Sinn Fein has become the largest party in local government - a seismic shift in Northern Irish politics and a blow to the DUP.
Nationalists turned out in force, endorsing Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O'Neill's claim on the office of first minister, from which she's been blocked by theThe turnout in Unionist constituencies was lower, as usual, despite DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP urging voters to strengthen his hand in demands for change to post-Brexit trading arrangements.
The DUP says the Windsor Framework - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's new trade deal with the EU - does not safeguardLosing its lead over Sinn Fein for the second time in 13 months is a blow to the DUP, but there's no guarantee this result will change its stance on power-sharing. It's more a case of Sinn Fein gaining than the DUP losing - the Unionist party held on in most places, despite many predicting a meltdown for them in these council elections.
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