Local Man Addresses Labour Conference

A Belfast university lecturer has made history by becoming the first Northern Ireland constituency delegate to address the Labour party's annual conference.

Long-time party member Boyd Black took to the stage in Manchester to call for the formation of Labour candidates in the Province.

Dr Black, a business lecturer at Queen's, opposed a move by Islington North and Luton South to prevent the party organising in Northern Ireland.

Instead, Islington North delegate Ceri Hoywell has insisted Labour's 200-strong NI members should be categorised in the party's international section.

It was argued that Labour should not compete with the SDLP.

Both the Labour National Executive Committee and a speaker representing Labour's Irish Society opposed the move.

Dr Black, who stood as a candidate in the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly elections, is the first Irish Labour delegate - bar trade union members - to address the conference in 100 years.

He has previously speculated that Labour organisation will emerge in the Province and hinted that the SDLP will split over contentious links with Fianna Fail.

(PR)