Northern Ireland Assembly elections end with Sinn Féin for the first time | Politics news

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The election took place against the backdrop of a Stormont stalemate, with power-sharing institutions not working due to the DUP’s protest over post-Brexit trade arrangements.

Sunday, May 21, 2023 01:47, United Kingdom

Counting has come to an end in the Northern Ireland assemblies elections, with Sinn Féin becoming the largest party in local government for the first time.

After a two-day count, they have secured 144 seats, up 39 from the last vote in 2019.

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Sinn Fein leader Michelle O’Neill called the results “hugely significant”, adding: “The onus now falls on the British and Irish governments to come together and focus their efforts on the immediate restoration of the Executive and the House of Representatives.

“We expect to see an early meeting of the British-Irish government conference. The assembly cannot continue to be boycotted and an executive body must be formed,” he added.

The Democratic Unionist Party was the largest unionist party with 122 seats – the same number as four years ago – while the Alliance Party increased its representation by 14 seats to 67.

DUP leader Sir Geoffrey Donaldson said: “I think […] There are lessons to be learned for unions in a broad sense. The DUP had a good election but the unionists need to do better, we need to win more seats.

“I am happy to sit down with my fellow trade unionists and study these issues and how greater collaboration can lead to a path towards greater success for trade unions in general.”

Big losses to other parties

Ulster Unionists and the SDLP both suffered significant losses, with the UUP winning 54 seats and the SDLP 39.

Doug Beatty, the union’s leader, said he was disappointed but had no plans to resign, adding: “I have made it very clear that the party elected me, I am the leader of the party, and I am not going anywhere at all. It will be the party that decides my fate one way or another.”

“So these people who are a little bit shaky because we had a bad election, they can stay shaken because I’m on absolutely solid grounds, and I’m not going anywhere.”

DDP leader Colum Eastwood said Sinn Féin had “decimated” the national vote.

“It was very clear when we were talking to people that people are really upset with the DUP, that they want the executive back up and running, that they want to send a message,” he said.

“Sinn Féin told them to send this letter, and they sent it.”

Sinn Fein won but the DUP did not lose its mandate for County Stormont

David Blevins

Senior Irish Correspondent

@employee

The name Sinn Féin means “ourselves alone” – reflecting their aspirations for the entire island of Ireland to be independent – but the party has no shortage of companies at the polls.

A year after becoming the largest party in the Stormont Assembly, Sinn Fein has become the largest party in local government too – a seismic shift in Northern Ireland politics.

The nationalists emerged in force, and supported Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O’Neill’s claim to the office of first minister, which she was barred from participating in due to the DUP’s power-sharing boycott.

Turnout in unitary constituencies was lower, as usual, though DUP leader Sir Geoffrey Donaldson urged voters to strengthen his hand in his demand for a change to post-Brexit trading arrangements.

The DUP says the Windsor Framework – Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s new trade deal with the EU – does not protect Northern Ireland’s place in the UK enough to restore devolved government.

Losing its lead over Sinn Fein for the second time in 13 months is a blow to the PYD, but there is no guarantee that this outcome will change its stance on power-sharing.

It is more a case of Sinn Féin winning than the DUP losing – the Unionist Party has survived in most places, despite many predicting their collapse in these council elections.

The ideological wing of the party would see this as a mandate for its tough stance on the Brexit border in the Irish Sea and would like to preserve the boycott.

But pragmatists can point to evidence of voters frustrated with binary politics — the fact that the non-aligned coalition party is growing as a third force in politics here.

With fewer voters now classified as Unionists or Nationalists, it is difficult for the two largest parties to contest every election on the constitutional question of a united UK or Ireland.

Small parties and independents took the remaining 36 seats.

There are 11 councils in Northern Ireland – Sinn Féin will be the largest party in six local government areas, including Belfast, while the DUP will have the largest representation in five councils.

Sinn Féin received 30.9% of the first preference vote, ahead of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on 23.3%, the Coalition 13.3%, the Ulster Union 10.9% and the SDLP 8.7%.

The participation rate was 54%.

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