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Tue 15th December
He said: ““It is an honour to have been nominated by many branches right across the north, and I have already received many messages of goodwill from party activists and supporters. We have a huge job of work in front of us and it will begin as soon as the new party leader is elected at conference. The new leadership will face the immediate organisational challenge of preparing for the Westminster elections, which could take place in March and must take place by May.
“People are fed up with constant stalemate, paralysis and political failure. They want change, they want people who can run the place better, who can make things work and make their life better. But they are also demanding that we in the SDLP change, that we do things better.
“We need to make a new deal with our voters. We have their trust but we must not take it for granted. We must deliver better service in return for better support, using contemporary methods to keep in closer touch with them. They need to see Team SDLP on the ground in their communities taking up all the issues that affect them and winning results.
“The voters have trust in the SDLP as the party that can deliver reconciliation, that can move us beyond tribal politics and realise the potential of the Agreed Ireland that we have now achieved. Part of that potential, and for me it is the most important part, is the freedom we have won to debate and discuss a United Ireland in a non-threatening atmosphere. We are now free to be Champions for Unity without looking over our shoulder at the gunmen and the bombers. The SDLP has always been uniquely placed to deliver unity and that is a task I will be happy to take on.”
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