Mark Durkan
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Mark Durkan (born 1960) is a politician in Northern Ireland and the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, since November 2001, succeeding John Hume. Before the suspension of the Northern Ireland Executive he had been Deputy First Minister.
In the 2005 general election he retained the SDLP's control over the Foyle Westminster seat with an impressive majority. This was despite a desperate effort by Sinn Fein to take the seat and a belief amongst both the media and Sinn Fein themselves that they would be victorious. The SDLP victory has been interpreted as a humiliation for Sinn Fein given the high profile they gave to winning this seat.
External links
- SDLP - Mark Durkan (http://www.sdlp.ie/markdurkan.shtm) official site
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Mark Durkan MP (http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-9668,00.html)
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Mark Durkan MP (http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/mark_durkan/foyle)
| Preceded by: Seamus Mallon | Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland 2001–2002 | Succeeded by: — |
| Preceded by: John Hume | Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party 2001– | Succeeded by: — |
| Preceded by: John Hume | Member of Parliament for Foyle 2005– | Succeeded by: — |