NI election: Council poll results send the message that Stormont should come back and insist on Sinn Fein

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Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou MacDonald said her party’s success in local government elections in Northern Ireland is a message from the people that Stormont must make a comeback.

However, the leader of the DUP, Sir Geoffrey Donaldson, insisted his party’s vote was stalled as counting continued to fill the 462 seats in the 11 council districts.

At 9:30 pm, Sinn Féin led the way with the election of 71 members. The DUP was next at 59, the Cross-Confessional Alliance Party at 31, Ulster Unionists at 24 and the SDLP at 12, with eight others.

Election Live: Updates with the announcement of NI Board Election Results

In terms of first preference share, Sinn Féin had 31.1% first preferences from the votes counted so far.

This means that the Republican Party appears to be on its way to repeating its success from last year’s General Assembly elections when it emerged as the largest party for the first time.

The DUP had 24% of the first preference votes counted so far, with the Coalition on 12.9%, the UUP on 11.7% and the SDLP on 8.7%.

Votes are being counted through the single transferable vote system and the process will continue through Saturday.

The general pattern around voter turnout appears to be slightly higher in areas perceived as predominantly nationalist/republican and slightly lower in areas perceived as unitary-majority.

Search for your local council area on the tool below to see the latest results:

The Stormont Association has not run for over a year due to a DUP boycott of power-sharing institutions in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Ms MacDonald, speaking at Belfast City Hall, said the election results showed “a very strong performance for Sinn Féin across the north”.

She added: “We are very happy about that. We ran a very positive campaign and we are very pleased that the response to that has been very positive with the comeback.

“During the elections a lot of things were discussed, all domestic issues, but really, the big issue was the return of the executive, the need for government, the need for leadership, the need for us to work together to make politics work for everyone.

Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O’Neill, Chair Mary Lou MacDonald and Tina Black who won her seat (Image: PA)

The need for Michelle O’Neill to take over as First Minister is for everyone.

“So, for us, that is the significance of this outcome, it is without a doubt a vote for progress, for change, for positivity, and above all, for action together.”

Party deputy leader Michelle O’Neill said the British and Irish governments now needed to come up with a plan to bring back Stormont.

She said: “We’ve run a very positive campaign.

“But on the doors, the conversation has largely centered around the need to restore assembly, operational and operation.

This must be done now without delay. We call on both governments to get involved and actually make this happen.

“There should be a plan now to get back to the restored CEO.”

DUP leader Sir Geoffrey said that if Sinn Féin emerged as the largest party in local government, then unionism should “look where it’s going”.

DUP Leader Sir Geoffrey Donaldson at Laganvalley Leisureplex

Speaking to Lisburn and Castlereagh Council, he said: “Let’s see when all the final votes are counted, who is the biggest party, but if Sinn Féin emerges as the largest party in a council election, I think again, as I’ve said consistently, there are lessons to be had.” Unions learn it here.

“We can’t go on with a situation where the turnout in union areas is much lower than it is in national districts, and you can’t go on with a situation where the union vote is constantly splitting and splitting.

The result is that seats are awarded to Sinn Féin and the others when the union vote is divided, and when that union vote is not sufficiently transmitted.

“So, I think, we really need to learn the lessons behind all of this, the DUP without a doubt is the largest unionist party by far, and I think unionism needs to look at where it’s going and regroup around a strong union voice, and see more collaboration. between trade union parties.

Coalition leader Naomi Long said she believed the election was positive for her party.

Speaking to the PA News Agency in Belfast City Hall, Ms Long said: “It’s been very positive so far but it’s very early.

“It’s still too early to predict, which of the gains we’re hoping for will come much later, but it’s looking good, it’s been a strong turnout for Alliance and from our point of view it’s been a good day.

“Sinn Féin has undoubtedly had a great election, and I think everyone can see that, but with the exception of Sinn Féin, I think the Alliance is the only party that has made significant gains at this point.”

Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance Party, with Eric Hanvey and her husband, Michael Long

Gary McCleave of Sinn Fein was the first councilor to be elected on Friday to Lisburn and Castlereagh Council, taking a seat in the Killultagh Electoral District (DEA).

His election was swiftly followed by Thomas Beckett of the DUP and Claire Kemp of the Coalition Party in the same DEA.

In Belfast, sitting Lord Tina Black was among the first to be elected.

Her colleague from Sinn Féin, Geraldine McAteer, was the first female member elected to the DEA’s Balmoral DEA.

NI Greens Brian Smith, right, who has kept his seat, is in Belfast City Hall

Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Black, along with DUP candidates Frank McCowry and Nicola Werner, was elected to the DEA.

At Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon ​​council, the UUP leader, Doug Beattie, suggested the unions as a whole might lose.

“The question is will the unions as a whole lose seats in this election, if they do, this is a union level issue that needs to be dealt with – as far as my party is concerned, we’ve set our course, I’m not going to change that course,” he said.

“We think we need to get Northern Ireland up and running. We are confident unionists, we want to send a positive and optimistic message and we will continue to do that, nothing will change.”

Northern Ireland councils are responsible for setting rates, planning and waste collection as well as recreational and park services.

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