I’m absolutely delighted that my Council colleague Nichola Mallon was selected to replace Alban Maginness as the SDLP’s North Belfast candidate. While Alban will be a tough act to follow there’s no one better placed than Nichola to keep up the work for respect, reconciliation and rejuvenation for all of Belfast. It’s fitting too that Alban as the first Mayor of Belfast from the nationalist tradition will be replaced by Nichola, the first female Mayor of Belfast from the nationalist tradition!
The Council’s loss will no doubt be the Assembly’s gain.
Nichola isn’t the only new face in the SDLP’s Assembly ranks and she joins Daniel McCrossan, Colum Eastwood and of course Claire Hanna as the new generation of SDLP leaders.