Hanna to tell SDLP faithful ‘nostalgia’ is not a political strategy for future

Claire Hanna is expected to use her first speech as SDLP leader to tell the party faithful that relying on nostalgia is not a political strategy for the future.

The South Belfast and Mid Down MP will formally take over the leadership from Colum Eastwood at the party’s annual party conference in Belfast on Saturday.

It is anticipated that Ms Hanna will suggest that the SDLP has been “a bit stuck” between its past and future, with uncertainty over its identity offering rivals the opportunity to define the narrative about the party.

It is understood that Ms Hanna will contend that global challenges are increasingly making traditional political identities in Northern Ireland redundant.

Ms Hanna, 44, is also expected to tell delegates that under her leadership the SDLP will focus on the future, concentrating on the things it can control and the things it can change.

Foyle MP Mr Eastwood announced in August he was going to step down as leader after nine years in the job.

Ms Hanna was the only candidate to put her name forward to succeed him and the transition will be completed on Saturday when members are expected to ratify her as their new leader.

She is anticipated to use her conference speech to pay tribute to those who inspired her to pursue a career in politics, primarily her father Eamon and mother Carmel.

The former Stormont Assembly member is steeped in SDLP tradition and is expected to emphasis her social democratic values when she addresses the party faithful at a hotel in the heart of her own constituency.

Ms Hanna is also expected to defend the party’s right to offer constructive criticism of the Stormont Executive in its role as the Assembly’s official opposition, insisting it is not “negative or destructive” to hold ministers to account.

She will argue that not all the challenges facing the powersharing administration are because of underfunding from the UK Government and will suggest some of the problems are down to a “failure of imagination and leadership” at the devolved level.

On the reunification of Ireland, Ms Hanna is anticipated to make clear that her pursuit of social democratic values does not mean she will deprioritise the drive for constitutional change.

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The nationalist MP will contend that both objectives align in an overarching ambition to create a new Ireland founded on social democratic principles.

She is also expected to tell party members that the job of changing society in Northern Ireland cannot wait until a future border poll, and will use her address to articulate a vision of a region no longer defined as having two communities; and one where reconciliation is not viewed as a “buzzword” and rather a “way of life”.