Colum Eastwood is the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) MP for Foyle, having been first elected at the December 2019 election.

In the 2024 general election, Eastwood received 15,647 votes (40.8%). The Sinn Féin candidate received 11,481 votes (29.9%), and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) candidate secured 3,915 votes (10.2%). Eastwood was duly elected with a majority of 4,166.

The Foyle constituency is located in the north-west of Northern Ireland and is centred around the city of Derry. The seat was represented between 1983-2005 by former SDLP leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume.  

The constituency has seen contests primarily between the SDLP and Sinn Féin in recent elections. Voters in Foyle strongly supported remaining in the European Union (EU) in the 2016 referendum (78.3%).

Political Career

Eastwood served as the leader of the SDLP from November 2015 until October 2024. Eastwood secured the post with by 172 votes to 133 at the SDLP’s 2015 annual conference, beating incumbent leader Alasdair McDonnell. He became the sixth leader of the SDLP.

Upon winning his party’s leadership, Eastwood vowed that the SDLP’s “principal conversation” over the coming years would be “about shaping this country for the next 20, 30 and more years.”

He said: “From this moment on, our main conversation, our principle conversation, will be with the people. Our principal conversation will be about shaping this region, about shaping this country for the next 20, 30 and more years.”

In August 2024, Eastwood announced his intention to resign as SDLP leader, declaring that now was the time to “give someone else a chance” to re-energise the party.

“Some people maybe don’t realise how much effort you have to put into the day-to-day running of a political party”, he commented.

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Eastwood’s leadership of the SDLP was not marked with sustained electoral success. In 2019, Eastwood won the Foyle constituency with a large majority of 17,110 votes over the incumbent MP, Elisha McCallion of Sinn Féin. Meanwhile, Claire Hanna won the seat of Belfast South on a majority of 15,401 (over DUP candidate Emma Little-Pengelly). The victories saw the SDLP increase its representation at Westminster from zero to two.

However, the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election was bruising for the party. It lost four seats to finish with eight – meaning it had to go into opposition at Stormont. The 2023 council elections in Northern Ireland were similarly challenging. The SDLP lost 20 seats, dropping to 39 overall.

Following the 2024 general election, the two SDLP MPs (Hanna and Eastwood) decided to sit on the government benches in the commons. The SDLP and Labour are sister parties. Hanna and Eastwood do not take the Labour whip.

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In the first session of Northern Ireland Office oral questions after the July election, Labour MP Adam Jogee referred to Hanna and Eastwood as his “honourable friends”.

The MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme said: “It is very good to see my honourable friends the members for Foyle [Eastwood] and for Belfast South and Mid Down [Hanna] on the government benches.”

In June 2025, Eastwood said he was considering entering the race to become the next president of Ireland. “I’m going to take the time to think about it, but it’s a long summer and there’s enough to be getting on with before any decisions around that would have to be made”, he stated.

“I’ve done a lot of work over the past number of months, in stepping down as party leader, on a new Ireland and speaking to people right across the political divide across the island.”

In the 2021-2022 parliamentary session, Eastwood presented the Climate Change Bill to parliament, which sought to place a duty on the government to declare a “climate emergency”.

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In July 2021, Eastwood used parliamentary privilege, the legal protection afforded to members of parliament, to name “Soldier F” in the House of Commons.

Speaking during a bill committee hearing on the Armed Forces Bill, Eastwood said: “Almost 50 years ago, 14 unarmed civil rights marchers were murdered on the streets of Derry by the Parachute Regiment.”

He added: “For 50 years he has been granted anonymity; now the government want to give him an amnesty. Does the shadow minister agree that nobody – none of the perpetrators involved in murder during our troubles – should be granted an amnesty?”

Eastwood is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) for genocide prevention and Ireland and the Irish in Britain.

Eastwood delivered his maiden speech in the House of Commons on 19 December 2019 during a debate on the Queen’s speech. In it, he stated: “I stand here… as an Irish nationalist. In fact, I stand here because I am an Irish nationalist, not in spite of it, because I believe that every single person in all our constituencies needs to be properly and fully represented.

“I am glad to be here, but we are not narrow nationalists. We come from the tradition of [Charles] Parnell and Hume. Our vision is big and it is broad. Our mission is to unite all of our people, not divide them any further. We intend to represent nationalists, unionists and everybody else, and we will do that to the best of our ability.”

Eastwood added: “This prime minister [Boris Johnson] wants to drag us out of the European Union against our will. I know that he has a huge majority, but the only majority that I am concerned about is the pro-remain majority in Northern Ireland that has thankfully now got its voice back in this place. We may be few in number, but we intend to be very, very loud in voice.

“The prime minister’s approach to Brexit is totally reckless. It drives a coach and horses through the Good Friday Agreement and the relationships that we have built up over many years, right across our community and right across our islands.”

Prior to his election to Westminster, Eastwood represented the Foyle constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2011 to 2019.

He previously served on Derry City Council from 2005 to 2011, having first secured office at the age of 22.  

He became mayor of Derry in June 2010 at the age of 27, holding the position for a one-year term.

Eastwood joined the SDLP in 1998.

Political Views

As a leading figure in the SDLP, Eastwood represents an Irish nationalist and social democratic perspective.

He advocates for Irish reunification achieved through consent and based on principles of social justice and reconciliation. In 2021, he established the party’s New Ireland Commission to further discussions on potential constitutional change.

In July 2024, Eastwood described the affirmation and oath of allegiance to the king, which all MPs are required to deliver upon their election and/or at the beginning of a new parliament, as an “​​empty formula”.

Taking part in the compulsory swearing-in ceremony, historically an awkward and contentious moment for nationalist politicians, Eastwood told the House: “I read out this empty formula in order to represent my constituents, but it’s under protest.

“I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors according to law.

“My true allegiance is to the people of Derry and to the people of Ireland.”

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Brexit and Europe

Since his election, Eastwood has been a vocal opponent of Brexit and has focused significantly on its impact on Northern Ireland, particularly regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol and the maintenance of the Good Friday Agreement.

Customs union vote (2025): In December 2025, Eastwood voted in favour of the UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill. The bill, introduced under the 10-minute rule procedure by Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, sought to mandate the government to enter into negotiations with the European Union to establish a bespoke customs union. In total, 13 Labour MPs joined the Liberal Democrats in supporting the motion, while the majority of the party abstained.

Welfare

In a March 2025 session of prime minister’s questions, Eastwood asked “what was the point” of replacing the Conservative Party with Labour at the 2024 general election in light of the government’s welfare measures.

Eastwood told the House: “A lady came to see me recently who needed help. She had a disability. It meant that her children have to help her cut up her food, they have to help her wash beneath the waist, they have to supervise her as she goes to the toilet.

“Under the Tory welfare system, we were able to get that lady on PIP [personal independence payments]. Under the prime minister’s new proposed system, she will get zero – nothing.

“After 14 years of the Tory government – and many of us wanting to see the back of them – can the prime minister answer one question? What was the point, if Labour are going to do this?”

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Welfare ‘reasoned amendment’ (June 2025): Eastwood was one of the over 120 Labour MPs to sign the reasoned amendment to the government’s flagship welfare bill which aimed to reject the proposed legislation.

The amendment, in the name of senior Labour MP Dame Meg Hillier, objected to the fact that the bill had not been subject to a “formal consultation with disabled people” and that “250,000 people will be pushed into poverty” as a result of it, according to a government impact assessment.

The motion also called on the government to wait for the publication of the review into the Personal Independence Payment (Pip), helmed by minister Sir Stephen Timms, and the independent review, conducted by Sir Charlie Mayfield, into how the employment of disabled people could be boosted.

Assisted dying

Eastwood voted for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, better known as the assisted dying bill, at both second reading (November 2024) and third reading (June 2025).

In a statement setting out his position, issued after the bill’s third reading, Eastwood said that it was right that people “get the opportunity in a very limited and very protected circumstances to die in a way which gives them more comfort than we are doing now”.

He added: “We all know these things are happening, people with lots of money can go to Switzerland.

“We need to ensure that it is available to more people, and it is important that a legal framework is put around this.”

Winter fuel payment EDM: In September 2024, Eastwood signed an early day motion (EDM) expressing concern over the government’s proposed changes to the winter fuel payment. The motion called on the government to “postpone the ending of winter fuel payments and establish a comprehensive strategy to tackle fuel poverty, health inequality and low incomes among older people.”

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Eastwood voted in favour of a backbench amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that sought to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in June 2025. The amendment, which was passed by a majority of 242 votes, removed women from the threat of prosecution for ending a pregnancy at any stage. As an issue of conscience, MPs were allowed to vote according to their personal beliefs.

Palestine

Palestinian recognition letter (July 2025): In July 2025, Eastwood was among the over 254 MPs to sign a cross-party letter calling for the government to immediately recognise the state of Palestine. The letter called on the prime minister and foreign secretary to recognise Palestine at the UN Conference then taking place in New York.

Ceasefire vote (November 2023): Eastwood voted for a Scottish National Party (SNP) amendment to the king’s speech in the House of Commons calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Israel-Hamas war. Labour had tabled a rival motion, making a more moderate appeal for a “humanitarian pause” in the conflict.

Palestine Action vote: In July 2025, Eastwood was one of 26 MPs to vote against the proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000. The ban, passed by 385 votes to 26, came after the Home Office accused the group of “aggressive and intimidatory attacks against businesses, institutions and the public”. However, civil liberties organisations argued proscription represented an overreach of state power and a threat to the right to protest.

Before Politics

Born in Derry on 30 April 1983, Colum Eastwood was educated at St John’s Primary School (Creggan) and St Columb’s College in the city.  

He later attended the University of Liverpool, where he studied Latin American Studies but did not complete his degree.

Personal Life

Eastwood married Rachael Parkes in December 2013. They have two daughters. The couple separated in the summer of 2022.

Eastwood is reportedly in a relationship with Labour MP and former transport secretary Louise Haigh.

In August 2025, he said: “We’re very happy and we’re getting on well. It’s fun and it’s interesting. Louise is great and people here will know Louise from her time in Northern Ireland.

“She’s a feisty, strong, tough MP for Sheffield but also somebody who is prepared to say what needs to be said in difficult times even when it costs you your political career.

“I think maybe we have got a lot in common around that.”

Trivia

When elected mayor of Derry in 2010 at the age of 27, Colum Eastwood was the youngest person to hold that office.