Sinn Féin has emerged as the largest party in Northern Ireland’s local government elections, with 105 seats, closely followed by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) with 99. The Ulster Unionist Party obtained 75 seats, while the Social Democratic and Labour Party received 59. The Alliance Party secured 53 seats, while independents won 21. Sinn Féin supporters have described the result as a “seismic change” in the region.
Background
Prior to the local government elections, only two of the 11 district electoral areas of Belfast were held by Sinn Féin. However, in last week’s polls, the party increased its number of seats in the city to 56, while the DUP held 32, an increase of two. Unionism has faced criticism amid the outcome of the election results. Prominent unionists such as the Reverend Ian Paisley and David Trimble had used their positions in local government in the 1970s and 1980s to ensure that nationalist groups had little influence.
Analysts have noted that the election results could boost Sinn Féin’s chances of the party winning more seats in the Westminster election planned for 8 June. The party, which won four seats in Northern Ireland during the 2015 UK general election, has named seven candidates for the forthcoming contest.
Irish unity
As a result of the Brexit poll last year, Sinn Féin has advocated for potential Irish unity following the UK’s departure from the European Union. In a statement regarding the results of last week’s elections, the party argued that the result was similar to the 1918 general election, which is widely seen as a turning point in the fight for Irish independence. A spokesperson for the party said that Sinn Féin’s rise in the polls was “an endorsement of equality, respect and integrity”.
Future governance
The elections are viewed as significant because local government has the power to affect a range of daily services, including community centres, housing developments and bin collections. Following the outcome, Northern Ireland risked continuing political deadlock if a deal between political parties is not sealed by 29 June, the deadline for cutting a power-sharing agreement between Sinn Féin and the DUP. Alternatively, the UK government could return power to Westminster.
Following the election results, Sinn Féin’s northern leader, Michelle O’Neill, called on the UK government to recognise the outcome as a first step towards forming a northern government. O’Neill, who will lead Sinn Féin into the Westminster election, said: “We have to start looking at all the options that are available to us and, coming out of today, there is no doubt that, when we look at the result as a whole, that the people have spoken.”
Meanwhile, DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said he would focus on ensuring the party retained its seats in the upcoming Westminster election, while the Ulster Unionist Party called for “a new dynamic” in Northern Irish politics to resolve political deadlock.
