Margaret Ritchie (politician)
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Margaret Ritchie MP |
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|---|---|
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| Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party | |
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In office 7 February 2010 – 5 November 2011 |
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| Deputy | Patsy McGlone |
| Preceded by | Mark Durkan |
| Succeeded by | Alasdair McDonnell |
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Member of Parliament for South Down |
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Assumed office 6 May 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Eddie McGrady |
| Majority | 5,891 (13.8%) |
| Minister for Social Development | |
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In office 8 May 2007 – 7 February 2010 |
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| First Minister |
Ian Paisley Peter Robinson |
| Preceded by | Nigel Dodds |
| Succeeded by | Alex Attwood |
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Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Down |
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In office 26 November 2003 – 31 March 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Eddie McGrady |
| Succeeded by | Seán Rogers |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
25 March 1958 Downpatrick, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | SDLP |
| Alma mater | Queens University of Belfast |
| Website | Ritchie SDLP |
Margaret Mary Ritchie (born 25 March 1958 in Downpatrick) is an Irish politician who was the Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party from 2010 to 2011. She was previously the Minister for Social Development from 2007 to 2010, when she was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Down.
Ritchie is a graduate of Queen's University, Belfast and served as parliamentary assistant to Eddie McGrady MP from 1987 to 2003. Ritchie became a councillor on Down District Council in 1985 and was Vice-Chairman (1992–93) and Chairman of the Council (1993–1994). She has also served as International Secretary of the SDLP and as an alternate member of the European Committee of the Regions.
She was nominated as the Social Development Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly by the SDLP which took effect on 8 May 2007. Ritchie served as the sole SDLP minister in the Paisley/Robinson-McGuinness Northern Ireland Executive up to 2010.
She became the leader of the SDLP, succeeding Mark Durkan on 7 February 2010, and was elected MP 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.
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