dou- beattie, ulster unionist party. doug beattie, ulster unionist party. rty. 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 f

from the ulster unionist partyjust a to agnes from the ulster unionist party just a few to agnes fromlster unionist partyjust a few minutes and the sdlp and three seats and traditionalist unionist voice on one and also an independent candidate on one as well so quite a few of the seats declared but still a substantial way to go and with me to assess the situation so far i am joined by matt davenport, former bbc northern ireland political editor. he has covered some of the biggest moments here such as the ira ceasefire. what is your assessment of the count. 7 ceasefire. what is your assessment of the count- ?_ of the count. ? that pecking order ou have of the count. ? that pecking order you have given — of the count. ? that pecking order you have given will— of the count. ? that pecking order you have given will hold _ of the count. ? that pecking order you have given will hold now- of the count. ? that pecking order you have given will hold now for. of the count. ? that pecking order. you have given will hold now for the election is the seats come in. it is pretty clearly established

party is doing. the ulster unionists are on six, the sdlp on four. their votes getting squeezed in this election. traditional unionist voice on one and there is an independent candidate as well, one independent candidate. so those are the figures so far. just to give you a couple of bits of information from around the various count centres, we hear the ulster unionist party leader doug bt looks 0k. ulster unionist party leader doug bt looks ok. i think there was a little anxiety around his position knowing into the end of the account yesterday and this morning but he looks as though he will be ok. then in the north antrim constituency, the dup losing their very well known candidate there, mervyn storey and the alliance�*s patricia olin winning and becoming the first ever female mla for that constituency. so just a couple of scenes from around the counts here in northern ireland. let's try and put all of this into context. with me as political commentator brian rylan. good to have you back with us here. you were telling me earlier that this election i

the ulster unionist party on seven, including their leader, doug beattie returned. onist party has one. and an independent elected as well stop so those are the figures for you. a quick calculation, around 20 seats left to declare. let's assess where we are with this election and what might happen next with the commentator brian rowan, author of the book political purgatory. i was very interested when i read that book on what you wrote about the middle ground here in northern ireland politics, the alliance party, which has done exceedingly well in these elections, with the possibility of a couple more seats yet still. how influential will that be?- couple more seats yet still. how influential will that be? well, we saw at the _ influential will that be? well, we saw at the beginning _ influential will that be? well, we saw at the beginning of - influential will that be? well, we saw at the beginning of that - influential will that be? well, we | saw at the beginning of that surge through alliance through a series of elections in 2019 that a third pillar within our po

the ulster unionist party want a i the ulster unionist party want a soft landing, _ the ulster unionist want to come away. but they are willing to _ want to come away. but they are willing to let — want to come away. but they are willing to let the _ want to come away. but they are willing to let the assembly- want to come away. but they are willing to let the assembly go i want to come away. but they are i willing to let the assembly go and the whole — willing to let the assembly go and the whole good _ willing to let the assembly go and the whole good friday— willing to let the assembly go and the whole good friday agreementj willing to let the assembly go and i the whole good friday agreement go. and the _ the whole good friday agreement go. and the leader— the whole good friday agreement go. and the leader of— the whole good friday agreement go. and the leader of the _ the whole good friday agreement go. and the leader of the dup— the whole good friday agreement go. and the leader of the dup the - and the leader of the dup the largest— and the leader of the dup the largest unionist

is a member of the ulster unionist party and they i ulster unionist party and they placed — ulster unionistutive _ suggesting northern ireland needs a chief executive in _ suggesting northern ireland needs a chief executive in charge _ suggesting northern ireland needs a chief executive in charge of- chief executive in charge of northern— chief executive in charge of northern ireland's - chief executive in charge of northern ireland's health. chief executive in charge of- northern ireland's health service. the idea — northern ireland's health service. the idea of— northern ireland's health service. the idea of taking _ northern ireland's health service. the idea of taking politics- northern ireland's health service. the idea of taking politics out - northern ireland's health service. the idea of taking politics out of. the idea of taking politics out of health. — the idea of taking politics out of health, because _ the idea of taking politics out of health, because there _ the idea of taking politics out of health, because there is- the idea of taking politics out of health, because there i

the ulster unionist party, the liberal unionist party, is on fire.elected from the traditional unionist voice, also anti—protocol. one independent. and now i think that has changed just as i'm speaking to you. sinn fein and the dop on 19,1 i'm speaking to you. sinn fein and the dop on 19, i believe. sometimes hard to keep up with the very latest developments as i am talking to you. those numbers changing all the time. some of thejeers those numbers changing all the time. some of the jeers recently have been for the alliance party. reynolds was elected in east belfast and patrick brown in southdown. he didn't get in last time, he has this time. as me is —— with me is peter mcreynolds. you must be happy so far, as alliance. ~ you must be happy so far, as alliance-— you must be happy so far, as alliance. ~ , ., ., alliance. where can you go next? i don't know _ alliance. where can you go next? i don't know where _ alliance. where can you go next? i don't know where we _ alliance. where can you go next? i don't know where we can - alliance. where can you

unionist party have 24. the cross—community alliance party has 17 seats, the ulster unionist party has nine, and the social democraticrty has seven. it is the first time a nationalist party in northern ireland has won the most seats — with sinn fein�*s ultimate goal being for northern ireland to leave the uk and become one country with the republic of ireland. our correspondent chris page reports, and a warning — there is some flash photography. smiles, flashes and cheers, were the sure—fire signs of sinn fein�*s success. cheering the party has retained its 27 seats, and that is enough to top the table. for the first time, a party which is dedicated to taking northern ireland out of the uk is the biggest political force here. it's a huge historic moment for irish nationalism and a massively symbolic shift. sinn fein�*s vice president, michelle o'neill, is in line to become the first minister. no nationalist has ever won the post before. 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 th

likewise, the big parties of the piece process, the sdlp and ulster unionist party is both very centralistowards the alliance party and consolidating the alliance party and consolidating the centre ground. there haven't been any dramatic shift between these two big blocks but we are seeing the emergence of two big parties on the national centre ground side and factoring due to the protocol in the main on the unionist side and that really is destabilising the peace process because at both the dup and tv got a quarter of a million votes, the same number of votes sinn fein got in the selection. they went to the electorate with the policy they would not be the turning stormont unless the protocol was resolved and there was movement by the vertical. so this is very significant. let there was movement by the vertical. so this is very significant.— so this is very significant. let me ick u- so this is very significant. let me pick up on _ so this is very significant. let me pick up on that — so this is very significant. let me pick up on that point. _ so this is very significant. let me pick up o

still waiting to hear if the ulster unionist party leader doug beattie has retained his seat.en standing on a liberal unionist platform. we are also waiting to find out if the sdlp leader at stormont will be returning. i'm hearing that some of the unionist transfers are going to the alliance rather than her, so she could be in a bit of difficulty which would be very disappointing for the sdlp. we will be back here soon, keeping you right up to date. for now, back to the studio. let's get some more detailed analysis of the results so far in northern ireland. we can cross to lewis goodall at the touch—screen. lewis. as everyone has been saying, this is the first time in terms of seats that a nationalist party is topping the polls in the northern irish elections. this was designed in 1920, designed not to do so. have a look here. sinn fein in terms of first preference share of the vote at 29%. topping the poll not because they are doing spectacularly well. i've added a percentage point. it's because of the dgp, who last time these seats were fought in 2017, they were on top, just

unionist party has 1a. the cross—community alliance party has ten seats, and the ulster unionist party has four. 51 of 90 seatsbeen declared so far. if sinn fein keeps its lead, the result would be likely to reignite the debate about a united ireland. our ireland correspondent chris page reports. a warning, the report contains some flash photography. applause the political ground in northern ireland is shifting. that is generating delightful 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 the favourite to become first minister. no irish nationalist has ever held the post before. i no irish nationalist has ever held the post

and try and squeeze the more hardline traditional unionist voice party that took a lot of boats from at this time and squeeze the more middle ground ulsterry and bolster its vote in a further election, that would also benefit sinn fein as well, so we would see what is likely the creation of a three party state. another possible option, it looked like the votes, did not translate into seats for the traditionalist unionist voice, the antiparticle party as you mentioned, but did take away some seats from the dup. a really interesting point. let me recap now for our viewers here on bbc news and on bbc world, if you arejustjoining us, it has been confirmed sinn fein will be the party with the most seats in northern ireland. they have 27 seats at the moment, so that means no other party can now overtake sinn fein, making it the largest party in the northern ireland power—sharing assembly. the first time a party in favour of uniting ireland has come top in a stormont election. sinn fein's leader at stormont, michelle o'neill, has declared northern ireland is entering a new era and said it was a defining moment. as you can see on your screens th

see a united ireland, 16, the democratic unionist party against the protocol of northern ireland that governs post—brexit trading agreements, at six. the ulsterent elected so far. joining me now is colin mcgrath from the sd lp who stands in the constituency of south down to get a little bit more insight into what's going on. i was explaining earlier in the data view is that the system of voting here is a form of proportional representation called the single transferable vote. explain to us where your count is at and how that works? , ., , ., , ., works? the single transferable vote is never as simple _ works? the single transferable vote is never as simple -- _ works? the single transferable vote is never as simple -- a _ works? the single transferable vote is never as simple -- a simple - is never as simple —— a simple process— is never as simple —— a simple process to _ is never as simple —— a simple process to explain, it's taken me many years— process to explain, it's taken me many years to work out how it actually — many years to work out how it actually takes place. but essentially, everybody gets their first preference votes. if you re

you said the result is democracy, so would you like to see the democratic ulster unionist party nominateister? -- the dup. i position of deputy first minister? -- the dup-— -- the dup. i don't have an issue with the deputy _ -- the dup. i don't have an issue with the deputy first _ -- the dup. i don't have an issue with the deputy first minister i -- the dup. i don't have an issue i with the deputy first minister being sinn fein, simply because it has been a joint first minister and deputy first minister role for the last ten years, and they haven't promise on what they said they would deliver on. to me, sinn fein is exactly the same as the dup. i wouldn't like northern ireland politics to progress past these orange and green issues to actually focus on the issues across the whole of northern ireland. —— i would like northern ireland politics to progress. we see a lack of opportunities, a lack of social development. we have seen a rise in food banks. iwant development. we have seen a rise in food banks. i want to see these issues are addressed and a move away from a tribal politics. shal

we see the diversity of opinion within unionism, particularly amongst the supporters of the ulster unionist partypolicies relating to abortion for example and liberal policies and they also have different views around protocol itself, so people made a decision coming into this election as to whether there would be a question of the protocol connected to the future of the union was a primary concern, whether it about a functioning executive in assembly being prepared for the contemporary challenges of society today and so hence we saw the benefits of fragmentation amongst moderate unionism going to either alliance party or that hard dup position. and so i would not necessarily see the result today, it is a very sick of confession pain but does not necessarily mean a surge. the contemporary challenges remain all the same.— we can speak now to dr brian feeney, author and commentator on nationalist politics in ireland. welcome, thank you forjoining us. what is a story for you? the welcome, thank you for “oining us. what is a story for you?_ what is a story for you? the story is the fact — what is a s

the ulster unionist party and nine, the sdlp and six. 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

the nationalist sdlp and the ulster unionist party seem to be pretty nervous about how things are goinge dup have won the most seats and sinn fein have come second. if, as polls have suggested, sinn fein, first at this time, that would mean michelle 0'neill, the party vice president, would be in line to be the first ever irish nationalist to be northern ireland's first minister, so whether the dup or sinn fein come out on top will really depend on which of those parties sustains the fewer losses. the dup vote in some areas is coming under pressure from more hardline unionist parties, the traditional unionist voice, and sinn fein seem to think their vote is holding up pretty steadily. we are expecting the first official results in the next hour or so, the counting will probably go on until the early hours of tomorrow morning. let's take a closer look at all the results in england so far with newsnight�*s lewis goodall. let's look at some of those results in more detail. london has been by far the best result for the labour party, and catastrophic for the conservative party. they are almo

election and the argument was put forward by dup leader sirjeffrey donaldson as well as the ulster unionist partye ambition of becoming the largest party but now we know the lay of the land following the election there really will be a period of time where this question can be put off but at the moment the dup was saying or not we enter the power—sharing arrangements and will not form a new power—sharing government with sinn fein until it gets some source of concessions on the post—brexit northern ireland fitted on stop it says it wants to see the uk government and european union come to some sort of arrangement to make changes to the protocol to get rid of what it describes as the irish sea trade border and until that time happens on the dup says it will not re—enter the executive is the question of the dup sharing power with sinn fein in the deputy first minister position won't come up for now. professor, we know that unionism _ won't come up for now. professor, we know that unionism and _ won't come up for now. professor, we know that unionism and i _ won't come up for now. professor, we know

i politicians from the ulster unionists party.— politicians from the ulster unionists party. sts party. ijust wonder whether the idea of _ unionists party. ijust wonder whether the idea of any - unionists party. i just wonder i whether the idea of any solution thatis whether the idea of any solution that is coming forward which would see goods coming from great britain to northern ireland, but staying in northern ireland, being treated differently to those which might go on to the republic of ireland, whether that is the basis of a workable solution, or whether it could create more problems. it is interesting _ could create more problems. it 3 interesting because it could create more problems if they take this action unilaterally, the uk, with sinn fein saying we are happy with this deal, we don't want any implications with the eu and the republic of ireland. the dup have gone back slightly on what they had said a week ago saying they could not live with the protocol, and now they are saying if it is tweaked to their standards, they can go back to work in stormont and they can

party at the moment. it's the third biggest and looking to take some of the unionist vote — the ulster unionist party and ly identify themselves as a unionist or a nationalist, theyjust want to get on with their lives and want to work, raise their children go on holidays. it's not a massive, massive issue. so i think that has been reflected in the growth in our party and some of the other parties as well. voters will be thinking about health care and the rising cost of living. let's get more from our correspondent emma vardy on how the parties are doing in the polls — two days before election day. the stormont assembly has always delivered a unionist majority which has given some reassurance to those people who feel very british and you want northern ireland to remain part of the uk, but we are on the verge of the uk, but we are on the verge of a potentially big seismic shift here and that's because the polls are indicating that for the very first time in northern ireland's100 year history, the elections may deliver sinn fein as the largest party, a nationalist party getting the most seats in the assembly

fein to alliance come across community alliance come across community alliance party to the ulster unionist partyg way to go stale in discount. joining me now is a former dup leader, edwin, standing in the constituency of south belfast. thank you for joining us. how is it going so far? it's going pretty well for the dp. 0pinion— it's going pretty well for the dp. opinion polls has protected many states, _ opinion polls has protected many states, but we are looking to cause most _ states, but we are looking to cause most of _ states, but we are looking to cause most of them with two or three at the most — most of them with two or three at the most. do most of them with two or three at the most. , ., ~ ., ,, the most. do you think that sinn fein, the most. do you think that sinn fein. though. — the most. do you think that sinn fein, though, going _ the most. do you think that sinn fein, though, going to _ the most. do you think that sinn fein, though, going to emerge l the most. do you think that sinnl fein, though, going to emerge as the most. do you think that sinn - fein, though, going to emerge

because i actually think the strongest criticism of the dup actually came from another unionist party, the ulster different issues, notjust the northern ireland protocol. so education, health. but the dup is so focused on the protocol, they think theyjust focused on the protocol, they think they just cannot continue focused on the protocol, they think theyjust cannot continue unless it has gone completely. i think what we will see and hear today from inside the building behind me is more of the building behind me is more of the same. people arguing basically about what will happen in the future, and i think a lot of voters who are watching this, people in northern ireland are probably feeling pretty fed up today, thinking when are we ever going to get past this and have a functioning devolved government? so things we really care about get solved. that is notjust the protocol, it is everything going on in society. things like buses, when will they get fixed? that will be the frustration of a lot of people watching at home, a feeling of resignation really. but the dup said they are doing this to se

even the ulster unionists party is a look, we need to get back to government, they are not happy withliament and they can't simply not go back to work because they are not happy with this border in the irish sea. the dup, however, they are the stumbling block. they say they simply cannot return to work unless the protocol is gone. they are also saying they are not happy with promises from borisjohnson, they are not happy with promises from boris johnson, they are are not happy with promises from borisjohnson, they are not going to take it on trust that the protocol will be significantly altered. they want action to be taken before they go back to stormont, and actually, it was interesting, the leader of the alliance party is saying that members who refuse to go to work should actually have their pay docked because, of course, the politicians here at stormont are still being paid, even though the appellant behind me isjust a parliament on paper, to be honest. —— the parliament. the things people are concerned about here in northern ireland... i knew that was going to happen! the cost o

pushing them into a sort of economic united ireland, the other party, the main party, the ulster unionist partyring article 5016, or by introducing legislation which was hinted at earlier this year which would override the protocol. that is not looking likely, the eu and as we heard the war in ukraine, they have other issues that are not necessarily going to be reflected in a negotiation to do with the protocol in the near future, but where does that leave us locally? the dup are saying they will not nominate to the executive, therefore we can't have a functioning government until the appropriate changes in the protocol, is that going to happen? are the british government going to do something to bail them out and save face? but the fact is too the other main parties are elected so the vast bulk of the electorate in northern ireland voted for parties who are in fayre of retaining the protocol, so there is no real big push in terms of the public of northern ireland, to have the protocol scrapped, right now, up at stormont we have all the main parties apart from the dup have showed up first day o

by the way, the ulster unionist party's position is that they are willing to enter the executive, justch- _ and facing into the winter. thank you very much. that _ and facing into the winter. thank you very much. that is _ and facing into the winter. thank you very much. that is mary - and facing into the winter. thank you very much. that is mary lou| you very much. that is mary lou mcdonald _ you very much. that is mary lou mcdonald in _ you very much. that is mary lou mcdonald in the _ you very much. that is mary lou mcdonald in the white _ you very much. that is mary lou mcdonald in the white and - you very much. that is mary lou i mcdonald in the white and michelle o'neill in the blackjacket, protectively the president of sinn fein and the leader of sinn fein in the northern ireland assembly and the northern ireland assembly and the nominee to be first minister when and if power—sharing is restored. the essence of that is that they come out of a meeting with borisjohnson visibly that they come out of a meeting with boris johnson visibly with the northern ireland secretary brandon l

they are in a tough battle with the ulster unionists who are the most moderate unionist party. at is driving voters towards you? _ seen. why is that? what is driving voters towards you? voters - seen. why is that? what is driving voters towards you? voters are i voters towards you? voters are concerned — voters towards you? voters are concerned about _ voters towards you? voters are concerned about issues - voters towards you? voters are concerned about issues like - voters towards you? voters are concerned about issues like the voters towards you? voters are - concerned about issues like the cost of living crisis, the state of the northern ireland health service, and what they have seen from alliance over the last two years in government is delivery on the issues that matter to people. so asjustice minister i was able to show what we can do when we are in government and i think people responded to what was a very positive message from us, constructive message, one that is about getting government up and running in northern ireland, which isn't a given, and make sure we can star

from younger people and across the board as well from the more traditional parties like the sdlp, sinn fein and the ulster unionists from the traditional orange and green boxes people have used, unionist and nationalist. what's striking is how much the constitution has been played, health care, the cost of living crisis, have paid played a much more important role. you've seen some of the nationalist parties downplay the prospect of a border poll in the future. , ., , �* prospect of a border poll in the future. , .,, �* ., , future. the dup hasn't downplayed that constitutional _ future. the dup hasn't downplayed that constitutional issue _ future. the dup hasn't downplayed that constitutional issue in - future. the dup hasn't downplayed that constitutional issue in terms i that constitutional issue in terms of the northern ireland protocol because they believe it undermines northern ireland's position within the uk, but while some voters clearly are concerned about that, it seems to at least according to the people we've spoken to today that those bread and butter issues are just as important if not more important

unionist party, the dup, came second. with counting for the 90 stormont seats continuing tonight, sinn fein are, so far, well ahead of the dup as well as the alliance and ulstert to find out the election result in your area, head to the bbc news website or bbc news app and enter your postcode. you'll also find lots of election analysis and the latest reports from our teams around the country. those are the main election stories. now back to elections 2022. welcome back. it is the final 20 minutes or so of this marathon broadcast, it is good to have you all with us, trying to tie up some of the loose and come and i am very pleased to be joined of the loose and come and i am very pleased to bejoined by of the loose and come and i am very pleased to be joined by two new guests, sonia sodha from the observer. and we also have tim stanley from the daily telegraph. lovely to have you as well. thank you forjoining us. if you just bear with me, i will be with you in just a moment, because i want to discuss with you in part what is going on in northern ireland as well as in england, wales and scotland, so let me bring in annita, my colleague i mcveigh in belfast. you'