this is bbc news. i'm rebecca jones, with the latest headlines at 3: an historic moment for nationalists in northern ireland, as sinn fein is on course to become the largest party at stormont. the democratic unionist party leaderjeffrey donaldson says his party will decide next week whether to enter a power—sharing government. i met annita mcveigh in belfast for the latest news and analysis from the latest news and analysis from the counts around northern ireland. across the rest of the uk, the conservatives have lost almost 500 seats in the local elections, with labour and the liberal democrats taking control of a number of councils. cheering the snp remain the largest party in scottish councils — with labour overtaking the conservatives to finish second.

labour was the biggest winner in wales, where the conservatives lost more than 80 seats. ukraine says it has recaptured five villages north—east of kharkiv, as it continues a counter—offensive against russian forces. the taliban continues to roll back on women's freedoms in afghanistan, ordering them to wear the face veil. chelsea get their new owners — terms have been agreed, with the consortium led by american todd boehly. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. sinn fein is on track to win the most seats in the northern ireland assembly for the first time ever — signalling a historic shift in the political landscape. it comes as the democratic unionist

party leaderjeffrey donaldson, has said his party will decide next week whether to consider entering a power—sharing government. let's cross live to belfast and get all the latest from annita mcveigh. hello and thank you very much. yes, welcome back to belfast, one of three count centres in northern ireland going through the votes. politics requires patience on the ground behind me you have huddles of teams from the various parties. they had a very long day that ran well into the night yesterday and we are well into day two and still going. out of the six constituencies being counted here, two have had their full declarations, four still to complete and then of course we have the count centres injordanstown and

magherafelt. the big headlines in the run—up is sinn fein will emerge as the biggest party. the rise of the centre ground, the alliance party doing really, really well in this election as well. i was talking a little earlier that we were waiting to see what was happening with the ulster unionist party and doug beattie. there was some anxiety about his position yesterday evening but he has now been elected, which will come as a big relief to the ulster unionists. we are not quite sure how long this count will last yet. it is a single transferable vote, a form of proportional representation, so the account has to go through a series of stages and it is kind of difficult to predict exactly how long that is going to take. but with an overview first of all of where we are so far in this election to the northern ireland assembly, here is our ireland correspondent chris page and a warning that his report contains

flash photography. applause the political ground in northern ireland is shifting. that is generating delight for new assembly members and disappointment for the party which has won the last five elections. the race for the final few seats tends to be very tight but the picture is clear. a surge in support for the cross—community alliance party and a drop in votes for the democratic unionists, and sinn fein is on course to be the largest party in the northern ireland assembly. for the first time, a party which wants to take northern ireland out of the uk is expected to be its largest political force. sinn fein�*s vice president, michelle o'neill, is in line to become first minister. no irish nationalist has ever held the post before. michelle has led from the front, so i am delighted that michelle o'neill is leading sinn fein. i am delighted that michelle o'neill will be the next first minister. so michelle's vision and foresight and drive has created an atmosphere in politics which means it can work, so let's make it work.

cheering and applause. another major sign of change is the success of the party, which is neither unionist nor nationalist. alliance is set to move up from fifth place to third. its leaders say voters had sent a firm message. they actually want to see government that works for them. instead of being divided, instead of being fragile, constantly falling over, constantly held to ransom by one party or another, what they want to see is continuity of government and focus on delivery. but the democratic unionist party has lost a fifth of its support. a strong focus of the campaign was opposition to the brexit trade border with the rest of the uk. the dup says it will block the formation of a devolved government until checks on goods arriving in northern ireland are scrapped. but it's shed voters to a more hardline party, the traditional unionist voice, which says the dup has been too weak on the issue.

there's no point denying it. it's been a very, very difficult period of time, i think it's been a very difficult yearfor the dup. i think that's been well rehearsed. and i think most people would concede we are doing better than was expected, even a few weeks ago. but, look, i think what we've seen in this election is what happens whenever unionism shreds the votes. under the power—sharing rules at stormont, unionists and nationalists have to agree to run northern ireland jointly before ministers can take up their positions. the dup�*s likely to be even less enthusiastic about going into a coalition with sinn fein in front. it's far from clear whether the politicians who have been elected will ever get to govern. chris page, bbc news, belfast.

let's bring you up—to—date with the relative positions of the parties. i think we can show it on our screens. there you have it. sinn fein leading the way followed by the dup and then with alliance, that centre ground party, as we mentioned, performing very well, clearly that is one of the big stories at this election. i'm joined byjon tonge, professor of british and irish politics at the university of liverpool. the fact sinn fein has become the largest party in northern ireland, they declined to use the term northern ireland, for them to become the largest party here is a seismic development. it won't change things

dramatically. there will not be able to poll any time zone or a constitutional referendum around the corner but sinn fein becoming the largest party entitles them to nominate the first minister of northern ireland that michelle o'neill will be nominated as the next first minister. whether the dup will then go and nominate a deputy there is a minister is a big question. there is a minister is a big question-— there is a minister is a big question. there is a minister is a big cuestion. , . , u, question. the dup ran this campaign sa in: the question. the dup ran this campaign saying they wouldn't _ question. the dup ran this campaign saying they wouldn't be _ question. the dup ran this campaign saying they wouldn't be returning - question. the dup ran this campaign saying they wouldn't be returning to | saying they wouldn't be returning to the power—sharing executive until their concerns over the northern ireland protocol, which governs post—brexit trading northern ireland, until those concerns were addressed. of course those include constitutional concerns because they feel that protocol undermines northern ireland's position within the united kingdom. it was interesting to listen to party leaderjeffrey donaldson earlier when he said that he would decide next week whether to consider returning to the executive, depending on what is said in the queen's speech. was that a hint of a movement, do you think? i queen's speech. was that a hint of a movement, do you think?— movement, do you think? i think it was a hint of— movement, do you think? i think it

was a hint of movement. _ movement, do you think? i think it was a hint of movement. i - movement, do you think? i think it was a hint of movement. i think i movement, do you think? i think it| was a hint of movement. i think it's pretty clear sirjeffrey donaldson wants to lead the dup back into the power—sharing executive at the dup also wants movement on the protocol. it wants the irish sea border removed and there is no sign that the british government is able to get that from the eu. so the dup may stay out of the executive for a number of weeks. they got up to 2a weeks before they have to nominate a deputy first minister or there are fresh elections here in northern ireland. so the dup is holding out, trying to use its absence from the devolved power sharing executive as leverage for change and concessions on the protocol. i leverage for change and concessions on the protocol.— on the protocol. i am sure as julian smith the former _ on the protocol. i am sure as julian smith the former northern - on the protocol. i am sure as julian smith the former northern ireland | smith the former northern ireland secretary said earlier, there is no world in which people, dup voters, sinn fein photos or whoever they voted for want to see politicians getting their pay without returning to a full working assembly well there is a cost of living crisis. i wonder how much that is in the thought of the dup. on the question of what westminster might be able to do and the eu might be able to do

with regards to the protocol, what are your thoughts? it with regards to the protocol, what are your thoughts?— with regards to the protocol, what are your thoughts? it has probably had the dup _ are your thoughts? it has probably had the dup electorally _ are your thoughts? it has probably. had the dup electorally withdrawing its first minister in february. the dup's its first minister in february. the dup�*s votes and seats are down because parties at pull out of power—sharing institutions tend to be punished by the electric to some extent. but the dup believes the only way now to try and get rid of the irish sea border is by threatening, in effect, the power—sharing institutions of the good friday agreement. that leaves the british government and a dilemma. do they trigger article 16 for example? do they continue to seek concessions for the european union or do they reintroduce direct rule from westminster question at the british government certainly doesn't want to do the latter most of those. people still want devolved power—sharing here, there isjust a lack of consensus over what form the devolved power—sharing should take. thank you very much for your thoughts today. let's cross to my colleague

lewis goodall in london who is at the touchscreen. lewis. it does well to just think about that historicjourney it does well to just think about that historic journey that it does well to just think about that historicjourney that sinn fein has been on that you have just spoken about. let's go even further back, i want to show you this on the touch—screen but why did sinn fein come back in the first place, why did northern ireland come about in the set leek first place? it goes back to the 1918 general election where ireland took part as part of the united kingdom? much of what we now call the republic of ireland voted for sinn fein. not this sinn fein, but the pro—independence party that didn't recognise the british parliament over ireland. and the bits that effectively became northern ireland voted for ulster unionism and that is basically where it comes from and the whole point of northern ireland was to have part of the island of ireland that would

have a unionist majority. there may still be a unionist polar rarity in northern ireland that sinn fein, not the same version of sinn fein back then, the modern incarnation, everything has gone full circle and sinn fein is top of the poll in northern ireland. that is why it is so historic, so extraordinary about what has happened. it doesn't mean that there isn't still a unionist plurality. if you add together the dup and the uup and tuv, there is still a plurality, they are out in front if you put them all together but it doesn't change the fact it's pretty extraordinary sinn fein adding just 1% of the vote are coming top of the polls. let's look a little more into more detail about some of sinn fein�*s performance in this election. let's take mid ulster here which is michelle o'neill�*s constituency. dominated by nationalism, dominated by sinn fein. 53% let's look at what has happened there. as you can see, this is the story of this election, it's not sinn fein has advanced enormously,

they've taken a little from the sdlp but it's the fact that the unionist parties have been fragmented and gone to the dup, some gun to the alliance and the other big winner of this election. let's look again just to show you the pattern. let's have a look at this. a bit more contested but you have sinn fein out in front, the dup second best again, sinn fein up the dup second best again, sinn fein up a little bit. dup down a lot. uup down a lot and alliance gaining. tuv and sdlp down the steps sinn fein not advancing enormously but nonetheless clearly on top and that will mean they have the right if there is going to be a stormont executive, the right to nominate a first minister. this is brexit as i keep saying. all of this is brexit catching up with northern ireland politics, it transformed part of the electoral map of great britain, we saw that in 2019 and see it continuing to unfold in the local elections which have just happen to foster now is catching up with

northern ireland. annita. yes, that analysis is right. brexit catching up with northern ireland, people's chance to react to that in the polls. we can go live to the meadowbank sports arena in magherafelt. you can see in the centre that picture michelle o'neill, sinn fein�*s leader in northern ireland as well as mary lou mcdonald in the pinkjacquet, slightly hidden in that picture. the leader of the party sinn fein arriving at the count. michelle o'neill�*s vote was counted at the centre. she easily passed the quota to be elected on first preference votes in the first round and we are expecting a news conference here

from sinn fein or a statement to be made from sinn fein for sublets if we can hear anything. we were turning up on day one to deliver on the things we committed to. d0 turning up on day one to deliver on the things we committed to. do you think the comments _ the things we committed to. do you think the comments by _ the things we committed to. do you think the comments by the - think the comments by the controversial— think the comments by the controversial comments i think the comments by the controversial comments by think the comments by the - controversial comments by michelle hoey be _ controversial comments by michelle hoey be part — controversial comments by michelle hoey be part of— controversial comments by michelle hoey be part of the _ controversial comments by michelle hoey be part of the momentum - controversial comments by michelle i hoey be part of the momentum going towards _ hoey be part of the momentum going towards you _ hoey be part of the momentum going towards you in — hoey be part of the momentum going towards you in this _ hoey be part of the momentum going towards you in this campaign? - hoey be part of the momentum going towards you in this campaign? i - towards you in this campaign? i think towards you in this campaign? think the momentum for towards you in this campaign?“ think the momentum for change towards you in this campaign?_ think the momentum for change now across the island... ideas come of their time and across the island... ideas come of theirtime and i across the island... ideas come of their time and i think we had a very thoughtful campaign. i think people want progress and that is it, you know? mary lou mcdonald of sinn fein talking to my bbc northern ireland colleague tara mills and you heard michelle o'neill, the party's leader in northern ireland speaking before

that. saying what lots of politicians have been saying, we will be their day one. she means monday of next week because this process of potentially nominating the first and deputy first ministers is supposed to happen but as we have been discussing today, it doesn't look as though the dup, who are likely to emerge as the second largest party, will be going through the process of nominating a deputy first minister, which they would be entitled to do is second largest party. so a bit of a stalling, a stalemate, but all of the party saying that they are ready on day one to get back to work. what does that mean in practice customer it doesn't mean, for example, that we are having a functioning executive return immediately. jeffrey donaldson, the leader of the dup saying that he is going to decide after the queen's speech whether his party will return to the

power—sharing executive. there is jeffrey donaldson, alongside nigel dodds. well, jon tonge still with me as we wait to hearfrom well, jon tonge still with me as we wait to hear from some of the political leaders. mary lou mcdonald was saying this election represents, shows that there is a momentum for change. now i wonder precisely what she meant by that and do you think it does show a momentum for change? i guess what that change might be depends on your political perspective. it depends on your political perspective-_ depends on your political perspective. depends on your political --ersective. . ., , ., ,, ., perspective. it clearly does show momentum _ perspective. it clearly does show momentum for _ perspective. it clearly does show momentum for change. - perspective. it clearly does show momentum for change. this - perspective. it clearly does show momentum for change. this has | perspective. it clearly does show - momentum for change. this has been a big growth for sinn fein at this election but the big question is whether the dup will respond and go back into the devolved power—sharing institutions. there is no immediate sign the dup is willing to do that because the longer they stay out, they more concessions they believe that they can wield in terms of getting rid of the irish sea border,

the eu protocol. so there is no great incentive forjeffrey donaldson to go straight back in. even though many people, notjust those who voted for sinn fein but anyone who wants to see devolved power—sharing with say this is hugely undemocratic. northern ireland needs a functioning power—sharing government. it's been too often prone to collapse. only two of the six assembly terms to date have been completed wholesale. the other four there have been collapses in foster power—sharing has always been unstable here. it is as unstable as ever in that we don't know if the dup will go back into power—sharing. know if the dup will go back into power-sharing-— power-sharing. what of the constitutional _ power-sharing. what of the constitutional implications i power-sharing. what of the l constitutional implications of power-sharing. what of the - constitutional implications of these results we are seeing emerging from this set of votes? we talked about the united kingdom or united ireland and sinn fein didn't mention a border poll during the campaign, that was the democratic unionist party that were flagging that one. but since the actual vote, they have talked about it, mary lou mcdonald talked about it, mary lou mcdonald talked about it, mary lou mcdonald talked about maybe in ten years, she

thought personally within five years but on the unionist side and the westminster government side, they are saying they would have to be, from the government's side anyway, a sustained signal that there was enough of the population here wanting that. so are you surprised they are talking about it at all? it is core business for sinn fein, irish unification, that is at the heart of the party. sinn fein did not frame this election around a united ireland but issues regarding the health service and cost of living issues. but it was still in the sinn fein manifesto. they were demanding a date from the british secretary of state to set a date for a border poll to take place. i don't think sinn fein want that tomorrow. they would probably lose a referendum if it was to be held tomorrow but they want a date in the future. they want to see there is momentum towards a united ireland. they have referenced the brexit referendum, haven't they? they would, they have indicated they would, they have indicated they would want to be very careful about

choosing a date for that. let's go to magherafelt and listen to the declaration there. john to magherafelt and listen to the declaration there. , ., �* ,, declaration there. john o'dowd, sinn fein. applause — fein. applause jonathan - fein. applause | jonathan buckley, fein. applause _ jonathan buckley, democratic unionist — jonathan buckley, democratic unionist party. _ jonathan buckley, democratic unionist party.— jonathan buckley, democratic unionist party. cheering and applause diane dodds, democratic unionist party _ party. doug i party. - doug beattie, party. — doug beattie, ulster unionist party. dou- beattie, ulster unionist party. doug beattie, ulster unionist party. and owen_ doug beattie, ulster unionist party. and owen tennyson, _ doug beattie, ulster unionist party. and owen tennyson, alliance. - doug beattie, ulster unionist party. i and owen tennyson, alliance. thank you. thank you. firstly, i would like to thank the returning officer and or the counter staff for the work done in the last couple of days and during the election. it is quite clear the electorate have now spoken. democracy is about respecting the democratic will of the people and we now have to move to respect the democratic will of

the people, get the executive back—up and going again, get the assembly going and get money to people who today on a friday will be deciding what their children can and cannot eat over the weekend and whether they can heat their homes over the weekend. that is the task we has assembly members now face. before i conclude, i want to thank my election team. i want to thank liam who came very close. we have sent out a clear message that people want power—sharing to work on people to work together. i always say this but we put a lot of pressure on our families. i want to thank my wife for putting up with me again and going through this. and also a special mention to a friend of sinn fein who would be here today at but she is very ill. we send our

thoughts out to brona. commiserations to those candidates who are not successful, including the candidate who lost their seat today. thank you.— the candidate who lost their seat today. thank you. cheering and applause thank you. can i begin by thanking the returning officer for the diligent _ the returning officer for the diligent way her and her team have conducted — diligent way her and her team have conducted their account and it psn ally. conducted their account and it psn aiiy~ can— conducted their account and it psn aiiy~ can i— conducted their account and it psn ally. can i thank my team, my action team _ ally. can i thank my team, my action team and _ ally. can i thank my team, my action team and the — ally. can i thank my team, my action team and the election team for their diligent _ team and the election team for their diligent hard work in this result. elections — diligent hard work in this result. elections can be difficult for everybody regardless of parties but it is that _ everybody regardless of parties but it is that team effort, the long hard _ it is that team effort, the long hard yards everybody puts in that makes _ hard yards everybody puts in that makes it — hard yards everybody puts in that makes it worthwhile and i do sincerely— makes it worthwhile and i do sincerely thank them. could i thank the 8869 _ sincerely thank them. could i thank the 8869 voters in upper ban who place _ the 8869 voters in upper ban who place their faith and trust in me to

be place their faith and trust in me to he returned — place their faith and trust in me to be returned as their mla here. i say this, _ be returned as their mla here. i say this, i_ be returned as their mla here. i say this, i know— be returned as their mla here. i say this, i know there is many within that total— this, i know there is many within that total that perhaps this was their— that total that perhaps this was their first time voting dup. can i thank— their first time voting dup. can i thank them sincerely. i will continue _ thank them sincerely. i will continue to work for all of the people — continue to work for all of the people of— continue to work for all of the people of upper bann to make sure issues _ people of upper bann to make sure issues that— people of upper bann to make sure issues that affect you will be dealt with and _ issues that affect you will be dealt with and i— issues that affect you will be dealt with and i will speak out as a firm voice _ with and i will speak out as a firm voice for— with and i will speak out as a firm voice for unionism in the assembly. i voice for unionism in the assembly. ijust_ voice for unionism in the assembly. ijust want— voice for unionism in the assembly. ijust want to say this: my message and i_ ijust want to say this: my message and i think— ijust want to say this: my message and i think it's been clear from the electorate. — and i think it's been clear from the electorate, the unionist politicians and to— electorate, the unionist politicians and to the — electorate, the unionist politicians and to the unionist electorate, divided — and to the unionist electorate, divided unionism cannot win elections. now more than ever we should _ elections. now more than ever we should put— elections. now more than ever we should put differences aside and work— should put differences aside and work together for the sake of the country— work together for the sake of the country that we all cherish. the union— country that we all cherish. the union must— country that we all cherish. the union must come first. our country needs— union must come first. our country needs it _ union must come first. our country needs it and — union must come first. our country needs it and our people deserve it. so thank— needs it and our people deserve it. so thank you very much, thank you. cheering _ so thank you very much, thank you. cheering and applause

jonathan buckley of the dup presenting his analysis of this election and there has been much discussion of disunity amongst unionism and that was what he was referring to in his acceptance speech, saying that if unionism was divided it couldn't win the elections and certainly the dup, thatis elections and certainly the dup, that is diane dodds also of the dup, speaking at the moment... certainly it has had an impact on the dup vote. i think we can do is show you a rundown of those election results in upper bann. here they come. that is two seats for the dup, one for sinn fein, one for the ulster unionist party and that was its leader you saw, doug beattie. and one for the alliance party of

northern ireland, the centre ground party doing really well in this election. professorjon tonge, professor of politics at the university of liverpool is still with me for some let's reflect on what those two speakers were saying before jonathan buckley we what those two speakers were saying beforejonathan buckley we had what those two speakers were saying before jonathan buckley we had john dowd and focusing on the cost of living crisis, not constitutional issues. ultimately that is what, where the pressure is coming from on an immediate basis from voters in northern ireland towards the politicians. northern ireland towards the politicians— northern ireland towards the oliticians. ,, ., politicians. sinn fein has played a savvy election _ politicians. sinn fein has played a savvy election campaign, - politicians. sinn fein has played a| savvy election campaign, focusing politicians. sinn fein has played a . savvy election campaign, focusing on health issues and the cost of living issues. sinn fein has its eye on the next election south of the border as well where it hopes to become the largest party, so that will put sinn fein as largest party in both jurisdictions on the island of ireland move sinn fein towards its ultimate project of a united

ireland. that wasn't a big issue on the doorsteps for sinn fein, plus the doorsteps for sinn fein, plus the fact there is only a british secretary of state that can call a border poll and it will only call that when it appears there is majority support for united ireland within northern ireland and we are not at that stage yet, notwithstanding sinn fein does make good election results. john notwithstanding sinn fein does make good election results.— good election results. john 0 dowd said last night. _ good election results. john 0 dowd said last night, called _ good election results. john 0 dowd said last night, called on _ good election results. john 0 dowd said last night, called on brandon l said last night, called on brandon lewis to publish the criteria for a border poll but as we had from the conservative party chairman earlier on it doesn't look like that will be happening anytime soon. and then the message from jonathan buckley of the dup, divided unionism cannot win elections. much did that disunity affect the dup, the tuv, also anti—protocol, and the old leek ulster unionist party? you anti-protocol, and the old leek ulster unionist party?- anti-protocol, and the old leek ulster unionist party? you can see the impact — ulster unionist party? you can see the impact on _ ulster unionist party? you can see the impact on the _ ulster unionist party? you can see the impact on the dup's _ ulster unionist party? you can see the impact on the dup's vote - ulster unionist party? you can see the impact on the dup's vote was l the impact on the dup's vote was down more than 40,000. the tuv�*s vote was up more than 40,000 those

that did not give the tuv any more seats but nonetheless, it did to hit the dup and has contributed to those seat losses we have seen of the dup. there was clear blue water between the dup and tuv approach, which was we will if necessary threatened devolved power sharing to break the approach of the uup and doug beattie was we can oppose the protocol from within. so there was a clear fault line, it's not really marked with unity on how to oppose the protocol. great to have your analysis, thank you very much. professorjon tonge there. still a way to go with their seats until we get to the full and final picture. it continues. back to you, rebecca. we will be back with you very soon but for now, thank you.

the education secretary nadhim zahawi has said the government must not be complacent after the conservatives suffered substantial losses in local elections across england, scotland and wales. the party lost almost 500 council seats,with the liberal democrats and labour making gains. our political correspondent leila nathoo reports. the full picture of elections across england, scotland and wales is now clear. and the losses for the conservatives have been significant, down almost 500 councillors, 11 more councils now out of tory control. ministers say they are listening. very much around making sure we have the plan for recovery continues, that we continue to bear down on the household budget pressures. 22 billion in 12 months is what we're delivering now. we're not going to be complacent. we're going to continue to bear down on that, safer streets and of course the nhs backlog. these are the things that i think win us votes and that's what borisjohnson is very much focused on delivering. labour had hoped a national backdrop of rocketing living costs and fines at the top of government for breaking lockdown rules would

send voters flocking their way. the party did do well, securing symbolic victories in london and gains elsewhere. but these were tentative steps forward, rather than emphatic strides. we know we've got to rebuild trust. we had a terrible near—death experience at the last general election, so we're not taking anyone for granted. but i think what we saw in the results on thursday is a firm foundation for going on to win the next general election. labour's successes were overshadowed by police announcing they were now investigating leader sir keir starmer for a possible lockdown breach of his own. it's definitely been a good morning for the lib dems, who tempted traditional tory voters away to add almost 200 councillors in england. conservative support also melted away in wales, with labour profiting. and in scotland, the snp increased its support again, forcing the tories into retreat.

the snp is a party 15 years into government. so it's a big vote of confidence in our leadership of scotland, both nationally and at local level. i don't take it for granted, though. people want to see us deliver now. the reason we keep winning elections is because we work really hard, at elections, between elections, to deliver for scotland. votes are counted in the verdicts are in. it's only a snapshot but for all parties, plenty to chew over. leila nathoo, bbc news. our wales correspondent tomos morgan told us how people voted across wales and the unexpected losses for the conservative party. after the brexit vote in 2017, i think it's fair to say that a number of disgruntled labour voters and brexit voters moved over and started voting tory. we saw that in the general election in 2017, the local election and general election after that, as well. but since the pandemic, things are beginning to change. last year, we had the senedd elections here in wales and mark

drakeford's labour government exceeded expectations, really, did much better.