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Sun 7th February
The South Down Assembly Member, who replaces Mark Durkan, defeated Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP MLA in a leadership contest.
She said: “Firstly I would like to pay tribute to Alasdair McDonnell for we all know what a campaigner he is and we are all behind him as we seek to have him re-elected as MP for South Belfast.
“I also want to thank all those who voted for and who have given me their support. And as for ‘Team Ritchie’ may I say one giant thank you for everything.
“You have energised the Party with the manner in which you have run this campaign. I want to say particular thanks to my campaign manager Helen Quigley and all the young people in the party. You have done yourselves and me proud.
“It is a truly tremendous honour too follow in the footsteps of John Hume and Mark Durkan. It is also a daunting record of achievement for me to live up to but I will do my very best.
“I will need everyone to get behind my deputy Patsy McGlone and I as we tackle the major challenges that lie ahead. Despite the difficulty of those challenges I believe there is real hope and opportunity for the party at this time.
“I intend to rally the party around a vision that shows how we are different and better than our opponents.
“I have a serious organisational plan and agenda for change that will make us stronger. I want to bring new people in and I want to give everyone a fair chance to succeed.
“I will lead a party that recognises and rewards performance and teamwork. I want to work with people who, like me, will put the party first.
“This is a special moment for me but also a deeply humbling one. You know that I will put my heart and soul into this job and I will never let you down. But I will need your help.
“Together we can do this and put our party back on top and for the sake of the people of North – we must put our party back on top.
“You are probably a little bemused that from the relative calm of being a South Down MLA, in less than three years I have become the longest serving minister in the history of the party – and now your party leader.
“Is there no end to this woman’s ambition? Well, yes there is and I want our party to rise again. I want to be First Minister!”
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