Image source, Getty Images

Thank you for joining us for our live coverage of SDLP leader Colum Eastwood's resignation speech.

He will formally step down on 5 October at the party conference.

Mr Eastwood has endorsed the Belfast South and Mid Down MP as his successor.

The SDLP leader of the opposition Matthew O'Toole's name has also been mentioned.

You can keep up to date with the story here.

The live page today was edited by Rebekah Logan with additional reporting by Barry O'Connor, Adam Mandeville, Mike McBride, Rebekah Wilson, Peter Coulter, Finn Purdy and Jayne McCormack.

Michael McBride
Reporting from Derry for BBC News NI

Phil Langman, from Liverpool, has lived in Derry for 26 years.

He says he understands why Colum Eastwood thinks now is the right time to step aside.

“I think he’s a fantastic MP, he seems like a decent man, but it must take its toll fronting a political party," he said.

“I think anyone following in the footsteps of people like John Hume as leader will always struggle to make as much of a mark on politics here like he did.”

More reaction from the political parties in Northern Ireland.

A TUV spokesperson has said: "Colum Eastwood’s leadership saw an increasing greening of the SDLP and Unionists will never forget that he infamously carried the coffin of an INLA terrorist."

"His leadership will be remembered by TUV members and supporters as marking the tipping point where we overtook the SDLP to become the fifth biggest party as demonstrated in recent polling."

Image source, PA Media

Another possible contender for the SDLP leadership is Matthew O'Toole.

Mr O’Toole leads the SDLP’s team of MLAs at Stormont and is leader of the official opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

He also chairs the assembly’s finance committee.

He has been an MLA for South Belfast since 2020, after he was co-opted into the assembly to replace Claire Hannah following her election to Westminster.

Before entering party politics, Mr O’Toole worked as a civil servant in London at UK Treasury and at Number 10 Downing Street.

Born in Belfast, he grew up in Downpatrick and attended university in Scotland.

Image source, PA Media

Claire Hanna is currently tipped as the favourite to succeed Colum Eastwood as party leader, particularly following Mr Eastwood’s endorsement of her during his resignation speech.

Ms Hannah has served as a councillor, an MLA, and now an MP, representing Belfast South and Mid Down at Westminster.

She was first elected to Belfast City Council in 2011.

She now sits on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in Westminster and is the SDLP's spokesperson for Europe and international affairs.

Prior to being elected to politics, she worked in international development in a range of policy and education roles.

Born in Connemara, Galway, she has lived in south Belfast from a young age.

Political commentator David McCann tells the BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme that the party needs organisation.

"You have Alliance on one side and Sinn Fein on the other—tearing into the SDLP."

"There's more manpower elsewhere; people will vote for you if they've got the door knocked and they haven't."

Former SDLP leader Mark Durkan says Mr Eastwood will undoubtedly give his full support to whoever is next to step into the role.

Mr Durkan says the SDLP leader took over the party during difficult circumstances and has navigated many difficult times for the party, but believes he can look back at his time as leader with pride.

Refusing to formally endorse any candidate as of yet, Mr Durkan says that there are a number of party members who he believes would be great leaders and bring their own strengths to the role.

He added that Claire Hanna is an enthusiastic and capable politician who will no doubt have the support of others, like Mr Eastwood, around her.

SDLP Cllr Pete Byrne, who is chairperson of Newry, Mourne, and Down District Council, says that either Matthew O'Toole or Claire Hanna would do a "fantastic job".

"Claire will be the frontrunner at the front of many people's minds."

Taoiseach Simon Harris has wished Colum Eastwood well.

In a statement he said: "Colum has served with distinction and has been a progressive, responsible and pragmatic voice on all issues, but especially the challenging ones."

Image source, PA Media

Mr Harris says that he spoke with the outgoing SDLP leader last night.

He added that he is "glad to hear he still has a lot more to give to politics and will continue to serve as an MP after his successor as leader is appointed."

Dolores Kelly, former SDLP MLA and former deputy leader of the party, says it is a sad time to see Colum Eastwood go.

"I'm sorry to see Colum go, but he has articulated his rationale and how lucky he has been to go at a time of his own choosing."

She argues the party is not in a difficult place.

"The SDLP has always been very strident in its campaign for social justice—the party has given relevance globally and locally—and the SDLP has a lot more to offer—I think we have the right people in the right place to do that."

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Asked about who his successor might be, Mr Eastwood said Claire Hanna, the South Belfast and Mid Down MP, would be "far and away the best option for members."

He said there was "absolutely no doubt" she had what it takes to be SDLP leader.

"If this is my opportunity to be the first person to endorse Claire Hanna, I'll absolutely take it; it's up to Claire, but I hope she puts her name forward."

Image source, Getty Images

Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill has wished Colum Eastwood well as he steps down as SDLP leader.

“We have worked together as leaders for many years now, to restore the political institutions in the north and in protecting the Good Friday Agreement and the all-island economy against efforts to impose the hardest possible Tory Brexit," she said.

“I look forward to working with his successor as leader of the SDLP in a constructive manner for the good of all our people."

Image source, Gerry Images

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says she values Colum’s leadership and service to the party over his nine years as leader.

“I’m grateful for the work he has done and want to put on record my thanks to him," she says.

“It’s a very different party than it was many years ago.

“We need to look forward to the new iteration and new leadership that is coming.”

She says being a leader of any party takes its toll, and she understands his reasons for stepping aside.

Ms McLaughlin did not say who she would endorse to become the next leader and says a process is now in place with the management team to find the best candidate moving forward.

Speaking about his time as leader, he says: "The bottom line is, these past few years have been a period of immense change across these islands."

"After Brexit, it has been really unstable. In many ways," he adds.

"But it has also been a moment of opportunity," he added.

"We now have the three strands of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement in a more stable place."

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent

The weight of carrying a political party on his shoulders for nine years seemed to have left Colum Eastwood as he approached the microphones.

He was right to say that not all leaders get to choose their own moment to step away, but he is now among that select group.

He denied there had been any pressure on him to go, insisting this is about a refresh and reset for the party he's been a member of since his teenage years.

And he delivered the first endorsement for Claire Hanna, who is hotly tipped to be his successor.

She has yet to say definitively what she intends to do, but the job appears hers to lose.

SDLP leadership contests have not always run smoothly, with the stage managed press conference today and a ringing endorsement, all efforts are being made to ensure a seamless transition in time for next month's party conference.

Mr Eastwood says that the SDLP helped to "end the Anglo-Irish conflict" and "set the parameters for what became the Good Friday Agreement".

Since then, Mr Eastwood says that Northern Ireland has seen "enormous change in our society" and that it is now time to "set out the case" for "building a new Ireland".

Mr Eastwood says that the SDLP is best when dealing with the "big issues".

Mr Eastwood is asked about elections and how the party has moved in time. He says the SDLP has seen many changes.

"When I took this job - the party was in a bad place - we brought in a new generation of people - we took progressive views and I think we brought the party back to its radical beginnings."

"But now it's time for somebody else will have to take that forward - it's been a difficult time for the middle ground."