Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick ready to embrace House of Lords

23 October 2019

FORMER South Down MP Margaret Ritchie will formally take her place in the House of Lords on November 5.

Several weeks ago she was appointed as a Member of the House, something that she regards as a “tremendous opportunity” for her to re-engage with mainstream politics at a critical time.

Her new title will be Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, with the former MP explaining that she has chosen her title as it reflects the area where she was born, baptised, educated and spent most of her working life.

Elected as a member of the former Down Council in 1981, Miss Ritchie went on to become an MLA, Stormont Social Development Minister, SDLP leader and MP.

Her appointment to the House of Lord opens a new chapter for her, one that she plans to embrace on behalf of all of the people of Northern Ireland.

Baroness Ritchie firmly believes that where political chambers exist, people should be members of them to reflect the needs of communities across Northern Ireland. She insists that she intends to deliver the authentic voice of moderate, progressive Irish nationalism in a place where it needs to be heard.

And she has vowed to be a hard working Peer, lobbying and building alliances with other peers and parties across the chamber that will bring benefit to people in Northern Ireland.

And while the former MP regrets no longer being a member of the SDLP, she said her political views have not altered and will reflect the party’s central social democratic messages focused on the needs of people and the principles of equality, fairness and social justice for all in the House of Lords.

With her new title now confirmed, Baroness Ritchie described Downpatrick as a “historic place” on the island of Ireland, where St Patrick began and ended his ministry.

“The town is a place of immense heritage and has a longstanding history. It is uniquely associated on the island with the patron saint and is also associated with the Normans and the Vikings,” she continued.

“Downpatrick is also place of inclusion and a shared society. The area was one of the first to share power at local government level and in the days of the old Urban Council, it had responsibility for allocating housing and did so very much on the basis of need.”

The Baroness said the Downpatrick area was very much at the vanguard of political inclusion in terms of ensuring that people belonged, explaining that she plans to use her new title to promote the town.

Her House of Lords induction takes place on November 4 with her formal introduction taking place the following day when she will be introduced by her two sponsors on the floor of the chamber.

Baroness Ritchie’s sponsors will be former Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Lord Paul Murphy and Baroness Angela Smith, who is the shadow leader of the Lords.

She is also former NIO minister who was responsible for the the health, economy and environment portfolios during her time at Stormont.

Lord Murphy was also Minister of State and led the British Government in the talks process that led to the Good Friday Agreement.

Baroness Ritchie continued: “I have picked my two sponsors on the basis that while I am going into the House of Lords as non-aligned and independent, my two sponsors understand the mechanics of the Good Friday Agreement and understand inclusion and power-sharing.

“My maiden speech will hopefully take place sometime before the end of the year, although that could be subject to change if a general election is called.”

Looking to the future, the Baroness said she has been using the past few weeks to get briefed on key issues which are important to her, including Brexit and its impact on the agri-food economy and local economy.

“To me, there is no such thing as a good Brexit. The best deal for me is one where we will remain in the EU. What we have been presented with is one that is a bit if a curate’s egg in many ways. There will ne no hard border which means no economic border and no veto in terms of the Assembly. Having said that, I am going to have to examine the Brexit deal in greater depth,” she continued.

“There are other issues that I want to focus on including the contaminated bloods issue, tourism VAT and what can be done to help our economy and ensure that we can grow and develop. The vaginal mess issue is something I have been associated with as is the importance of the Co Down fishing industry.”

Baroness Ritchie said while she does not have constituents, she will be speaking in a general Northern Ireland-wide context.

“I will be highlighting the importance of reflecting our political diversity and respect for political difference, ensuring that our institutions are up and running and that they respect the relationships between Ireland and Britain and Northern Ireland and the South. Sadly these have been down for nearly three years,” she said.

The Baroness added: “My appointment to the House of Lords is an evolution. I was elected to Down Council in 1981, was the organisation’s first female chairman, worked as MP Eddie McGrady’s parliamentary secretary, became an MLA and MP for South Down and a Minister in the Stormont administration.

“It is now the House of Lords which represents a new challenge and an opportunity which I fully intend to grasp and embrace.”

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