote for them.