Why have the Sinn Fein grown more poplar between 1997 and 2003 while the SDLP has grown less popular?

In 1997 the SDLP were the more popular of the two nationalist parties within Northern Ireland with 21% of the votes and Sinn Fein only getting 17% and the Westminster results roughly the same. But when we look at the election results for 2003 we can see a change in pattern, with Sinn Fein gaining more votes than the SDLP, 24% of the votes to Sinn Fein and 17% to the SDLP. There has been a clear switch in position between the two parties and even a further rise of Sinn Fein can be seen in 2005 general election.

The Sinn Fein were seen in during the troubles as the political side of the IRA therefore a lot of commotion was drawn up against them. The Sinn Fein was for a long time criticised for this and a lot of nationalists in Northern Ireland did not approve of the IRA. The SDLP on the other hand help up as the nationalist party for the middle class people and this is where they received most of their vote. In 1981 Sinn Fein's publicity director Danny Morrison described his party's electoral strategy as one "with an armalite in one hand and the ballot box in the other". It was a battle cry for republicans, but unionists saw it as a reminder of the violent campaign of the IRA which was not to cease for another 25.

The SDLP have seen a slip in their voters, a contributing factor of this is harsh but true, a percentage of the SDLP voters are simply dying off. This is contributing to the decline in votes the SDLP are facing. The SDLP are putting up a fight against Sinn Fein, who are simply overtaking them, in 2001 the SDLP put up a slogan to infuriate the republicans “we work for more than ourselves alone” in a reference to the english translation of Sinn Fein- ourselves alone. The SDLP have been the more popular of the two parties up until the ...

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The Sinn Fein hadn’t been able to become popular with all the nationalist voters because of the connections they had with the IRA. For example, the Omagh bombing made a horrible mark on the town, although it was said to be the Real IRA a splinter group which didn’t accept the peace agreement it has always been suspicious to unionist and residents of the town, but now that support is back, the Sinn Fein popularity has grown so fiercely that it has been able regain the support of a devastated town.

The SDLP were always seen as the more co-operational group of the two nationalist groups, whilst Sinn Fein always had something to say and always had to fight the SDLP were always more reasonable. This co-operation helped a lot of people in Northern Ireland and this could be a possibility of why they were so popular. But the Sinn Fein gave up the arms of the IRA and signed a peace treaty. This was a massive step in co-operation with the nationalists and unionist and seen as a bigger step the SDLP could ever take.

The Good Friday agreement was an agreement between the British and Irish government. It was seen as a major step for Northern Ireland. It also boosted the Sinn Fein and helped them become the biggest nationalist part in Northern Ireland. The SDLP’s rejection to violence during the trouble made them a very popular party, they played a large part in the talks in the 1990’s which led to the Good Friday agreement. But since the cease fire in 1994 they have been struggling to keep ground from the Sinn Fein. The Sinn Fein is seen as a more youthful group than the SDLP. A chain of events have caused the Sinn Fein to raise in popularity as well as the SDLP a decline in popularity. These events somehow shaped the way these two parties will turn out.

As well as the good Friday agreement the Sinn Fein have grown more popular because of their cease fire, this was also seen as a large step for them. The fact that they were able to give up the violence for a better future was an ultimate boost for the Sinn Fein.

The peace process inevitability gave led Sinn Fein to become for the first time, the more popular of the two nationalist groups. This was a process which showed Northern Ireland that the Sinn Fein was prepared to give up violence in respect of a better Northern Ireland. This gave the Sinn Fein an upper hand, it showed a new way of thinking for the Sinn Fein and it helped to the dismissal of arms in 2004. This new way of thinking attracted new voters for the Sinn Fein, it was a brilliant way in which they could attract a voter who wanted a better Northern Ireland without violence and it could attract former supporters if the SDLP.

The SDLP have had a rough past 10 years, ever since the rise of Sinn Fein the SDLP have been struggling and fighting for the top position. Ever since the peaceful campaign of the Sinn Fein and the Good Friday agreement the SDLP have found themselves in a position where they cannot get enough votes to defeat the Sinn Fein. Their votes have declined rapidly over the last couple of years. The SDLP have been trying new techniques but are still finding it hard. They are seen as an old party and traditional, whereas Sinn Fein is more youthful and new. The SDLP’s average voter is an OAP and the Sinn Fein’s target is youth. Now that Sinn Fein is on top SDLP have to focus on getting more voters. During the troubles the SDLP were seen as a safer party, they had no violent connection and were a good option for Catholics. But now that the troubles are over, the voters feel that Sinn Fein can do something for them, that they will actually try and do something and not just stand around.

Most of the major steps for Northern Ireland were caused or helped by Sinn Fein. The people of Northern Ireland see them as the best nationalist option because they will stand up and fight. Sinn Fein has grown more popular in 5 Years than they have in 80 years and they continue to grow.