Sinn Féin: Foyle MLAs Martina Anderson and Karen Mullan to consider positions

Martina Anderson stepped down from her MEP role in 2020 and replaced Raymond McCartney as a Foyle MLA in March that year

Sinn Féin has asked two Foyle MLAs to consider their positions following a party restructure in Londonderry, BBC News NI understands.

Martina Anderson and Karen Mullan were informed last week by party officials, the Irish Examiner first reported.

Previously, the party have said they "accepted recommendations from a review" and will begin to set up an electoral strategy group in Derry.

It follows concerns by Sinn Féin around recent election results in Foyle.

BBC News NI approached Ms Anderson and Ms Mullan for comment but received no response.

In the 2019 UK General Election, then Sinn Féin MP Elisha McCallion lost her Foyle seat to SDLP leader Colum Eastwood by more than 17,000 votes.

Months earlier, the party lost five seats on Derry City and Strabane District Council, losing its position as the largest party at council level.

Sinn Féin has said the strategy group will now be established in the Foyle constituency ahead of next year's Assembly elections.

'An internal matter'

Speaking to BBC's Good Morning Ulster on Thursday, Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy did not confirm whether or not the two MLAs were asked to consider their positions by the party.

Mr Murphy, Northern Ireland's Finance Minister, said the party restructure in Derry is "an internal matter".

"What it means is that the party, like any sensible party in a specific geographical area where you're having poor election results, which is in contrast to better results right across Ireland, has to recognise that there are issues there.

"The party has to examine those internally in terms of the local organisation and see how they can put together solutions to fix those and to get ready for upcoming elections.

"That is simply what the party is doing, it is an internal matter and that is simply what is going on in Derry."

If events of the past 48 hours concerning the DUP had not dominated the news, this story would have generated much more coverage.

It marks a massive step by Sinn Féin to radically overhaul its presence in Derry, following the loss of the Westminster seat to the SDLP two years ago.

At the time it was deemed a wake up call for many in the party. Now it's clear they intend to act on it.

However, it will come as a surprise that one of those being asked to think about her future is Martina Anderson - she has been a Sinn Féin stalwart for decades and was the party's voice in Brussels for years.

But party loyalty may not be not enough as Sinn Féin begins devising its strategies ahead of the next assembly election, in a bid to win back some ground.

Both Ms Anderson and Ms Mullan were co-opted into the Stormont Assembly.

Ms Anderson, who stepped down from her MEP role in 2020, replaced Raymond McCartney in March that year.

Previously, Ms Anderson served as an MLA for Foyle from 2007 to 2012.

Karen Mullan replaced Elisha McCallion as a Foyle MLA in June 2017 following Mrs McCallion's election as an MP for Foyle.