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SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald has denied that her leadership is under threat or that she has lost the grip over her party.
At the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in Belfast, McDonald said she will lead the party into the next general election and that she will remain on as leader if her party loses out in both by-elections in May.
Yesterday, prior to the party’s Ard Fheis kicking off, The Sunday Times suggested a number of party members are unhappy with the party leadership.
In recent times, there has also been speculation that her influence over the party has diluted, particularly due to her not being successful in getting her preferred candidate Gillian Sherratt selected in her own constituency.
However, McDonald batted away questions about her leadership this morning, stating:
There are no plans to change or replace the leader of Sinn Féin.
McDonald told reporters at the beginning of the second day of Sinn Fein’s Ard Fheis in Belfast: “The decisions on leadership and who leads are made by the membership. That is a sign of the robust good health of Sinn Fein, that’s how we operate.”
Asked if she would lead her party in the next general election she said: “Yes”.
Speaking about upcoming by-elections, and whether she would remain on if her party is unsuccessful, McDonald said: “Yes, of course”.
“We’re a strong party, we’re ahead, as I say, we lead the polls, and we’re in a very, very strong position, so we go out and we fight those elections in that spirit.
“And I’m very proud to lead this party. I’m very proud to enjoy the confidence of my colleagues and the broader membership. So as you may try to seek a story in that, there isn’t a story there.
“I’m the leader of the party, we are a collective leadership, and we are in a very, very good place.”
The Journal pointed out that there was a clear succession plan for McDonald to take over from Gerry Adams, and asked if a succession plan is in place for when she decides to leave the stage.
McDonald said there “always has to be a plan for renewal. You’re absolutely right… of course, we’re very, very conscious of that”.
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