IT’S SINN THE BAG
»»O’neill tipped for top post in North’s election »»Big Alliance wins while DUP vote slides
SINN Fein are on course for a major victory in the North after securing more than 250,000 first preference votes – paving the way for the possibility of a republican First Minister.
With counting for the 90 Stormont seats continuing late into last night, the party had won 16 seats, well ahead of the DUP on 10, Alliance on seven and UUP on four.
Sinn Fein received 250,388 first preferences, up from 224,245, compared with the 184,002 returned for the DUP, a drop of 41,000 from 2017, and 116,681 for Alliance – an increase of some 44,000.
But as the North’s political landscape split into three big blocs for the first time, rather than the traditional green and orange, there were some high profile casualties left behind.
The DUP’S Peter Weir lost his seat, while last night Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon was under serious threat in North Belfast.
Green Party leader Clare Bailey was also at risk of losing her South Belfast seat, while the SDLP’S Dolores Kelly lost hers in Upper Bann.
Speaking last night Mr Weir said a “level of anger” directed at the DUP over the Protocol saw North Down votes go to the TUV.
As the numbers emerged, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’neill was elected on the first count in Midulster, with Alliance leader Naomi
Long topping the poll in East Belfast. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was elected on the first count in Lagan Valley but with the party facing a damaging drop in support, Sir Jeffrey stressed the need for unionist unity.
He said: “One of the key messages for me is that unionism simply can’t afford the divisions that exist.”
Meanwhile, it was a very different story for Sinn Fein, and Ms O’neill was in a positive mood at the count centre in Magherafelt after securing her seat in Mid-ulster.
Asked about the possibility of her taking the First Minister role, she said: “It is very early to say, let’s get all the votes counted. I feel very positive.”
She said she wanted to “together work in partnership with others”, adding: “That is the only way we will achieve much, much more for people here, whether in terms of the cost-ofliving crisis or trying to fix our health service.”
But it was Alliance who had the first MLA voted in yesterday, heralding a hugely successful day for the party.
Kellie Armstrong was elected for the
Strangford constituency on the first count with 7,015 votes. Congratulated by Ms Long, Ms Armstrong said it was the start of a surge for the party in the Assembly elections.
She said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I’ve held back using the word surge until now but I think I’m feeling it now. I’m absolutely delighted to top the poll.
“I’m not going to say a tidal wave at this moment in time, because we’ve a long time to go yet, but it’s amazing and it’s being shown in the vote today.”
While the Ulster Unionists had a disappointing day, former leader and
Health Minister Robin Swann bucked the trend when he topped the poll in North Antrim.
However, elsewhere, a number of Ulster Unionist candidates were struggling and veteran MLA Roy Beggs was eliminated in the East Antrim constituency.
Speaking at the count centre in Magherafelt, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood suggested his party’s disappointing performance was linked to the battle for First Minister.
He said: “People decided to send a very clear message that nationalists should not be locked out of the First Minister position. I understand that motivation and I think a lot of people have lent Sinn Fein their vote.”
However, outgoing Finance Minister Conor Murphy rubbished the claim that Sinn Fein had benefitted from borrowed votes.
He added: “I heard that script in the 1990s about votes being lent. The reality is that people go out and make a choice at the ballot.
“Sinn Fein presented a very positive campaign about what we have done in the Executive and the Assembly and what we want to do.”
Earlier yesterday DUP MP Sammy Wilson warned his party would not re-enter the Executive without government action over the Protocol. He told the BBC: “If there’s no legislation in the Queen’s speech and no plans to deal with the Protocol then the Assembly can’t function if the poison of the Protocol is still there.”
But Sinn Fein MP John Finucane insisted people were more concerned about bread-and-butter issues.
He added: “The DUP during the campaign outlined a five-point plan as to how they were going to grow our economy, fix our health service and help working families.
“I don’t see how that is possible without an Executive”