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Monday, 11 June, 2001, 14:28 GMT 15:28 UK
SDLP strategist calls for change
![]() John Hume has led the SDLP for 22 years.
A senior member of the SDLP's backroom team has said the party has been given a "bloody nose" by the general election results.
The SDLP held its three Westminster seats but its rival Sinn Fein added two more seats to its cache. It has now overtaken the SDLP to become the main nationalist party. Tom Kelly, chairman of the SDLP's communications group, said on Monday his party had "called it wrong".
He said changes recommended in a strategy document, which emerged after an internal review of the party 18 months ago, needed to be completed. "We need to be brave enough to complete the change process outlined in that document and that will require an invigorated leadership." 'Bald reality' Mr Kelly admitted his party had not tapped into the mood in the electorate. He said: "The Americans call it the "big mo" . "The 'mo' stands for both momentum and mood, two aspects of the political climate that are not with the SDLP at this time." In an apparent criticism of party leader John Hume's election message, Mr Kelly said:
"The bald reality is the mood in the nationalist electorate is not ready for that message."
Other voices within the SDLP have been more muted. Young voters The SDLP chairman Alex Attwood said there were many levels of organisation within the party which would have to be looked at.
He told BBC Northern Ireland's election programme: "Too often in councils and indeed in politics in general we allow ourselves to be taken for granted. "We spend a lot of time attending to the problems of other parties, or problems caused by other parties, and not enough taking care of our own position." And newly elected Craigavon councillor Dolores Kelly admitted: "It has been difficult to recruit people. "Politics isn't sexy when you're in the centre ground. "We obviously would need to see how we can attract young voters."
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