I aim to be first minister, says SDLP's first lady

NEW Social Democrat and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Margaret Ritchie last night announced her ambition to take power at Stormont.

The first woman to take charge of the nationalist party in its 40-year history marked her elevation by setting herself and her colleagues an ambitious target.

After beating South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell in the contest to replace outgoing Mark Durkan, the 51-year-old noted that she had risen from the rank and file to leader in three short years.

"You may ask if there's no end to this woman's ambition?" The current social development minister told delegates at the party's annual conference in Newcastle, Co Down. "Well there is – I want our party to rise again and I want to become first minister."

Ms Ritchie won the hard-fought leadership contest by 222 votes to 187. Her victory was met with a rapturous reception, including a prolonged standing ovation, from the conference floor.

When a degree of order was restored, the party's sole minister in the power-sharing executive made a bold vow to revive the SDLP's flagging fortunes and make it the largest party in Northern Ireland.