THE SDLP is to exclude the press from key debates on the possibility of electoral pacts with other parties and on the powers of the party's executive committee, at its annual conference in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, this weekend.
The issue of a possible electoral pact with Sinn Fein - which could gain three nationalist House of Commons seats west of the Bann - generated a heated debate at last year's conference, but this year's agenda is designed to ensure that any such manifestation of internal division takes place behind closed doors.
Last year's controversial motion would have reaffirmed that the party "does not enter into pre election pacts with any other party or group on agreed candidates for any reason whatsoever". It was eventually "preferred back" to the party executive by 93 votes to 53 votes.
Launching the conference programme in Belfast yesterday, the SDLP chairman, Mr Jonathan Stephenson, predicted that this year's conference was again likely to "leave matters of electoral strategy in the hands of the party executive". It was only "commonsense", in the run up to a general election, not to reveal their electoral strategy to opponents.
Mr Stephenson said that he would be against any kind of deal with other parties that might sacrifice their sitting MPs. He added that there were deep divisions within nationalism which had been caused by 25 years of IRA violence. The biggest obstacle to nationalist unity had been IRA violence, and he pointed out: "The IRA ceasefire was, in operation last year it isn't this year.
The party's membership remains acutely aware of the potential, of, the natural nationalist majorities in key constituencies like Mid Ulster, Fermanagh/South Tyrone, the new seat of West Tyrone, and also in North Belfast.
The UUP and DUP operate reciprocal pacts whereby effectively Mr Ken Maginnis of the UUP and the Rev Willie McCrea of the DUP hold Fermanagh/South Tyrone and Mid Ulster respectively, as the nationalist vote is split between the SDLP and Sinn Fein.
Any electoral arrangement between Sinn Fein and the SDLP to capture these seats, however, could involve quid pro quo concessions which might involve a seat for Mr Gerry Adams in West Belfast at the expense of Dr Joe Hendron of the SDLP, and Mr Martin McGuinness in West Tyrone.
Last year three of the SDLP's four MPs - Mr Seamus Mallon, Mr Eddie McGrady and Dr Hendron - argued strongly against any such future arrangement. But Mr Mark Durkan from Derry, the outgoing chairman and close associate of the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, insisted that the party must be prepared to trust the SDLP leadership and not "handcuff" it into total opposition to possible future tactical arrangements.
A motion from a Belfast branch for debate in private at this weekend's conference asks it to recomit itself to established SDLP policy of contesting Westminster elections in all constituencies where the party is organised.
The Cookstown branch, in Mid Ulster, has however tabled an amendment to the effect that decisions about contesting elections be taken "by the party executive at the appropriate time and in the light of all the circumstances prevailing at the time".
Another important motion which will be debated in private session proposes a change in the party's constitution to give the executive committee power, either itself or to authorise the party officers on its behalf to buy or sell land ropey, erect buildings and borrow money or appoint trustees.
Meanwhile, the SDLP West Belfast constituency, at a meeting on Tuesday night unanimously reselected Dr Hendron as its candidate for the forthcoming British general election.
Sinn Fein's Mid Ulster representative, Councillor Francie Molloy, said last night that many in the nationalist community would be disappointed by the "dismissive approach" of the SDLP leadership to the suggestion for discussions of an electoral pact.
Mr Molloy said that while each party obviously had the right to make up its own mind on the many would like to see nationalist parties at least talking about the possibility of a pact.