Michael McBride
Reporting from Derry for BBC News NI

Addressing the media, party colleagues and some curious neighbours from nearby houses at a grassy embankment overlooking his home city of Derry, Colum Eastwood announced that after nine years he is to step down as SDLP leader.

With the River Foyle, Craigavon Bridge and Peace Bridge as the backdrop, he says that the time was right for him to step aside as leader and give someone else a go.

He says he joined the party at 14 under then-leader John Hume and says it has been a privilege to follow in his footsteps.

He defended his tenure in the role and that he will support whoever takes over the reins of a party he holds very dear to his heart.

Speaking about what's next for his political career Mr Eastwood says working on a New Ireland is his focus.

"It has been unstable since Brexit but it's a moment of opportunity of the three strands of the Good Friday agreement - this is a big moment of change for this island," he said.

"I want to give my full commitment to this - for developing and making a new Ireland. I need to have the space and time to do that.

"I want to be a voice for leading change for a new Ireland."

Speaking at a news conference in Derry, Colum Eastwood says he is "very passionate about his work" and will make a case for a new Ireland.

He says he will continue to support the party:

"I look forward to working with the new leader - to support the new leader."

"We have strong connections. It's now - after a long period in leadership to re-energise the party."

He has just announced that his will step down as leader of the Social Democratic and Labour party at the party conference in October.

Mr Eastwood says it has "been the priviledge of his life" to serve as the Foyle MP and says he will continue in the role.

A leadership contest will now follow.

Colum Eastwood is due to speak at a news conference at 12:00 BST.

You can watch by clicking the play button at the top of this page.

Michael McBride
Reporting from Derry

John and Lee Mitchell say they were both stunned to hear the news.

Both traditionally SDLP voters, they say they heard the news on Thursday morning and that it has “caught them off guard”.

Lee Mitchell says she hopes Claire Hanna takes over as party leader, saying she is “a very competent operator” and believes, if she were to take the reins, that it could improve the fortunes of the party moving forward - who have struggled electorally in recent times.

“I think another woman in charge never is a bad thing,” she says.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent

If the news still comes as a surprise to many, within SDLP circles there’s been talk for some time that Colum Eastwood was feeling a bit burnt out.

And with the Westminster election over and any further planned elections three years away, it seemed as good a time as any to call it quits and step down on his own terms.

He will keep the Westminster seat for Foyle that he won again in the recent general election and he’s expected to turn his hand to helping the party’s New Ireland commission he set up.

As for who replaces Mr Eastwood there’s only one obvious choice: his colleague on the Green benches, Claire Hanna.

Read more of Jayne McCormack's analysis on this story here.

Image source, PA Media

At only 41 years old, Colum Eastwood may be considered by many a veteran of the Social Democratic and Labour Party.

Mr Eastwood joined the party in 1998.

The 2015 party conference - where he was elected leader - was his 18th conference and he has held elected office for almost two decades.

He is the current MP for the Foyle constituency.

Welcome to the BBC News NI live page where we will be covering the expected resignation of Colum Eastwood as leader of the SDLP.

Mr Eastwood became leader of the party in 2015 and is the MP for Foyle.

Stay with us and we will bring you all the latest.