The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; Irish: Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre) is a social-democratic political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP has fraternal links with other European social-democratic parties, including the Irish Labour Party and British Labour Party (neither of which contest elections in Northern Ireland). It is affiliated to the Socialist International and Party of European Socialists.
The SDLP is also an Irish nationalist party. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom. During the Troubles, the SDLP was the most popular Irish nationalist party in Northern Ireland, but since the Provisional IRA ceasefire in 1994 it has lost ground to the republican party Sinn Féin, which in 2001 became the more popular of the two parties for the first time. Established during the Troubles, a significant difference between the two parties was the SDLP's rejection of violence, in contrast to Sinn Féin's support for the Provisional IRA.
The SDLP currently has three MPs in the House of Commons, and 14 MLAs in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Read more about Social Democratic And Labour Party: Foundation and Early History, Aims, The Belfast Agreement and Return To Government, Electoral Performance, Possible Merger, Westminster Parliament, Proposed Dáil Participation, Remembrance Day 2010, Leadership Challenge and Election, 2011, Leaders, Deputy Leaders
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