Hanna becomes new SDLP leader at party conference

Claire Hanna has been installed as the SDLP's new leader at its annual conference this afternoon.

She was the only candidate when nominations closed last month to succeed Colum Eastwood.

Mr Eastwood announced in August that he was stepping down from the leadership.

In her first speech as leader Ms Hanna, the MP for South Belfast and Mid Down, told delegates that Irish unity will mean a new Northern Ireland "along the way".

The SDLP has seen its vote share squeezed in recent elections, alongside a growth in support for Sinn Féin amongst nationalists.

It is now the fifth largest party at Stormont and provides the official opposition.

Ms Hanna was born in Co Galway, but her family moved to Belfast before she started school.

She has deep roots in the party. Her father was a senior official in the SDLP and her mother served as a minister in one of the first power-sharing executives in 2002.

Ms Hanna started her speech by paying tribute to those who inspired her to pursue a career in politics, particularly her SDLP stalwart parents Eamon and Carmel.

She spoke of her pride in the history of the SDLP and its leading role in the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 but expressed concern of politics being "stuck between our past and our future".

She also emphasised her commitment to social democracy.

"As a party we need to change how we do things, but not why we do things," she said.

Earlier, Mr Eastwood received a standing ovation as he took to the stage for his final conference speech as leader.

He hailed the SDLP as the party set up in 1970 which "chose civil rights over civil war", adding he sees "the same spirit in this spirit today" particularly highlighting the work of Belfast councillor Paul Doherty and Mayor of Derry Lilian Seenoi-Barr.

"I am so excited and inspired by our new leader," he said.