The Foyle MP Mark Durkan announced out of the blue on TV on Thursday night that his days as both MP and MLA are numbered.  His exact words were “If I stand in the next Westminster election, I will be standing on the basis that I am not, I am not, a continuing MLA at that point.  I have made that very clear. That’s what our party position would be.”

End of an era?

NBNW isn’t sure what Durkan means by “I have made that very clear”.  Some SDLP figures in Derry yesterday indicated that a move to one mandate was expected eventually, but were surprised at the clarity this far from an election.

So the issue now is will he stay as MP or MLA.  Presumably he has to run as MP. First, the SDLP don’t have anyone who could take on a strong Sinn Fein candidate for Westminster (unless they can bring in a face not currently in politics).  Also, if they did bring in someone from outside (of Denis Bradley type status) they would then have a bigger mandate than Durkan.  That would undermine his position as local top dog.

So the speculation will soon turn to Durkan’s likely replacement in Stormont.  Given the recent SDLP history of selection convention in-fighting (Courtney etc) it could be eventful!