Stevenson rules out return to politics

A former Mayor of Derry has ruled out a return to politics after withdrawing her nomination for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Brenda Stevenson (pictured) had thrown her hat in the ring to contest the East Derry SDLP seat in the Stormont Assembly elections which are due to take place in May.

Veteran SDLP MLA John Dallat announced in August of last year that he was retiring from politics, and would not be contesting the Assembly elections.

At the time, it was reported that six people had put their names forward for selection, including Mrs Stevenson, and Jim McKeever, who currently sits as an SDLP representative on Derry City and Strabane District Council.

However, Mrs Stevenson, a niece of former SDLP leader John Hume, said that she has now withdrawn her name from the selection.

“I had put my name forward, but I’ve since withdrawn it, and I’ll not be returning to politics, I’ve made that decision,” she said.

Mrs Stevenson failed to gain a seat in the Faughan ward for the SDLP in the local government elections of May 2014, which saw the merger of Derry City Council and Strabane District Council.

She had been a councillor since 2006.

However, despite not taking a seat on the new council, Mrs Stevenson did serve as the last Mayor of the old Derry City Council before the new council came into power in May of last year.