2010 News
- News Archive
Margaret Ritchie and Dr Ivan Gibbons
Northern Ireland Politician Visits St Mary's
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Margaret Ritchie presented her vision for Northern Ireland when she gave a lecture at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham on Wednesday 10th November.
Margaret Ritchie became the first female leader of a major political party in Northern Ireland when she was elected leader of the SDLP earlier this year.
She is a former Minister for Social Development in the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive and was elected a Westminster MP earlier this year. She has proved herself to be a combative politician in Northern Ireland.
Dr Ivan Gibbons, Director of Irish Studies at St Mary’s said before the event: “Many commentators have described Margaret Ritchie as representing a new brand of pragmatic modern economic and class based politics in the North rather than the hidebound green-orange divide of the past.
"Members of the local community as well as staff and students at St Mary’s will have an opportunity to find out if this is correct when she gives this lecture on her vision for Northern Ireland”.
He added: “She has attracted political criticism for refusing funding to voluntary organisations because of their alleged links with loyalist paramilitaries, as well as constantly attacking Sinn Fein and refusing to enter a “pan-nationalist” electoral pact with SF in the general election, and has courted Ulster Unionists by talking about her “shared vision” of Northern Ireland rather than about re-unification with the South.”
