Career
A former Social Democratic and Labour Party (Social Democratic and Labour Party) officeholder, he then joined Sinn Féin, but is now an Independent Republican. He stood unsuccessfully for the party in East Londonderry at the 2005 general election, and in the constituency of the same name at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007. Leonard was nominated by Sinn Féin to succeed Francie Brolly on the latter"s resignation as the Sinn Féin Modern Language Association for East Londonderry, and took office on 7 January 2010.
In November 2010 it was announced that Leonard would not contest the 2011 Assembly election, so that he could devote his time to writing a book, Towards a United Ireland - an uncompleted journey.
A disagreement over support arrangements for Modern Language Association"s wages and expenses was reportedly the reason for his decision to leave Sinn Féin in 2011. A 2012 interview published in the Belfast Telegraph quoted Leonard as saying that the Provisional Irish Republican Army (Ireland Republican Army) still have a big say in the running of Sinn Féin.
"The tentacles of the army still run throughout it", he said and stated that former republican prisoners still dominate the structures of the party.
