Inbred, ineffective & irrelevant? The SDLP

The SDLP affectionately known as the Stoop Down Low Party, once the major force in Northern Iron politics now sadly scraping the bottom of $inn £eins heels. And they should be questioning why?

In a confidential report commissioned by the party revealed by the BBC last November it stated that the party is seen as a self-interested conservative force. Not only that they are also perceived as middle class, is resting on its laurels, is too    
                                                                             complacent and too stuck in the past.

That sounds about right, once the SDLP was the John Hume show anyone who got in the way of what big Johnny boy Hume wanted was pushed to the side. The SDLP in Derry, once a crucible of SDLP power now faces its biggest crisis since Hume hung up his hat, and it's of their own creation.

Derry MLA 'Clumsy' Colum Eastwood as he's known in some SDLP circles rejected some of the findings in the report, "The talk about us being a middle class party is nonsense. Our activist base, our membership base, our supporter base and our elected representative base, it comes from all different social classes." said Colum from the upper middle class Culmore area of the city'.

'Clumsy' Eastwood was the Mayor of Derry when it was announced that Derry had won the UK City of Culture title said 'said the award would bring lasting benefits for Derry. "This will bring the jobs, the investment, the regeneration that we need."

And therein lies part of the problem with the SDLP, the ordinary people are still waiting on the delivery, apart from the hoteliers aka the Durkan's and the publicans such as 'Clumsy's' missus made their money, but where are those jobs? Where is the long term investment? Even the 'venue' a bloody tent is going. The simple truth is the City of Culture was a failing, the big name events where not organic City of Culture events. The SDLP is truly a self serving self interested Conservative force.

The SDLP's Joyriding Jimmy Carr

And Clumsy may reject the findings of the report they published but documents released by the British Government late last year under the 30 year rule state that the British Government believed "By comparison with the Sinn Féin team, the SDLP are seen as rather middle-class, middle-aged and out of touch with the community' and that was in 1983! That was the year Colum Eastwood was born and they, the SDLP haven't improved.

Did you or did they ever think to wonder why?

Maybe this is part of the reason, nepotism, inbred nepotism, that coupled with complete ineptitude and a huge dash of arrogance.

Looking around at the current crop of SDLP elected representatives and proposed candidates for the upcoming election this year in the Derry area they would give the $hinners a run for their money. You have MP Mark Durkan, and his nephew Environment Minister Mark H Durkan MLA, You have SDLP Councillor Sean Carr and his Councillor son 'Joyriding' Jimmy Carr, Then you have MLA Pat 'expenses' Ramsey and his nephew Emmet Doyle standing as a candidate. And just when you think it's over you find out that nephew of recently retired SDLP Councillor John Tierney Brian, will also be standing.

Honestly talk about surrounding yourself with yes men! But just when you thought this couldn't get any worse you find out that two SDLP candidates for the upcoming local government election don't even live in Derry. Colm O’Connor & Dermott Henderson They're both at the University of Ulster in Belfast and whilst I wish them well, why should people waste their vote on someone who would not be able to properly represent his constituents if elected? The fact that the SDLP are standing this young fella Henderson again is either completely desperate or completely arrogant.

The SDLP need to grow a set of balls, the SDLP needs to bring people in and give them the room to grow and develop, not be yes men, only brought in because they will bark the party line. The SDLP needs to engage with communities and not be aloof middle class clowns.

And the SDLP and their supporters may wonder why the have lost so much ground?

Commenting on the Confidential SDLP report commissioned by the SDLP Prof Rick Wilford from Queen's University said the report confirms that the party is in trouble. He told The View: "It's seen to be a party that's stuck in the past. That there's no clear sense of vision or a clearly articulated project with a leadership that seems bereft of dynamism and a sense of real political and policy direction."

Whilst Dr Cathy Gormley Heenan from the University of Ulster says the report obtained by the BBC adds to the debate about the SDLP leaving the Executive. Dr Heenan said '"I think that everything in this document speaks very loudly and clearly to the idea that the SDLP should more seriously consider going into opposition in Stormont. That would speak volumes to a community and to a potential electorate who's not quite sure what the party stands for.

"It stands for, in an opposition, holding the government of the day to account."

It would seem the British Government had the SDLP nailed down 30 years ago when 'Clumsy' was just shittin his pants, the question is can the SDLP make the best recovery since Lazarus?