Mark Durkan

John Mark Durkan (born 1960) is a politician in Northern Ireland and the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party.

Related Topics:
1960 - Northern Ireland - Social Democratic and Labour Party

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Mark Durkan, MP Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (2001-2002). Leader of the SDLP (2001-present).

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Mark Durkan was born in Derry in 1960. He was educated at St. Patrick's Primary School, and at St. Columb's College Derry. He studied politics at Queen's University, Belfast and later did a part-time Bachelor of Arts course in Public Policy Management at the University of Ulster. While at college Durkan served as Deputy President of the Students' Union from 1982-1984. He became involved in politics in 1981 when he became a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party. In 1984 he went to work for John Hume as his Westminster Assistant. He became a key figure in organising by-election campaigns for the Seamus Mallon and Eddie McGrady in the 1980s.

Related Topics:
Derry - 1960 - St. Columb's College - Queen's University, Belfast - Bachelor of Arts - University of Ulster - 1982 - 1984 - 1981 - Social Democratic and Labour Party - John Hume - Westminster - Seamus Mallon - 1980s

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In 1990 Durkan became chairperson of the SDLP, a position he served in until 1995. He was a key member of the party's negotiating team in the run up to the Good Friday Agreement. As a result of the agreement Durkan was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembley in 1998, and became a member of the Northern Ireland Executive as Minister for Finance and Personnel. He served in that position until 2001 when he replaced Seamus Mallon as Deputy-First Minister. He was also elected leader of the SDLP in that year. Durkan was re-elected to the Assembly in the election of November 2003, however, the Assembly and the Executive remain suspended.

Related Topics:
1990 - 1995 - Good Friday Agreement - Northern Ireland Assembley - 1998 - Northern Ireland Executive - 2001 - Seamus Mallon - 2003

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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.

Related Topics:
2005 general election - Foyle - Westminster - Sinn Fein

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