Colum Eastwood
| Colum Eastwood MLA | |
|---|---|
 Eastwood in 2014 | |
| Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party | |
|
Assumed office 14 November 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Alasdair McDonnell |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Foyle | |
|
Assumed office 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Pól Callaghan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
30 April 1983 Derry, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | SDLP |
| Spouse(s) | Rachael Eastwood |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Liverpool |
Colum Eastwood MLA (born 30 April 1983) is an Irish nationalist politician and leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) since 2015. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011, and has since been re-elected.[1]
Background
Colum Eastwood was born in Derry, where he was educated at St John's Primary School (Creggan) and at St Columb's College. He later attended the University of Liverpool, where he studied politics. He married Rachael Parkes in December 2013 and they live in Derry.
Political career
Eastwood was elected to Derry City Council in 2005, and elected for a one-year term as Mayor of Derry in June 2010. Aged 27, he was the youngest mayor of the city to date.[2]
Following his election to the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2011, Eastwood was appointed SDLP representative on the committee of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. He sits on the Northern Ireland Assembly committees on Standards and Privileges, and the Environment. He is the youngest SDLP member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.[3]
In 2012 he drew criticism from Unionists including Jim Allister after carrying the coffin at the paramilitary funeral of a former Irish National Liberation Army member in Derry. A masked Real Irish Republican Army gunman fired a volley of shots over the coffin, although Eastwood stated he was not present at the time of the gunfire. He defended his attendance at the funeral saying the deceased was a personal friend and added "I wasn't concerned at the time about who was standing beside me, or about what flag or otherwise was draped over the coffin."[4][5] It later emerged that party colleague Mark H. Durkan also attended the funeral.[6]
On 14 November 2015, Eastwood contested the leadership election held at the SDLP's annual conference. He beat the incumbent, Alasdair McDonnell, by 172 votes to 133.[3] Eastwood was re-elected to the NI Assembly in 2016 and 2017, receiving 5000 and 7240 first preference votes, respectively.
Views
When a serving British soldier posted an offensive remark about the victims of Bloody Sunday on the internet, Eastwood said that "they [i.e. the Ministry of Defence] should dismiss this man from the army without delay."[7]
References
- ↑ "Foyle results". BBC News – Election 2011. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ↑ Derry City Council Archived 11 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
- 1 2 "SDLP leadership: Colum Eastwood wins contest against Alasdair McDonnell". BBC News. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ↑ "MLA criticised for role at funeral where shots fired", DerryJournal.com, 20 April 2012.
- ↑ "Colum Eastwood defends decision to carry coffin of friend Seamus Coyle", BBC.co.uk, 20 April 2012.
- ↑ "Colum Eastwood moved in SDLP Stormont shuffle", BBC.co.uk, 22 April 2012.
- ↑ "Derry Journal – 'Sunday' insult soldier should be kicked out of Army: MLA". Derry Journal. Derry Journal. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
| Civic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Paul Fleming |
Mayor of Derry 2010 to 2011 |
Succeeded by Maurice Devenney |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Alasdair McDonnell |
Leader of the SDLP 2015 to present |
Incumbent |
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
| Preceded by Pól Callaghan |
MLA for Foyle 2011 to present |
Incumbent |