this is bbc news. the headlines at five... sinn fein has hailed a new era in northern ireland as the party is on course to become the largest one at stormont. on monday, we must all turn up together. that's the reason why on monday there is an urgency to restore an executive, to start to put money back into people's pockets, to start to fix the health service. the people can't wait. democratic unionist party leader jeffrey donaldson says his party will wait til next week before deciding whether to enter a power—sharing government. the sovereign government here who can make the decisions, that will unlock the door to stormont is the uk government. that is absolutely clear.

i'm in belfast for day two of the counting — and we'll be bringing you all the latest news and reaction. 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 bowly. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. sinn fein has hailed a new era for northern ireland as it's on track to win the most seats in the northern ireland assembly for the first time ever — signalling a historic shift we are going straight to belfast to hear from an alliance. i want to say particular customer campaign team and its belfast association. want to say that not just at the park they want to thank them for everything they've done. people took massive risks in the selection in order to deliver better and deliver more for northern ireland and it paid off and i'm

hugely proud of what alliance is achieved but i am also hugely blessed to be leading a party of the calibre of an alliance with people who are so dedicated and so committed and so selfless in their servants. i'm particularly proud that we were able to listen to seats in east belfast and i want to say thank you to the outgoing mla for east belfast chris little. it feels a bit like losing. it feels a bit like a divorce. chris and i go back. we have worked together for over 20 years and i'm not quite sure what i'm going to do on monday morning when i wake up and go to work and he isn't there. but i suspect he will be testing and suggesting what's up me with ideas as he was has done. chris, you have been an absolute champion for the people of east

belfast. an absolute share of the committee and they are going to wish you every success in whatever you do in the next career. i you every success in whatever you do in the next career.— in the next career. i want to thank the other candidates. _ in the next career. i want to thank the other candidates. i _ in the next career. i want to thank the other candidates. i think- in the next career. i want to thank the other candidates. i think we i in the next career. i want to thank i the other candidates. i think we had a good election campaign in east belfast. it was a fair and clean election campaign and i want to thank the candidates for that. we have a job to do at the end of the election which was about as working together to make his belfast a better place for everyone. the election is _ better place for everyone. the election is over _ better place for everyone. tue: election is over and better place for everyone. tte: election is over and the hard work starts here and i look forward to working with all the candidates to try and make that a reality. we'll go way back in some of those further back than others. we'll go way back and we will work together and try to deliver for the people who elected us. before i finish my thinking as it would be the than this if it was not to say thank you to michael.

michael has always been my rock. behind every politician there as i was a better politician pushing them on and i think that is the case in our household. he did not falter despite all the things that were going on during this campaign. i don't how i could do it without him and ijust want don't how i could do it without him and i just want to say thank you to him because he is an incredible person and a selfless one and ijust want to say so much thanks and so much of the success is owed to you so thank you for that. finally you'll be glad to hear before it gets any more emotional i want to say a huge thank you to the deputy returning officer to our staff, to the press, the members and people who run the facility it has been an often hot and sweaty affair in this facility over the last few days but everybody has done their best to take care of us as best they can and i think that with all the hot air that gets talked in politics it is white that we should sweat it out at

election times. thank you to the count thank you for the way it has progressed so smoothly thank you for the way it has progressed so safely and last but not least thank you to the people of east belfast. are you a huge debt of gratitude. you put your trust in left leg in —— i a huge debt of gratitude. you put yourtrust in left leg in —— i l debt of gratitude. you put your trust of me again and i will not let you down. trust of me again and i will not let ou down. . . , trust of me again and i will not let you down-— trust of me again and i will not let ou down. . . , ., ., you down. that was the leader of the alliance party. _ you down. that was the leader of the alliance party, cross _ you down. that was the leader of the alliance party, cross community - alliance party, cross community party in northern ireland which has enjoyed considerable success in the selection and you heard her saying she was excited about what her party can achieve stormont but to remind you that it is sinn fein that is the big winner because it has hailed a new in northern ireland as it is on track to win most seats in the northern ireland assembly for the first time ever, signalling a historic shift in the political landscape and a first for a nationalist party. it comes as the

democratic unionist partyjeffrey donaldson said his party will decide next week whether to consider entering a power—sharing government. we can cross life back to belfast now and get all the very latest from annita mcveigh. anita. thank you very much. ijust want annita mcveigh. anita. thank you very much. i just want to talk a moment about the alliance party and we heard from their lead at naomi long and just put into context how well this cross community party has done. in the 2017 assembly elections they won eight seats and now they are on 15 seats so almost double their 2017 total with the potential for another seat in north belfast and the outside chance of a 17th seat even potentially which is a massive in the context of that centre ground vote and there are other positions with the parties on your screens right now. sinn fein on

23 of course to emerge as the biggest party from these elections. the dup on 22. alliance as we just mentioned on 15. the ulster unionist party and nine, the sdlp and six. traditional unionist voice, another anti—political party like the dup on one. there is also one independent candidate who has been elected and one from people over profit services the state of play with just 12 seats left to be declared on three of them here at the belfast account and of course the camps going on and jordanstown as well. —— in magherafelt. it was a short time ago that we heard from sinn fein cosmic leader short while ago the leader of the party. in magherafelt michelle 0'neill was emphasising the need to get back to work at stormont and

said the people couldn't wait. today represents a very significant moment of change. it's a defining moment for our politics and for our people. today ushers in a new era, which i believe presents us all with an opportunity to reimagine relationships in this society, on the basis of fairness, on the basis of equality and on the basis of socialjustice. irrespective of religious, political or social backgrounds, my commitment is to make politics work. my commitment is to work through partnership, not division. we will work with those who serve all other political perspectives. we will work together, we will show respect and we expect to be shown respect. there is a space in this place for everyone, all of us together. i will provide leadership, which is inclusive, which celebrates diversity, which guarantees rights and equality for those who have been excluded, discriminated against or ignored in the past.

we all heard loud and clear on the doors throughout this campaign people demand cooperation, people demand delivery. they demand that we address the cost of living crisis, that we invest in our health service, and the welfare of people, all people, comes first. that is the reason why on monday we must all turn up together. there is an urgency to restore an executive committee start to put money back in people's pockets, to start to fix the health service. the people can't wait. we will turn up, i will lead my team up to stormont on monday. the people have told us throughout the course of this election that they expect us to work together. the people are right.

we sinn fein are emerging as the biggest party they have the right to nominate the first minister but that can only happen if the democratic unionist party is the second—largest party agreed to nominate a deputy first minister and throughout this campaign they have not said whether they would do that and of course their focus has been they would do that and of course theirfocus has been an opposition to the northern ireland protocol which governs the post—brexit trade arrangement say in northern ireland but their chief concern about that is, they say, it undermines northern ireland's constitutional position within the united kingdom. also at magherafelt we heard from sinn fein�*s leader mary lou mcdonald and she was calling for sensible political partnership. we're in circumstances where households and families are struggling to put bread on the table, struggling to heat their homes. this is not a time for theatrics.

this is not a time for playing games. this is a time for grown—up, sensible partnership politics. that's what people want and we look forward to an executive being established. i look forward to michelle 0'neill being nominated as first minister, to lead from the front and have a politics that delivers for people. the idea, the idea at a time of a cost—of—living crisis that people would stand on the sidelines and allow people to struggle and struggle badly, for us is unthinkable, so we would appeal to everybody to take stock, take breath and really assess and understand the huge responsibility that all of us carry — all of us, collectively. collectively, we have an obligation to get government up and running. speaking a little earlier, the dup leader sirjeffrey donaldson said his party's participation in the executive was dependent on reform of the northern ireland protocol and that a speech next week by borisjohnson would determine the dup's next steps.

the sovereign government here who can make their decisions that will unlock the door to stormont is the uk government. that is absolutely clear. we all know that and we're looking now to the government to see what they are prepared to do. we'll listen to what the prime minister says after the queen's speech, after the state 0pening of parliament, that will come on tuesday. let's see what the government are indicating. words for me are not enough. it's decisive action that we need from the government. i'm joined byjon tonge, professor of british and irish politics at the university of liverpool. thanks for staying with us today. we were talking a little earlier, weren't we, about those comments from the dup leader and whether there was any that or hint of a

change in position. the there was any that or hint of a change in position.— there was any that or hint of a change in position. the sum within the dup that _ change in position. the sum within the dup that would _ change in position. the sum within the dup that would like _ change in position. the sum within the dup that would like to - change in position. the sum within the dup that would like to go - change in position. the sum within the dup that would like to go backj the dup that would like to go back into the devolved power sharing executive sooner rather than later and never other voices injeffrey donaldson will have to persuade them internally or who want to stay out until the significant movement from the british government and european union on the northern ireland protocol. basically the dup's bottom line is the want the ivc body of a moving and it will use the leverage staying out of that devolved power—sharing agreement until we get movement in that direction. that power-sharing agreement until we get movement in that direction.— movement in that direction. that is a bi ask. movement in that direction. that is a big ask- how— movement in that direction. that is a big ask. how do _ movement in that direction. that is a big ask. how do you _ movement in that direction. that is a big ask. how do you think- movement in that direction. that is a big ask. how do you think the - movement in that direction. that is a big ask. how do you think the eu | a big ask. how do you think the eu and government at westminster are going to respond? how much wiggle room do you think they have to at least deliver something that will encourage the dup back?- least deliver something that will encourage the dup back? there may be some win ale encourage the dup back? there may be some wiggle room _ encourage the dup back? there may be some wiggle room and _ encourage the dup back? there may be some wiggle room and you've _ encourage the dup back? there may be some wiggle room and you've got - encourage the dup back? there may be some wiggle room and you've got to - some wiggle room and you've got to remember that you northern ireland protocol was created to protect the good friday agreement keeping the boat on the isle of ireland soft. if

the border is threatened by the dup sting out of power—sharing agreements in some ways it is logicalfor agreements in some ways it is logical for the agreements in some ways it is logicalfor the to be agreements in some ways it is logical for the to be such concessions but there is no agreement over the level of concessions that might be given. 0bviously concessions that might be given. obviously the british has the option of triggering article 15 to suspend the northern ireland vertical and that would certainly get the dup back into devolved power—sharing but i don't think the government wants to go down that road.— to go down that road. dealing with one issue might _ to go down that road. dealing with one issue might create _ to go down that road. dealing with one issue might create other - to go down that road. dealing withl one issue might create other issues jon i guess and i think it is worth reminding viewers that actually a majority of politicians here in northern ireland are, you know, happy with the protocol or can work with the protocol even if they don't agree with all the elements of it. you've got to remember that the big winners in this election as sinn fein is the largest party northern ireland and alliance party.- ireland and alliance party. those arties ireland and alliance party. those parties are _ ireland and alliance party. those parties are both _ ireland and alliance party. those parties are both in _ ireland and alliance party. those parties are both in favour - ireland and alliance party. those parties are both in favour of - ireland and alliance party. those parties are both in favour of the l parties are both in favour of the protocol and are anxious for devolved power—sharing is meant to be formed as early as possible but i don't sense any agreement from the dup and they have 2a weeks before they have to nominate a deputy first

minister. i don't get a sense they are going to be rushing back in any time soon. xtet are going to be rushing back in any time soon. f are going to be rushing back in any time soon-— time soon. yet they've heard it on the doorsteps. — time soon. yet they've heard it on the doorsteps, it _ time soon. yet they've heard it on the doorsteps, it has _ time soon. yet they've heard it on the doorsteps, it has been - time soon. yet they've heard it on i the doorsteps, it has been reflected in many of the politician features that people want politicians back dealing with the cost—of—living crisis and that was the number one issue people mention to me earlier this week when we were previewing the election and they want politicians to deal with health care and i heard from front line health professions who said they are on their knees. education and all the other issues that voters have had vital in the uk. qt other issues that voters have had vital in the uk.— vital in the uk. of loss of form is northern ireland _ vital in the uk. of loss of form is northern ireland and _ vital in the uk. of loss of form is northern ireland and the - vital in the uk. of loss of form is northern ireland and the health. northern ireland and the health service crisis predated covid—19 and it was a consequence of the previous collapse and dissolve power—sharing and sinn fein quit the executive in 2018 and 20 205 and sinn fein quit the executive in 2018 and 20 20s you see the damage that can be done one party state of the devolved power—sharing executive but unless we are unionist and nationalist party sharing power in that executive you simply cannot have devolved government here in the

province and i'm not sure that there's an easy way than that. you mention the _ there's an easy way than that. you mention the 2017 _ there's an easy way than that. you mention the 2017 collapse as well and we are talking us a long period in recent years of dysfunction rather than function in terms of power—sharing and you've got to ask the question, then, if this can't be fixed this time is the model broken? parties coming through like the lions want to change the rules so thatis lions want to change the rules so that is not mandatory power—sharing between unionists and nationalists. they argue a big sway that the northern irish electorate now neither unionist northern nationalists are not defined by the axle exchange those rules. there is no sign of immediate change to these rules and we have to operate under the ones that exist. if they can't be another one at the end of the next few weeks there might be another election. quite what that would result is unclear. then; another election. quite what that would result is unclear. they would be lookin: would result is unclear. they would be looking at _ would result is unclear. they would be looking at the _ would result is unclear. they would be looking at the rise _ would result is unclear. they would be looking at the rise of _ would result is unclear. they would be looking at the rise of alliance i be looking at the rise of alliance and recalculating what that means for their electoral strategy in the

future and so on. he did think that poses the biggest questions for? the dup or sinn fein? t poses the biggest questions for? the dup or sinn fein?_ dup or sinn fein? i think it poses a auestion dup or sinn fein? i think it poses a question from _ dup or sinn fein? i think it poses a question from most _ dup or sinn fein? i think it poses a question from most of— dup or sinn fein? i think it poses a question from most of the - dup or sinn fein? i think it poses a question from most of the largest i question from most of the largest parties. you have the big blocks in northern ireland, unionist bloc led by the dup and the nationalist bloc in the ascendancy and a centrist bloc now led by alliance. alliance want people to move away from the constitutional question but although the selection wasn't defined by a border poll it was still part of the election argument. sinn fein will hope that then being the largest party will reignite the constitutional question, they want a date set for a border poll at some point in the next year so the constitutional question is hardly going to disappear notwithstanding the rise of alliance which doesn't one northern ireland politics defined by such questions. northern ireland certainly _ defined by such questions. northern ireland certainly has _ defined by such questions. northern ireland certainly has a _ defined by such questions. northern ireland certainly has a long - defined by such questions. northern ireland certainly has a long history l ireland certainly has a long history of politicians talking about governing but not actually governing. what is your professional

expertise if you could bring all those to bear on this question? g think we're going to see that the turn to power—sharing sooner rather than later and by later i mean a potential period of six months of talking? t potential period of six months of talkin: ? ~ . potential period of six months of talkin: ? ~' , ., ., ,., talking? i think there is a reason wh the talking? i think there is a reason why the secretary _ talking? i think there is a reason why the secretary of _ talking? i think there is a reason why the secretary of state - talking? i think there is a reason - why the secretary of state extended the time for talking from seven days to several months to basically six months and the reason is because he is not expecting the passes to do a deal any time soon. there'll be lots of hard bargaining to come. the selection may net run and run and run. . , . ., run. thanks very much for your thou~hts run. thanks very much for your thoughts on — run. thanks very much for your thoughts on everything - run. thanks very much for your i thoughts on everything happening here are the last couple of days the cans continue. joining me now is daithi mckay, former sinn fein mla. thank you very much forjoining us and just give us your overview of what has been happening first of all with i think still 12 seats left to declare. t with i think still 12 seats left to declare. ~ ., , , with i think still 12 seats left to declare. ~ . , , ., declare. i think it has been a really good _ declare. i think it has been a

really good day, _ declare. i think it has been a really good day, obviously, i declare. i think it has been a l really good day, obviously, for declare. i think it has been a - really good day, obviously, for sinn fein. they've actually exceeded their expectations and pulling previously at 25 or 26% say the hit 29% and all of their outgoing seats have been a massive success but the big story in terms of sinn fein is obviously some symbolism of a nationalist of republican first minister rule for the first time. for the first time in the history of this state and nationalists will hold that position, which goes against the very premise of why the state was set up in the first place. yes, that question of the vice of the centre ground of the alliance is hugely interesting and the other really big story possibly of this election. do you think sinn fein and i believe you are writing about this earlier today, she think sinn fein are going to be looking at how well the alliance is doing and reassessing how they need to respond

to that centre ground vote? t reassessing how they need to respond to that centre ground vote?— to that centre ground vote? i think the have to that centre ground vote? i think they have to- _ to that centre ground vote? i think they have to. alliance _ to that centre ground vote? i think they have to. alliance are - to that centre ground vote? i think they have to. alliance are now - to that centre ground vote? i think i they have to. alliance are now going to almost double the number of seats they have. they will have double the number of seats that the sdlp will have at the end of this election and they are sitting in the kind of thing is that both sinn fein and the dup werejust 20 thing is that both sinn fein and the dup were just 20 years ago so they have a springboard now to go further. the good news for sinn fein is that they have... them in the selection as well but we are increasingly seeing more voters who would have voted for sinn fein and the sdlp in the past seeing that leap to alliance not being as big a leap to alliance not being as big a leap as it was in the past because ten or 15 years ago alliance was increasingly referred to as the unionist party with a small deal. it is clear that alliance is changing as a party and a lot of nationalists who would vote for a united ireland who would vote for a united ireland who see themselves as irish culture

easily see no contradiction between a personal decision and also going out to vote for alliance on issues such as abortion, political reform and other issues. —— irish culturally, unionist with a small u. sinn fein will be concerned about the growth of alliance but i think in the short term they will want to work with them because they see themselves as smart as joe work with them because they see themselves as smart asjoe mac part of that progressive wing of the assembly with common ground in terms of the number of social issues. siitit of the number of social issues. sinn fein oppose — of the number of social issues. sinn fein oppose brexit _ of the number of social issues. sinn fein oppose brexit and obviously a majority of people within northern ireland opposed brexit. sinn fein says it can work with the protocol and it is one of them don't make a number of politicians here who say they can work with the protocol that you think sinn fein has anything to

give on that that can assist the unionists, the democratic unionist party in getting back into the power—sharing government? t party in getting back into the power-sharing government? i think sinn fein have _ power-sharing government? i think sinn fein have moved _ power-sharing government? i think sinn fein have moved to _ power-sharing government? i think sinn fein have moved to a - power-sharing government? i think sinn fein have moved to a position| sinn fein have moved to a position where they share a loss of common ground with the business community here for example in regard to protocol issues and previously three orfour protocol issues and previously three or four years ago dup was seen as the business party so they are protocol pragmatists. they want to see issues ironed oh so the trade is there between both of these islands are so they both want to see agreements but they will not take a position that runs contrary to the business community or what is in their view in the best interests of their view in the best interests of the economy here so they will only go so far. tt the economy here so they will only no so far. . the economy here so they will only no so far. , ., ., the economy here so they will only . so far. , ., ., , , go so far. it is going to be very difficult to _ go so far. it is going to be very difficult to find _ go so far. it is going to be very difficult to find out _ go so far. it is going to be very difficult to find out a _ go so far. it is going to be very difficult to find out a point - go so far. it is going to be very difficult to find out a point of. difficult to find out a point of compromise when you talk about all those different interests because

lots of businesses here say that actually the protocol is working well for them, there is no trade within northern ireland and they get to trade with gb and the eu and the dup of course has been arguing that there is an issue with the costs of there is an issue with the costs of the protocol when it comes to crazy have different narratives going on there so pretty hard to see how there so pretty hard to see how there is going to be a point of compromise, would you agree? yes. obviously in — compromise, would you agree? yes. obviously in terms _ compromise, would you agree? yes. obviously in terms of _ compromise, would you agree? t'ezs obviously in terms of the compromise, would you agree? tezs obviously in terms of the issues that arose over the past year a loss of those things with manufacturing and i carried out by the serving different quarters that showed that businesses less and less were having difficulties in terms of processing the centre so that is moving in the direction we want to see it move and perhaps the protocol over the next number of months will become less of a major issue in that regard and may become harderfor the measure up on this issue so i think the dup

personally want to get back in the assembly as soon as possible, really, because there are two issues that will be ongoing. they obviously want to get some kind of figleaf around the protocol so they can get back into the assembly but also the longer the assembly and executive does not function, and more that the nationalist voting base that essentially is elected michelle o'neill as the first minister elect so far, they will become increasingly angry at being locked out of that position so, i mean, it is deep in the nationalist and republican psyche here issues of inequality? any perceived blocking of a nationalist holding a post over six more months will create a lot of anger in the community. just six more months will create a lot of anger in the community.— six more months will create a lot of anger in the community. just on the line, optimistic— anger in the community. just on the line, optimistic or _ anger in the community. just on the line, optimistic or pessimistic - line, optimistic or pessimistic about a relatively speedy return to

power—sharing? t about a relatively speedy return to power-sharing?— power-sharing? i think like a see the dup need _ power-sharing? i think like a see the dup need something - power-sharing? i think like a see the dup need something to - power-sharing? i think like a see the dup need something to get i power-sharing? i think like a see . the dup need something to get back in there and it is actually no strategic interest to get back in there as soon as possible because they are facing into a suspension over a long period of time the debate and a border poll built since the need to increase.— the need to increase. former sinn fein mla thank _ the need to increase. former sinn fein mla thank you _ the need to increase. former sinn fein mla thank you very - the need to increase. former sinn fein mla thank you very much. i i the need to increase. former sinn i fein mla thank you very much. i can just see the scene behind me which was a hive of activity all day yesterday late into the night and certainly early today but with just a handful of seats left to declare at the belfast canned the tables are being collected and the chairs are being collected and the chairs are being cleared away and all that bull is that you get in the centre is a little bit more muted now that what the buzz of conversation around this really significant election continues. let's close now to my

colleague he was in london at the touch screen. plenty of buzz here for you. last time we spoke in the 77 and we're inching ever closer, 78 of 90 seats declared now in the crucial thing is as we know sinn fein are on top there and set concurrently with mine isn't too on the crucial winning post if you like its 26. once sinn fein gets to 26 which we fully expect them to do it will not be newer likely possibly for the dup to catch up with them any more and that is the winning line in the selection in any case and where might this come from? we have had most of the results now for most of the seats but we have got a few left outstanding where we would expect sinn fein to pick up the let's have a look at all these places where planting is under way such as belfast north. there is preference share here and you can see sinn fein out on top with three out of five seats declared so we have two sinn fein seats at the moment and for previously. this was tdp, to sinn

fein, one sdlp so if you look at the change in the share they are up 6% and perhaps they might be able to gain another one there and we can have a look at where else they might be able to get that. dup were first preference before the selection and file here in londonderry which you can see here 30% sinn fein and 30% sdlp so obviously free nationalist area and sinn fein came first in 2017 and 25 seats declared that we might expect them to pick up another seat there. you can see sinn fein down a little bit there and alliance games we will have to keep a close eye on that. still outstanding we have fermanagh and south to roam around enniskillen. 41t% have fermanagh and south to roam around enniskillen. 44% again and a very sinn fein sort of area. in terms of first preferences see eileen foster used to have a seat here of course when she was first minister. again, to us a five seats declared in you might expect another sinn fein see their sequence evenly

plenty of opportunities so for pick up plenty of opportunities so for pick up most of the really outstanding areas continue to be for the more nationalist areas rather than the more unionist areas as you can see why it is with we expect sinn fein to end up topping this poll and of course when and if they do that we have already talked about the historic nature of it but let's just talk about the practicalities and obviously there's a question about what happens with the executive that poses big changes as well for the governments both in dublin and in london. mr borisjohnson is going to have to have already heard from borisjohnson and is already going to have to have an answer when parliament returns next week to jeffrey donaldson what is his intensity of the queen's speech at the northern ireland protocol, what will the westminster government was at hand they come up how will they deal with sinn fein on the island of ireland in a very strong position in both northern ireland and the republic. don't forget sinn fein topped the poll in the most recent republic elections as well and are widely expected to do very well when and if they is another election in

the republic. you could very well have a situation where you have an irish t—shirt and a northern ireland set an irish tee and a northern ireland sinn fein first minister. this is a thing would have been unimaginable. —— irish tea shop. this is all part of the changing irish political personality and demography. —— taoiseach. irish taoiseach and northern ireland since saint first minister. just map sinn fein first minister. labour leader sir keir starmer says he did not breach covid rules after durham police announced they're investigating after it was revealed he drank beer in an mp's office in april last year. he's been in loch lochmond speaking about seats labour has won in the election — but was first asked about the police investigation. as i've explained a number of times,

i was working in the office,