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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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SDLP
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(Social Democratic and Labour Party) Political party formed in *Northern Ireland in 1970 by a group of independent nationalist MPs in the Stormont parliament. The immediate purpose was to give organized political expression to the civil rights movement, which was then gathering much public support in its demands for an end to discrimination against the Catholic community. From the start the SDLP has taken a committed stand against the violence in the nationalist cause perpetrated by the *IRA; it shares the ideal of a united Ireland, but believes that it can only be achieved by consensus between the communities (both within Northern Ireland and between north and south).
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The party's first leader was Gerry Fitt (b. 1926, MP for Belfast constituencies at Stormont 1962–72 and at Westminster 1966–79); he was succeeded in 1979 by John Hume (MP for Foyle 1969–72 and from 1983). On most issues the SDLP votes with the Labour party.
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