SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie says she hopes to run in the South Down constituency in the next British general election, after Eddie McGrady announced on Thursday that he would step down as MP for the constituency.
Ms Ritchie, in paying tribute to her “great friend and mentor Eddie McGrady”, said yesterday she was “willing to accept the party’s nomination as his replacement” in the Westminster elections, expected in early May.
She said she would step down as Social Development Minister if elected MP.
“If nominated, selected and elected, I will appoint one of my SDLP colleagues to the position of Social Development Minister and I will only personally accept one salary,” she said.
