Former SDLP leader reportedly defects to Labour

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, who served as the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 2010 to 2011, has reportedly defected to the Labour Party.

The UK Labour Party is not registered in Northern Ireland, and generally endorses SDLP candidates, however the SDLP has generally more socially conservative policies on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.

Lady Ritchie was previously an MLA for South Down from 2003 to 2012

She served as MP for South Down in 2010 until 2017.

In 2019 she accepted a life peerage as part of Theresa May’s resignation honours list, and has since served as an unaffiliated peer.

Interesting: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, the former leader of the SDLP, has made a Trimble-style defection in joining the Labour Party and taken the Labour whip. Had sat as a non-affiliated peer since joining the Lords in 2019.

— Patrick Maguire (@patrickkmaguire) October 21, 2021

The SDLP advocates Irish reunification.

In 2010, Ritchie caused waves by becoming the first Irish nationalist party leader to wear a remembrance poppy.