A senior SDLP official has resigned from his post as director of communications. Mr Conal McDevitt (26), a Dubliner, is leaving his position to take up a communications appointment with Viridian, the holding company for Northern Ireland Electricity, early next year.
Mr McDevitt is a former adviser to Labour Party politicians in the Republic, including the Labour MEP for Dublin, Ms Bernie Malone, and the former Labour minister of State, Ms Joan Burton. Since his appointment to the SDLP more than two years ago, he has helped bring about dramatic improvements in the press and communications operations of the party.