Important developments took place within nationalism, north and south, in the second half of 1970. The civil rights movement faded in importance, to be superseded by a new grouping, the Social Democratic and Labour party (SDLP), as the principal voice of nationalism in the north. The party consisted principally of anti-Unionist Stormont MPs, some from the labour tradition and some who had come to prominence in the civil rights movement. With Gerry Fitt as leader and John Hume as its chief strategist, the party would remain the largest northern nationalist grouping for most of the troubles.
