Eastwood welcomes former NI21 councillor to SDLP

Cllr McCarthy, who is the only member of NI21 to have been elected since the party formed in 2013, currently sits on Lisburn and Castlereagh Council.

When he resigned from NI21 in December he said be believed he could “work better outside the party”.

His departure left Basil McCrea as NI21’s only member in elected office.

Cllr McCarthy becomes the fourth SDLP representative in Lisburn and Castlereagh.

On Tuesday, Mr Eastwood welcomed the new recruit as an example of the “smart people with smart ideas” the party wishes to attract.

Last year, Cllr McCarthy called for the legalisation of cannabis - suggesting it that the drug can be of great benefit to those suffering extreme pain from long-term chronic condition. He is also pro-choice in the abortion debate.

Mr Eastwood said: “People like Johnny McCarthy get into politics to change society and the lives of the people they represent. All of us in the SDLP want to see Northern Ireland work for all who live here, and an end to sectarian-based tit-for-tat politics.

“I am delighted to welcome Johnny to the party and I know he’ll play a key role both in Lisburn & Castlreagh and across Northern Ireland.”

The SDLP leader added: “Johnny knows, as I do, that the way forward is in non-sectarian politics, where people make good on commitments and work together to build a better society. He is an impressive public representative and I expect him to become a valued member of our team. We want to see other smart people with smart ideas also joining us.”

Cllr McCarthy said he believed Northern Ireland “must and will move forward under the new leadership of Colum Eastwood and the reinvigorated group of young people” within the party.

“I believe the SDLP can put the failed politics of the past behind us and deliver the change we all need. I became involved in politics because I believed we needed new ideas, new energy and new politics.”

Cllr McCarthy added: “The SDLP has the experience of revolutionising our politics and it is time for us to grasp the initiative, and revolutionise this society once more.”

During the 2013 council election, Johnny McCarthy could be seen regularly in Lisburn city centre with fellow candidate and close friend Jonny Orr who stood as an independent. Mr Orr dressed as Darth Vader while canvassing and they post regular Facebook videos together.

In a Facebook message On Tuesday, Mr Orr said: “I have mixed feelings about Johnny joining the SDLP. I’m wondering how those that voted for him feel about it?

“It is interesting that the SDLP has signed a pro-choice, atheist that is vocally supportive of cannabis legalisation. As his friend I know he would never back track on his beliefs or support the pro-life argument.”