2017 NI Assembly Election

[DannyInvincible]

Seeing as we've been discussing the Irish language, here's an interesting subtitled mini-documentary (less than 25 minutes in length) on the community-driven establishment of the Belfast Gaeltacht on Bóthar Seoighe (Shaw's Road) in 1969: http://sluggerotoole.com/2017/02/22/the-belfast-gaeltacht-fifty-years-a-growing/

The project still survives and flourishes today.

In the context of the upcoming election and the debate over an Irish language act, Mick Fealty of Slugger O'Toole has the following to say about the documentary:


This subtitled documentary on the setting up of the west Belfast Gaeltacht should be compulsory viewing for almost everyone in Northern Ireland (and beyond). It’s a real antidote to the cheap rhetoric currently being indulged in about the language, its speakers and what drives them.

As a personal aside, this project, its extraordinary mission and the many very ordinary folk who’ve been behind the setting of its enduring fruits remain one of the most enduring sources of inspiration “i mo shaol”, as they say…

It deserves a wide viewing…

[Gather round]

Some of the founding families moved from my old Loiste Nua manor ;)

Time for a prediction:

http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad47/FloreatUltonia/6-predict-nia.jpg (http://s920.photobucket.com/user/FloreatUltonia/media/6-predict-nia.jpg.html)

And here's some voting trends since 2000:

http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad47/FloreatUltonia/ni-21stcentury.jpg (http://s920.photobucket.com/user/FloreatUltonia/media/ni-21stcentury.jpg.html)

[Wolfman]

Seems a bit more like it.
(http://sluggerotoole.com/2017/02/12/forecasting-the-2017-assembly-election/)

[backstothewall]

2525

I'll have a go. The last seat is a lottery almost everywhere.

[BonnieShels]

That the DUP can be this criminal and still get that many seats is a sickener.

Please God be under 30 though!

[geysir]

The Alliance have become embroiled in a "mini-controversy", after admitting to lining up fake callers for BBC Ulster's version of Liveline. None of which will be news to Southerners, given the grand tradition of planting audience members in RTE current affairs shows.
Fake callers is a different issue.
Afaia, in RTE current affair programs, the program's production team invite audience members from the relevant political parties.
Except on that famous Late Late Show when RTE planned to ambush Gerry Adams and it backfired spectacularly.

[backstothewall]

That the DUP can be this criminal and still get that many seats is a sickener.

Please God be under 30 though!

It really needs to be 27 or less. Jim Allister can be flattered. Sugdon and a few others can be bought.

[DannyInvincible]

Fake callers is a different issue.
Afaia, in RTE current affair programs, the program's production team invite audience members from the relevant political parties.
Except on that famous Late Late Show when RTE planned to ambush Gerry Adams and it backfired spectacularly.

Vintage television:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kS-4tpsXsU

[BonnieShels]

It really needs to be 27 or less. Jim Allister can be flattered. Sugdon and a few others can be bought.

Can they sign up to petitions of concern and take it over 30? Didn't know that.

I think psychologically though, being under 30 would do a lot. Chip chippety.

[BonnieShels]

Vintage television:

[video=youtube;8kS-4tpsXsU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kS-4tpsXsU[video]

Gay Byrne: "...leader of a small minority party..."

Gerry Adams: "I'm not a career politician"
And Gerry in 1994 talking about gender balance. WAN!

[Gather round]

I think psychologically though, being under 30 would do a lot. Chip chippety

Is that like tick tock for slow laners?

[Wolfman]

No.
:confused:

[culloty82]

Last scores on the doors:

DUP 26.3% (-2.9% v 2016)
SF 25.3% (+1.2%)
UUP 13.9% (+1.2%)
SDLP 12.16% (+0.16%)
Alliance 9.46% (+2.46%)
TUV 4.4% (+1%)
Green 3.4% (+0.7%)

[DannyInvincible]

Last night's BBC debate between Foster, O'Neill, Nesbitt, Eastwood and Long is on iPlayer here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08h1jqj/northern-ireland-elections-2017-the-leaders-debate

[BonnieShels]

Did anyone watch it?> How was it?

[CraftyToePoke]

Ill tempered according to RTE - https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0228/856228-northern-ireland-assembly-debate/
Not had a chance to watch it yet.

[backstothewall]

Weather forecast is dry in the morning, with rain in the evening.

Likely to give a slight advantage toward unionism, but only slight

[TheBoss]

Weather forecast is dry in the morning, with rain in the evening.

Likely to give a slight advantage toward unionism, but only slight

That sounds like a strange reason?

Why would the weather favour a particular ideology?

[backstothewall]

The demographics of NI are that Protestants/Unionists tend to have an older age profile. More pensioners.

2531

By virtue of not having to go to work during the day pensioners are more likely to have voted early on before the rain comes in. The Catholic/Nationalist population being younger on average are more likely to be restricted to voting in the evening, and therefore more likely not to bother if it is lashing down.

Catholics are also more likely to be unemployed, which partially offsets the advantage, but the unemployed don't tend to vote at all.

It won't make much of a difference, but it might be enough at the margins in the odd seat.

[BonnieShels]

Given the psychological boon I would have thought that SF would have been hammering home the message to the youth that the more of ye get out the more likely we will have an FM.

They won't... but it would have been nice for Arlene to face some squeaky-bum time. Apologies for that vision.

[Gather round]

It won't make much of a difference, but it might be enough at the margins in the odd seat

Aye, but then it's one of many marginal factors. Another is that if Prod pensioners vote (often by post), Taig youngsters may have had to move away from NI for work. So, short term at least, Unionist vote share rises in many rural western areas.

The Lucid Talk poll suggests that 'others' (ie maverick Nationalists and Nationalists, rump Socialists and dope smokers, single-issue indeps) will manage only 0.7%. That must be an understatement, it was 4.5% last year.

UKIP show at 1% down from 1.5%, although contesting only ONE seat. They'll get about 0.3% but their intending voters still have plenty of choice ;)


Given the psychological boon I would have thought that SF would have been hammering home the message to the youth that the more of ye get out the more likely we will have an FM...they won't... but it would have been nice for Arlene to face some squeaky-bum time. Apologies for that vision

Michelle Gildernew tried that, but alas the 'Summertime Blues' principle applies: primary school children don't have a vote ;)

[BonnieShels]

Well I would have thought as the largest political party in Ireland that SF would not be keen on wasting resources on non-voters. They may have cash but seems it would be akin to burning it. Best to just buy some pellets instead and wait for the kids to mature along with the rest of the electorate.

On a side note, Sammy Wilson was putting up posters in Larne as late as yesterday evening. Wasn't knocking on doors in Baylands mind you. It's almost like he didn't want confrontation.

[Wolfman]

Weather forecast is dry in the morning, with rain in the evening.

Likely to give a slight advantage toward unionism, but only slight

As more likely to facilitate the 'Orange' vote?
:eek:

[Wolfman]

Taig youngsters may have had to move away from NI for work. So, short term at least, Unionist vote share rises in many rural western areas.
Try to stay 'classy'?
:rolleyes:



The Lucid Talk poll suggests that 'others' (ie maverick Nationalists and Nationalists, rump Socialists and dope smokers, single-issue indeps) will manage only 0.7%. That must be an understatement, it was 4.5% last year.

UKIP show at 1% down from 1.5%, although contesting only ONE seat. They'll get about 0.3% but their intending voters still have plenty of choice

The first sentence doesn't make any sense even for you and no point to the Krappers anymore, thanks to Brexit. That the North didn't want!

[CraftyToePoke]

When are we likely to know ?
Is there a link for the emerging vote count / updates which you fine chaps would recommend ?

[Gather round]

Well I would have thought as the largest political party in Ireland that SF would not be keen on wasting resources on non-voters

SF, like all parties, waste money on their non-voters. By standing in no-hope or low turnout areas and so on. And as a large party they feel they have to stand everywhere.

By forcing this election they are also wilfully wasting four years of income from the MLAs who'll lose their seats, plus the greater costs if Direct Rule resumes and the successful candidates get a pay cut too ;)


On a side note, Sammy Wilson was putting up posters in Larne as late as yesterday evening. Wasn't knocking on doors in Baylands mind you. It's almost like he didn't want confrontation

Base and potential floating voters are worth 'confronting'. Plenty of other residents aren't.

I used to enjoy the Tower Road swimming pool as a kid.

CTP: last counts sometime on Saturday pm perhaps? UTV website worth a look

[BonnieShels]

When are we likely to know ?
Is there a link for the emerging vote count / updates which you fine chaps would recommend ?

Counting doesn't start til tomorrow. Morning Ireland will have an Exit Poll at 7am tomorrow they said this morning.

Everything will be on BBC, UTV and RTÉ as it happens tomorrow.

---


SF, like all parties, waste money on their non-voters. By standing in no-hope or low turnout areas and so on. And as a large party they feel they have to stand everywhere.

By forcing this election they are also wilfully wasting four years of income from the MLAs who'll lose their seats, plus the greater costs if Direct Rule resumes and the successful candidates get a pay cut too ;)

Base and potential floating voters are worth 'confronting'. Plenty of other residents aren't.

I used to enjoy the Tower Road swimming pool as a kid.


So you're saying SF should have kept their powder dry and ignored Foster's allegedly corrupt ways? If only there was some sort of precedent of a FM standing aside while an investigation was done into their business dealings or decisions...

This election was caused by the DUP and no one else. SF pulled the trigger. The Duppers loaded up the gun and bought the bullets. That was usually how it went anyway. "...plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose..."


How do you identify a base and potential floating voter in Larne? Eye measurement? Marching gait?

[Gather round]

So you're saying SF should have kept their powder dry and ignored Foster's allegedly corrupt ways? If only there was some sort of precedent of a FM standing aside while an investigation was done into their business dealings or decisions...This election was caused by the DUP and no one else. SF pulled the trigger

Yes, they should not have forced the election even when Foster refused to resign or step aside. Given NI's peculiar politics (particularly, that there are no floating votes between Nationalism and Unionism), its result is only significant at the margins. There will be a lot more Unionists than Nationalists, a lot more SF and DUP than UUP and SDLP, and an excellent vote for the non-aligned parties will still only be about 16%.And we haven't had the Inquiry which the DUP accepted, albeit reluctantly.

What can SF achieve? Largest party has some symbolic value, but they already managed that in Euros 2014. Anyway pundits seem to agree they'd need a big lead in vote share to get one more seat than the DUP.

Other supposedly red line issues- the language barely anybody speaks, the historic prosecutions paramilitary-linked parties don't really want, the EU that SF were pretty cold to until quite recently. OK, and marriage/ abortion etc. Were they worth the cost of an election if they're unlikely to be enacted even after it? SF in the short to medium term need Devolution in NI, both in principle- the alternative is a Brit governor and emasculated local govt- and in practice (to make being a politician worthwhile as a job, basically).

I don't know why SF acted as they did. Because it's so muddled, they may not know themselves.


How do you identify a base and potential floating voter in Larne? Eye measurement? Marching gait?

By canvassing, like anywhere else. Aren't you the guy who knows the area? Spare us the playing dumb, Wolfman's already here for that.

[Gather round]

Talking of Larne Catholics, I met some on the bus down Divis Street the other day:

http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad47/FloreatUltonia/6-belfast-bus.jpg (http://s920.photobucket.com/user/FloreatUltonia/media/6-belfast-bus.jpg.html)

[BonnieShels]

You'd definitely spill your curried yogurt on that bus.

[BonnieShels]

Yes, they should not have forced the election even when Foster refused to resign or step aside.

I disagree. The DUP are an affront to normalisation. Whatever about SF's past Foster's rhetoric the last few months would not have looked out of place if it was Big Ian spouting it back in the day. It even got a rebuke from Junior as a result.



Given NI's peculiar politics (particularly, that there are no floating votes between Nationalism and Unionism), its result is only significant at the margins. There will be a lot more Unionists than Nationalists, a lot more SF and DUP than UUP and SDLP, and an excellent vote for the non-aligned parties will still only be about 16%.
The result of this election should temper any of the extra bounce that the DUP got last year which resulted in Foster getting too big for her boots.



And we haven't had the Inquiry which the DUP accepted, albeit reluctantly.

The problem with the lack of inquiry would be perhaps because there's no assembly... But I'm sure both will be resolved... perhaps.




What can SF achieve? Largest party has some symbolic value, but they already managed that in Euros 2014.

Massive symbolic value. Don't play it down like it wouldn't be significant.



Anyway pundits seem to agree they'd need a big lead in vote share to get one more seat than the DUP.

The pundits would be right alright.



Other supposedly red line issues- the language barely anybody speaks, the historic prosecutions paramilitary-linked parties don't really want, the EU that SF were pretty cold to until quite recently. OK, and marriage/ abortion etc. Were they worth the cost of an election if they're unlikely to be enacted even after it? SF in the short to medium term need Devolution in NI, both in principle- the alternative is a Brit governor and emasculated local govt- and in practice (to make being a politician worthwhile as a job, basically).

My reading is that the prospect of direct rule is something that SF relish especially now it's a Tory govt who is so hell-bent on destroying the UK. It could be a boon to turning soft unionists. As it is in Scotland...



I don't know why SF acted as they did. Because it's so muddled, they may not know themselves.
One thing I would never lay at the door of SF is the accusation that they are muddled.
It's a machine, and a machine that rarely makes mistakes.



By canvassing, like anywhere else. Aren't you the guy who knows the area? Spare us the playing dumb, Wolfman's already here for that.

Why would you get so sensitive? Playful sectarian gibes are gas. Admittedly until someone loses an eye...

As it happens the local MP who was recruited to stick up posters in the area didn't seem to want to canvass anyone.

[Wolfman]

By canvassing, like anywhere else. Aren't you the guy who knows the area? Spare us the playing dumb, Wolfman's already here for that.

Excuse me. You're the rotund fool churning out the same repetitive circular waffle, worth about as much in analysis of the North as a 9 punt note.


And stick to insulting Nationalist voters. Not.

[DannyInvincible]

When are we likely to know ?
Is there a link for the emerging vote count / updates which you fine chaps would recommend ?

There's not likely to be much in the way of significant news tonight as counting doesn't start until morning (unless there'll be exit polls to be reported). 'The View' on BBC 1 at 10:40PM tonight will definitely have discussion regardless: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08gbxhm

Radio coverage of counting and results starts at noon tomorrow on Radio Ulster whilst televised coverage will commence on BBC 1 at 1:30PM.

In the meantime, keeping an eye on Slugger O'Toole for updates and analysis might be worthwhile: http://sluggerotoole.com/2017/03/02/ae16-bring-us-your-box-figures-for-12-noon-5pm-and-9pm/

Here's Slugger's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sluggerpolitics/?fref=ts

And the Slugger Twitter: https://twitter.com/SluggerOToole

They're mostly just relaying turn-out figures and updates at the minute. Turn-out thus far is thought to be up on May's turn-out.

[DannyInvincible]

You'll also get election-related updates live on Twitter by keeping an eye on the "#ae17" hashtag: https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&q=%23ae17&src=typd

[DannyInvincible]

Mark Devenport on 'The View' was saying that turn-out is thought to have been over 80 per cent at some polling stations.

It was about 62 per cent at my own station - ballot box 60 at St. Paul's Primary School in Derry - by 9PM this evening: https://twitter.com/LeonaONeill1/status/837413516621533184

Pretty high.

[backstothewall]

Revised predictions now I've seen some turnout figures

Antrim, East DUP 2, UU 2, AP 1;
Antrim, North DUP 2, SF 1, TUV 1, UU 1;
Antrim, South DUP 2, UU 1, SF 1, AP 1;
Belfast East DUP 2, AP 2, UU 1;
Belfast North DUP 2, SF 2, SDLP 1;
Belfast South DUP 1, SDLP 1, AP 1, SF 1, Green 1;
Belfast West SF 4, PbP 1;
Derry, East DUP 2, SF 2, UU 1;
Down, North DUP 2, AP 1, UU 1, Green 1;
Down, South SF 2, SDLP 2, DUP 1;
Fermanagh & South Tyrone SF 3, DUP 2;
Foyle SF 2, SDLP 2, DUP 1;
Lagan Valley DUP 2, UU 2, AP 1;
Mid Ulster SF 2, SDLP 1, UU 1, DUP 1;
Newry & Armagh SF 3, SDLP 1, UU 1;
Strangford DUP 2, UU 2, AP 1;
Upper Bann DUP 1, UU 2, SF 2;
West Tyrone SF 3, DUP 1, SDLP 1;

[CraftyToePoke]

Revised predictions now I've seen some turnout figures

Antrim, East DUP 2, UU 2, AP 1;
Antrim, North DUP 2, SF 1, TUV 1, UU 1;
Antrim, South DUP 2, UU 1, SF 1, AP 1;
Belfast East DUP 2, AP 2, UU 1;
Belfast North DUP 2, SF 2, SDLP 1;
Belfast South DUP 1, SDLP 1, AP 1, SF 1, Green 1;
Belfast West SF 4, PbP 1;
Derry, East DUP 2, SF 2, UU 1;
Down, North DUP 2, AP 1, UU 1, Green 1;
Down, South SF 2, SDLP 2, DUP 1;
Fermanagh & South Tyrone SF 3, DUP 2;
Foyle SF 2, SDLP 2, DUP 1;
Lagan Valley DUP 2, UU 2, AP 1;
Mid Ulster SF 2, SDLP 1, UU 1, DUP 1;
Newry & Armagh SF 3, SDLP 1, UU 1;
Strangford DUP 2, UU 2, AP 1;
Upper Bann DUP 1, UU 2, SF 2;
West Tyrone SF 3, DUP 1, SDLP 1;

Well now, that would be something to see unfold over the coming couple of days.

In other news, on the BBC news website tonight, the NI election finally gets a mention after 27 other topics are covered and if you are willing to scroll down a good long way.

[Gather round]

I disagree. The DUP are an affront to normalisation. Whatever about SF's past Foster's rhetoric the last few months would not have looked out of place if it was Big Ian spouting it back in the day

I have neither defended the DUP nor referred SF's past beyond saying it's a reason for the SDLP's continued existence. I'm saying the election was unnecessary and wasteful. Most supporters of every party bar SF seem to agree.


The result of this election should temper any of the extra bounce that the DUP got last year which resulted in Foster getting too big for her boots

More than that surely? DUP will lose vote share to other Unionist parties, Unionism will be down overall, Foster will likely walk after an (in)decent interval. A general problem is most/ all NI hacks getting carried away. They think that because Hume was an international statesman, they can be too.


Massive symbolic value. Don't play it down like it wouldn't be significant

If anything I'm talking it up. If I thought it was insignificant I wouldn't have mentioned.


My reading is that the prospect of direct rule is something that SF relish especially now it's a Tory govt who is so hell-bent on destroying the UK. It could be a boon to turning soft unionists. As it is in Scotland..

I can see the advantages to SF, as I said I think the disadvantages outweigh.


One thing I would never lay at the door of SF is the accusation that they are muddled. It's a machine, and a machine that rarely makes mistakes

Aye, it's an election machine. That loses every election. Whose vote share has fallen in each of the last three .They make mistakes like everyone else, why do think them above criticism?


Why would you get so sensitive?

I'm a (peace) wallflower...


In other news, on the BBC news website tonight, the NI election finally gets a mention after 27 other topics are covered and if you are willing to scroll down a good long way

NI isn't important to the British Tories and thus the BBC.

[BonnieShels]

Revised predictions now I've seen some turnout figures

Antrim, East DUP 2, UU 2, AP 1;
Antrim, North DUP 2, SF 1, TUV 1, UU 1;
Antrim, South DUP 2, UU 1, SF 1, AP 1;
Belfast East DUP 2, AP 2, UU 1;
Belfast North DUP 2, SF 2, SDLP 1;
Belfast South DUP 1, SDLP 1, AP 1, SF 1, Green 1;
Belfast West SF 4, PbP 1;
Derry, East DUP 2, SF 2, UU 1;
Down, North DUP 2, AP 1, UU 1, Green 1;
Down, South SF 2, SDLP 2, DUP 1;
Fermanagh & South Tyrone SF 3, DUP 2;
Foyle SF 2, SDLP 2, DUP 1;
Lagan Valley DUP 2, UU 2, AP 1;
Mid Ulster SF 2, SDLP 1, UU 1, DUP 1;
Newry & Armagh SF 3, SDLP 1, UU 1;
Strangford DUP 2, UU 2, AP 1;
Upper Bann DUP 1, UU 2, SF 2;
West Tyrone SF 3, DUP 1, SDLP 1;



I had to get Excel out for that:

DUP: 26
SF: 28
UUP: 15
SDLP: 9
AP: 8
PBP: 1
GP: 2
TUV: 1

---

Jaysus

---

80% turnout in Mid-Ulster according to RTÉ

https://twitter.com/BarryLenihan/status/837602292379627520

[Gather round]

I had to get Excel out for that:

DUP: 26
SF: 28
UUP: 15
SDLP: 9
AP: 8
PBP: 1
GP: 2
TUV: 1

---

Jaysus

---

80% turnout in Mid-Ulster according to RTÉ

https://twitter.com/BarryLenihan/status/837602292379627520

Total Unionist vote in both Down South and Newry Armagh was over 30% last year, ie close to two quotas. It would be a shock if the Nat turnout increased enough to change that to one seat each?

[BonnieShels]

Total Unionist vote in both Down South and Newry Armagh was over 30% last year, ie close to two quotas. It would be a shock if the Nat turnout increased enough to change that to one seat each?

Aye. It would be insane. However I was only doing Walsall's maths. This is not my prediction.

[BonnieShels]

16/18- 64.78%

West Tyrone: 69.89% (up from 59.86% last time out)
South Antrim: 62.40%
Belfast East: 63.02%
Belfast West: 66.76%
Foyle: 65.00%
North Down: 59.22%
Strangford: 60.94%
Mid-Ulster: 72.38%
Belfast West: 66.76%
North Antrim: 63.22%
Fermanagh-South Tyrone: 72.61%
West Tyrone: 69.89%

The turnout was up across the board:
Mid-Ulster: 72%, up 13 percentage points on 2016
Strangford: 61%, up 11 points
North Down: 59%, up 10 points
Foyle: 65%, up nine points
East Londonderry: 63%, up 12 points
Belfast West: 67%, up nine points
Belfast East: 63%, up six points
Belfast South: 64%, up 10 points
Belfast North: 62%, up 10 points
North Antrim: 63%, up 10 points
East Antrim: 60%, up nine points
South Antrim: 62%, up 11 points
Fermanagh and South Tyrone: 73%, up nine points
West Tyrone: 73%, up 13 points
Newry & Armagh: 69% up 10 points
Upper Bann: 62% up 8 points

[BonnieShels]

Well now, that would be something to see unfold over the coming couple of days.

In other news, on the BBC news website tonight, the NI election finally gets a mention after 27 other topics are covered and if you are willing to scroll down a good long way.

There's nothing on the main UK news page on the BBC site. But I can read about online dating sites keeping us safe, a North Yorkshire pub winning an award and Brucey in hospital... RTÉ however are leading with it... Who's the national broadcaster in the North?

[DannyInvincible]

Bill White of Lucid Talk discussing their exit poll with Frank Mitchell on U105 this morning: https://audioboom.com/posts/5668563-listen-bill-white-from-lucidtalk-is-giving-some-early-insights-to-the-trends-and-turnout-for-ae17

To broadly summarise, White says the DUP have taken a hit but that it may not do too much damage to them overall as they still look to have gotten their core vote out. He reckons they'll still be in a position to nominate the first minister but it'll likely be from a position of having a final tally of seats in the high 20s. The possibility of parties designated as "Unionist" losing their overall majority, which would be over 45 seats this time round, is a real prospect.

Alliance and the Green Party polled strongly in the east.

Nationalist and republican voters appear to have turned out in proportionately higher numbers than unionists, which is sure to benefit SF and the SDLP, although White says that it remains to be seen whether that will be crucial or dramatic.

[DannyInvincible]

64.78 per cent has been confirmed on BBC Radio Ulster as the final overall turn-out figure. That's up ten points on last May and I think it's the highest turn-out since 2003.

There's talk that Nelson McCausland may be in trouble in North Belfast and Emma Pengelly may lose out in South Belfast.

[BonnieShels]

64.78 per cent has been confirmed on BBC Radio Ulster as the final overall turn-out figure. That's up ten points on last May and I think it's the highest turn-out since 2003.

There's talk that Nelson McCausland may be in trouble in North Belfast and Emma Pengelly may lose out in South Belfast.

If Nelson and his mad red head loses out I'll let out the biggest YEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Reading that over on Slugger:

http://sluggerotoole.com/2017/03/03/ae17-live-blog-the-count/

[BonnieShels]

Órlaithí Flynn has been elected in West Belfast, the first MLA of the incoming Assembly.


SF vote management is incredible in W Belfast:

Quota: 6725

Flynn 6918
Maskey 6346
McCann 6201
Sheehan 5466
---

North Down - 3 MLAs elected
Easton (DUP), Farry (AP) and Chambers (UUP) elected

---

Michelle O'Neill got 10258 first preferences, quota is 8280

[BonnieShels]

Alex Attwood first major casualty in West Belfast

[CraftyToePoke]

There's nothing on the main UK news page on the BBC site. But I can read about online dating sites keeping us safe, a North Yorkshire pub winning an award and Brucey in hospital... RTÉ however are leading with it... Who's the national broadcaster in the North?


NI isn't important to the British Tories and thus the BBC.

Now if only they had a leader in Dublin calmly offering them a safe economic future inside the EU with all their subsidies protected ...

Where is the assurance from London to this end ? Any mention of NI from Brexit politicians is an afterthought, an add on from what they were actually saying at the time and frequently has to be prompted by a direct question.

More to the point, where is the Unionist politician openly seeking this assurance for the people from Westminster ?

[Gather round]

SF vote management is incredible in W Belfast

Agreed, very good result for SF


Now if only they had a leader in Dublin calmly offering them a safe economic future inside the EU with all their subsidies protected ...

Are you being serious? The South is amid a political crisis which while hardly matching the EU's issues will see off Kenny and possibly the FG govt. That's before the likely bad effect of Brexit on the national economy.


Where is the assurance from London to this end?...More to the point, where is the Unionist politician openly seeking this assurance for the people from Westminster ?

Hammond and Brokeback have made guarantees until 2020 I think.

Unionism is seriously spooked here. All the DUP and Allister are full-on Brexit, the UUP look like a beaten rump and Nesbitt will probably walk now.