The South Belfast and Mid Down MP Claire Hanna has confirmed she is seeking to become the next leader of the SDLP.

The move is not a surprise after she was endorsed by both the outgoing leader Colum Eastwood and the party’s Stormont leader Matthew O’Toole.

In a statement she recognised the party is in a “challenging” period.

The SDLP, she said, “must have the humility to recognise that we have to work harder to resonate with people and earn future electoral success”.