NI Assembly Elections 2011

**culloty82** · 23/04/2011, 7:48 AM

For the first time, the North could have a nationalist First Minister, as Sinn Féin are poised to become the largest party, while Jim Allister's TUV are expected to eat into the DUP's seat total by splitting the unionist vote, though making few seat gains themselves. The SDLP should hold steady around their current seat tally of 16, the Alliance and Greens will be holding to build on their promising '07 outings, while if the UUP slip further, expect murmurings of a Unionist merger to re-emerge. Watch out for Derry's political veteran, Eamonn McCann, after 40 years in the wilderness, this could be the election he finally makes the breakthrough.

**brendy_éire** · 23/04/2011, 3:15 PM

Quite looking forward to the results of these elections.
If SF do emerge as the largest party, it's questionable whether or not unionists would be willing to accept McGuinness as FM. Robinson has ruled out SF's 'joint FM' idea, but wouldn't be surprised if the DUP accepted it in the end.
Alternatively, the unionists could call for a restructure of the workings of Stormont. The TUV openly want an end to D'Hondt, and I think other unionist parties may be tempted to agree with them in the event of SF being the largest party. Obviously though, the Assembly will never use majority rule.

Or we could all be making a fuss about nothing, and the DUP will stay as the largest party and everyone will get along grand.

Would love to see McCann elected in Foyle. He'd be a welcome change to the suits up in the Stormont.

**holidaysong** · 23/04/2011, 4:13 PM

Is he running for People Before Profit again yeah?

**culloty82** · 23/04/2011, 7:53 PM

Yeah, he is, five of the six seats there are guaranteed nationalist, so the voters can afford to give him some preference to break up the status quo.

**culloty82** · 27/04/2011, 2:46 PM

Test how nationalist, unionist or other you really are.

**BonnieShels** · 27/04/2011, 4:35 PM

Interesting. 60% on SDLP, SF and Alliance. I reckon I'm gonna declare differently and see does this affect it.

**Gather round** · 29/04/2011, 6:55 AM

A drink in D4 next month is on offer for whoever can guess what % age of a Shinner I am? If there's a tie, my good friend Mr P Culloty will draw the winner

**Mr A** · 29/04/2011, 9:30 AM

55%?

I got 50%-60% for all parties.

**TiocfaidhArmani** · 29/04/2011, 10:16 AM

Thank you for taking part in True Colours. Your best matches are as follows:

Sinn Fein at 75%

SDLP at 75%

**BonnieShels** · 29/04/2011, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Gather round

A drink in D4 next month is on offer for whoever can guess what % age of a Shinner I am? If there's a tie, my good friend Mr P Culloty will draw the winner

I'll go with that it didn't show you those results because you clicked UNIONIST. I think that question could skew the results somewhat.

Otherwise you are 55% SF

**Lionel Ritchie** · 29/04/2011, 12:11 PM

apparently I'm 60% chucky! Must've voted a dozen times at each or something

**Gather round** · 30/04/2011, 6:30 AM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

I'll go with that it didn't show you those results because you clicked UNIONIST. I think that question could skew the results somewhat

Actually I identified as 'other'- I'm a member of the England & Wales Greens. I also said I would never give either SF or DUP first preference, for what it's worth.

Keep those guesses coming...

**culloty82** · 30/04/2011, 2:05 PM

Just as an experiment, I gave the exact same answers twice, but put myself down as nationalist the first time and unionist the second - evidently it doesn't make any difference because I was 68% for both SF and SDLP both times. GR told me his score, but I'll spare him only to say that apart from one party, there was pretty much a hair's breadth between the others.

**backstothewall** · 01/05/2011, 12:45 PM

I'm going to go with my lowest figure of 43% as my guess. I won't be in Dublin for the game, so if I win I nominate Adreebhoy to get the free drink, just for the craic

**brendy_éire** · 03/05/2011, 12:49 PM

Not too sure how accurate that test is. I got 82% SF, 72% SDLP and 54% Alliance. DUP ranked bottom for me.
I reckon I'd be closest to SF & SDLP, but I despise the Alliance, and would vote for every other candidate just to keep them out.

**BonnieShels** · 03/05/2011, 11:11 PM

Wow. To think people thought Enda Kenny had no charisma... looking at Tom "Barney the Dinosaur" Elliot and Margaret Ritchie; Jesus wept. Martin and Peter didn't break a sweat. And as for David, the less said the better.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 04/05/2011, 11:00 AM

You watched it too then Bonnie. Norn Iron political shows aint what they used to be. Nobody whistles when they talk anymore, nobody breaks into a barre of Old Time Religion or shouts cool, biblical sounding stuff like APOSTACY!!! at anyone else. Where's Tom Elliot from anyway? He sounds more southern than I do ffs ...AND he has all the substance and sincerity of a hookers kiss. Don't get me started about Margaret Ritchie (no relation) -she IS an ex-nun right?

**BonnieShels** · 04/05/2011, 10:14 PM

She really is awful. I mean to think she's leading a party that was once lead by Seamus Mallon and John Hume. That Tom Elliot leads the party of Molyneaux and Trimble. It's shocking.

**shantykelly** · 05/05/2011, 2:26 PM

it's bleakly funny - the messengers change, but the message remains the same. attack your own to increase your support base, and to hell with political substance.