Margaret Ritchie

March 25, 1958

Ritchie is a graduate of Queen"s University, Belfast and served as parliamentary assistant to Eddie McGrady Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2003. Ritchie became a councillor on Down District Council in 1985 and was Vice-Chairman (1992-1993) and Chairman of the Council (1993–1994). She was nominated as the Social Development Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly by the Social Democratic and Labour Party which took effect on 8 May 2007. Ritchie served as the sole Social Democratic and Labour Party minister in the Paisley/Robinson-McGuinness Northern Ireland Executive up to 2010. She became the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, succeeding Mark Durkan on 7 February 2010, and was elected Member of Parliament for South Down on 6 May 2010. On Remembrance Day 2010, Ritchie made history by becoming the first leader of a nationalist party to wear a remembrance poppy. She wore it at the wreath-laying ceremony at the cenotaph in Downpatrick. In Northern Ireland, the wearing of poppies is controversial as it is seen by many as a political symbol representing support for the British Army. Because of this, it has long been the preserve of the unionist/loyalist community. She received praise from several unionist councillors for this. In December 2010 she launched a verbal attack on Sinn Féin by urging voters in the Republic of Ireland not to vote for Sinn Féin in the next Irish general election describing their politics as "sectarian" and causing "division". A Sinn Féin spokesperson described the comments as "nonsense" and "an attempt to score cheap points". In the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2011, the Social Democratic and Labour Party lost two seats and saw its vote decline by 1%. On 27 July 2011 it was reported that she faced a leadership challenge from deputy leader Patsy McGlone. The Phoenix reported that only one Modern Language Association Alex Attwood was prepared to back her and that "she will be humiliated if she puts her leadership to a vote" She stepped down in November 2011. In a leaked United States diplomatic cable, Ritchie was branded "wooden" and had her leadership of the Social Democratic and Labour Party questioned. Also she was considered to be burdened "with what some deem an unpleasant speaking voice" and lacking the "political muscle and business acumen" to rebuild the Social Democratic and Labour Party. The Belfast Telegraph broke the story but also commented that Ritchie was "sincere, decent and focused, but these qualities do not come across on television or in large gatherings." She submitted a letter of resignation to the Assembly at the end of February 2012, to take effect on 31 March. Ritchie spoke to senior Ulster Bank officials to emphasise the need for them to fully reimburse customers following their computer failure in 2012, saying: "Many customers are still experiencing difficulties with Ulster Bank in that they haven"t been fully reimbursed for the money they lost as a result of the bank"s computer system failure. This has been compounded by a complete lack of communication from the bank throughout the difficulties their customers have been experiencing.".

Margaret Ritchie

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politician

Education

Queen"s University Belfast.

Career

Ritchie is a graduate of Queen"s University, Belfast and served as parliamentary assistant to Eddie McGrady Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2003. Ritchie became a councillor on Down District Council in 1985 and was Vice-Chairman (1992-1993) and Chairman of the Council (1993–1994). She was nominated as the Social Development Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly by the Social Democratic and Labour Party which took effect on 8 May 2007.

Ritchie served as the sole Social Democratic and Labour Party minister in the Paisley/Robinson-McGuinness Northern Ireland Executive up to 2010.

She became the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, succeeding Mark Durkan on 7 February 2010, and was elected Member of Parliament for South Down on 6 May 2010. On Remembrance Day 2010, Ritchie made history by becoming the first leader of a nationalist party to wear a remembrance poppy.

She wore it at the wreath-laying ceremony at the cenotaph in Downpatrick. In Northern Ireland, the wearing of poppies is controversial as it is seen by many as a political symbol representing support for the British Army.

Because of this, it has long been the preserve of the unionist/loyalist community.

She received praise from several unionist councillors for this. In December 2010 she launched a verbal attack on Sinn Féin by urging voters in the Republic of Ireland not to vote for Sinn Féin in the next Irish general election describing their politics as "sectarian" and causing "division". A Sinn Féin spokesperson described the comments as "nonsense" and "an attempt to score cheap points".

In the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2011, the Social Democratic and Labour Party lost two seats and saw its vote decline by 1%.

On 27 July 2011 it was reported that she faced a leadership challenge from deputy leader Patsy McGlone. The Phoenix reported that only one Modern Language Association Alex Attwood was prepared to back her and that "she will be humiliated if she puts her leadership to a vote" She stepped down in November 2011.

In a leaked United States diplomatic cable, Ritchie was branded "wooden" and had her leadership of the Social Democratic and Labour Party questioned. Also she was considered to be burdened "with what some deem an unpleasant speaking voice" and lacking the "political muscle and business acumen" to rebuild the Social Democratic and Labour Party. The Belfast Telegraph broke the story but also commented that Ritchie was "sincere, decent and focused, but these qualities do not come across on television or in large gatherings."

She submitted a letter of resignation to the Assembly at the end of February 2012, to take effect on 31 March.

Ritchie spoke to senior Ulster Bank officials to emphasise the need for them to fully reimburse customers following their computer failure in 2012, saying: "Many customers are still experiencing difficulties with Ulster Bank in that they haven"t been fully reimbursed for the money they lost as a result of the bank"s computer system failure.

This has been compounded by a complete lack of communication from the bank throughout the difficulties their customers have been experiencing.".

Membership

56th United Kingdom Parliament. 2nd Northern Ireland Assembly. 3rd Northern Ireland Assembly.

4th Northern Ireland Assembly.

55th United Kingdom Parliament]

She was previously the Minister for Social Development from 2007 to 2010, when she was elected as the Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for South Down. She has also served as International Secretary of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and as an alternate member of the European Committee of the Regions.

Ritchie announced when leaving the leadership of the Social Democratic and Labour Party that she would also vacate her seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly in order to concentrate on her role as a Member of Parliament, and the Social Democratic and Labour Party subsequently selected retired headteacher Seán Rodgers to replace her at Stormont.

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Margaret Ritchie

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