SDLP merger with Fianna Fáil has potential to split party

Analysis: Difficult decisions lie ahead for SDLP leader Mark Durkan, writes Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor

Analysis:Difficult decisions lie ahead for SDLP leader Mark Durkan, writes Gerry Moriarty,Northern Editor

Margaret Ritchie was the toast of the 37th annual SDLP conference in the Armagh City Hotel at the weekend, but the big issue was whether the party could or should do business with Fianna Fáil.

Those who attended the conference were buoyed by how the SDLP's sole minister in the Executive stood up to the UDA and to Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness. But they were uncertain about the other issue; it was all rather unsettling for many of them, although it had the merit of keeping the political spotlight on the SDLP.

Ms Ritchie was accorded standing ovations on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. As deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell told delegates: "She's put a spring back in our step." On the streets it's obvious that Ms Ritchie read the public mood.

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Had British prime minister Gordon Brown called a general election a few weeks back current SDLP MP Eddie McGrady (72) had planned to stand again for South Down to try to withstand the challenge from Sinn Féin's Caitriona Ruane.

But in the current climate Ms Ritchie would have seemed a surer bet to hold the seat. Some delegates were even suggesting she was the woman to retrieve the European seat last held by John Hume.

Mr Hume and Séamus Mallon attended the conference but kept their own counsel. They could quietly reminisce with friends about the great days, from civil rights to the Belfast Agreement, to devolution on May 8th - all stamped with the SDLP mark.

But Hume/Mallon was then; dealing with now is the problem. There was a fair buzz at the conference but behind the occasional stirring speech and barroom bonhomie there was also acknowledgment that the party is not the force it once was.

With the DUP and Sinn Féin dominating the Executive, it will take more than Margaret Ritchie to regain some of the lost ground.

This brings us to the kernel of the conference and the talk was of realignment. For the first time the Ulster Unionist Party was present in the form of MLAs Basil McCrea and John McCallister. They were warmly welcomed, as was Ms Ritchie at the UUP conference the weekend before last. Any SDLP/UUP alliance, however loose or informal, makes political sense considering how the UUP and SDLP hold only three of the 12 ministries in the Executive.

But the suggestion of the SDLP and Fianna Fáil merging to create an all-Ireland party, like Sinn Féin, was more tricky. So sensitive in fact that the SDLP opted to discuss the issue yesterday with the press excluded. The variety and intensity of opinion at that closed debate, as cited by sources, illustrated that Mr Durkan was correct in kicking the issue to touch by establishing a working group to tackle the issue. But a decision on a complex, potentially divisive issue cannot be parked permanently.

There is no doubting that there is an influential bloc within the party which believes an SDLP/FF merger would be key to reviving the party's fortunes. But there is a strong element that believes neutrality concerning southern parties remains the best way forward, while antipathy to Fianna Fáil in certain quarters is also a consideration.

"Not for sale" was how one former senior SDLP politician responded when asked privately whether she favoured such a move. Another former luminary worried that a formalised SDLP/FF structure could see the SDLP swamped by Fianna Fáil. Yet another delegate said she would resign if a deal was done.

There was a strong fraternal Fianna Fáil presence at the conference, led by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, Martin Mansergh and Rory O'Hanlon. Mr Ahern was careful, stressing that nothing would happen that would upset the current "political equilibrium" - a phrase also used by Mr Durkan - but he was equally certain "there is no political logic as to why we should not look northward".

Former Labour leader Ruairi Quinn reminded delegates that his party kept out of the North to facilitate the creation of the SDLP, while Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd recalled how Enda Kenny canvassed in the last Westminster election for Alasdair McDonnell. Much tugging on old loyalties there.

Mr Durkan isn't going to rush jumping into bed with Fianna Fáil. Mr Ahern too spoke of a detailed consultation with Fianna Fáil grassroots but on Saturday he appeared keen in his careful courtship of the SDLP.

All that was clear from the weekend was that any decision to coalesce with Fianna Fáil has the potential to be more trouble than it's worth. Equally, such a move could be the political impetus the SDLP needs - especially if Fianna Fáil is going to push across the frontier in any case. It would appear some difficult decisions lie ahead for Mr Durkan.