Alasdair McDonnell has a grounded history in Northern Ireland politics stretching back to 1968 when be became involved in the Civil Rights movement.

He took his first step into electoral politics in June 1970 when, as a young 19 year old, he stood in North Antrim against the Rev. Ian Paisley in the Westminster election of that year.

A native of Glenariffe in County Antrim Dr. McDonnell was educated at Garron Tower before embarking on a medical career at U.C.D. He graduated in medicine in 1974 and returned to Northern Ireland to become a G.P on the Lower Ormeau Road, a service he provided for over 30 years.

Alasdair was elected to Belfast City Council in 1977 where his main priority was urban regeneration and job creation. As a Councillor for the Laganbank Ward in South Belfast he was actively involved in the regeneration of the Gas Works site and played a key role in promoting Belfast as a location for inward investment. Between 1995 and 1996 he served as Deputy Mayor of Belfast before standing down from Council in 2001 to concentrate on his Assembly duties.

Elected to the new Assembly in 1998, Alasdair McDonnell remains an MLA for South Belfast. He is a Member of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee and is the SDLP Economic and Business Affairs Spokesperson.

He was elected as the Member for Parliament for South Belfast in May 2005 and was re-elected in May 2010. He is married to Olivia and they have four young children. His special interests include countering educational underachievement particularly in disadvantaged areas, job creation, renewable energy and reconciliation on the island of Ireland.