The former finance minister in the Stormont Executive and MP and MLA for Foyle is quitting to concentrate on his role at Westminster. He is to deliver his final address at the party conference in Newcastle, Co Down.

The outcome of a leadership battle between Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie and South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell will be known on Sunday.

Mr Durkan, 49, married to Jackie with five-year-old daughter Dearbhail, is a life-long politician and former student union leader with a commitment to social justice and tackling inequality.

His last day as leader coincided with the announcement of a deal on the devolution of policing and justice powers from London to Belfast.

"We want to confound the sinister agenda of so-called dissidents, so-called republicans," he said.

"We want to make sure that devolution works a lot better than it has been doing."

The youngest of seven children, he was reared by his mother Isobel after his father Brendan, a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) inspector, was killed in a road accident.

Mr Durkan worked closely with late US Senator Ted Kennedy, having served an internship with the leading Democrat in Washington in 1985.

Known for his easy sense of humour, Mr Durkan quipped that he was the only politician to get in trouble for sleeping with his wife after his expenses for a hotel night in London were queried by the Westminster authorities. He is also a keen Manchester United supporter.