Cobain survives in North Belfast

[Sammy Morse]

Raymond McCord's votes have just been distributed in North Belfast.

Cobain (UUP) now stands at 3415 (+336)
Humphrey (DUP) 3287 (+163)

Looks like Fred is going to hold on.

Other runners still in the race:

Convery (SDLP) 2485 (+218)
Maginness (SDLP) 3099 (+293)
McCausland (DUP) 3764 (+204)

Only Convery’s votes are left to transfer. They’ll put Maginness over the quota and the small number that transfer on will go to Cobain. He’s done it.

************************. Late night drama.

This might make the difference for the last Ministerial position between the UUP and SDLP.

Fred Cobain says, “Thank you STV for pimping my vote.”

[KeithM]

Raymond McCord's votes have just been distributed in North Belfast.

Cobain (UUP) now stands at 3415 (+336)
Humphrey (DUP) 3287 (+163)

Looks like Fred is going to hold on.

Other runners still in the race:

Convery (SDLP) 2485 (+218)
Maginness (SDLP) 3099 (+293)
McCausland (DUP) 3764 (+204)

Only Convery’s votes are left to transfer. They’ll put Maginness over the quota and the small number that transfer on will go to Cobain. He’s done it.

************************. Late night drama.

This might make the difference for the last Ministerial position between the UUP and SDLP.

Fred Cobain says, “Thank you STV for pimping my vote.”

I'm not sure it's all over for the SDLP yet. REgretably it looks like O'Loan will hang on in North Antrim. It could well be a tie for the numbers of MLAs between the SDLP and the UUP, and that would mean two ministries for the UUP as they had the higher first preference vote.

If the writing is on the wall for Durkan, then the UUP is definatly running on Empey

[padraig]

Alban Maginness SDLP Elected

[The Analyser]

Raymond McCord's votes have just been distributed in North Belfast.

Cobain (UUP) now stands at 3415 (+336)
Humphrey (DUP) 3287 (+163)

Looks like Fred is going to hold on.

Other runners still in the race:

Convery (SDLP) 2485 (+218)
Maginness (SDLP) 3099 (+293)
McCausland (DUP) 3764 (+204)

Only Convery’s votes are left to transfer. They’ll put Maginness over the quota and the small number that transfer on will go to Cobain. He’s done it.

************************. Late night drama.

This might make the difference for the last Ministerial position between the UUP and SDLP.

Fred Cobain says, “Thank you STV for pimping my vote.”

I'm not sure it's all over for the SDLP yet. REgretably it looks like O'Loan will hang on in North Antrim. It could well be a tie for the numbers of MLAs between the SDLP and the UUP, and that would mean two ministries for the UUP as they had the higher first preference vote.

If the writing is on the wall for Durkan, then the UUP is definatly running on Empey

Reg is finished I think. Durkan isn't. Durkan has political skills that Reg never had. The problem with both parties is that neither groomed a new generation to take over, so both are aging badly. All the senior level guys in both parties really retired at the same time, and were replaced by people who had never been given a chance to grow politically.

If anyone is to blame for the SDLP's plight it is Hume. He was notorious for his control-freakery. He snuffed out talent that might challenge him. Even Mallon was marginalised. By the time Hume finally quit the party was an aging dinosaur led largely by senior citizens. Hume should have quit Westminster years earlier and given Durkan a chance to grow in experience years earlier.

[Ireland2007]

I'm not sure it's all over for the SDLP yet. REgretably it looks like O'Loan will hang on in North Antrim. It could well be a tie for the numbers of MLAs between the SDLP and the UUP, and that would mean two ministries for the UUP as they had the higher first preference vote.

SDLP, 105,064
UUP, 103,145

Poor auld Keith is even getting the predictions wrong after the votes hve been counted.

[The Analyser]

I'm not sure it's all over for the SDLP yet. REgretably it looks like O'Loan will hang on in North Antrim. It could well be a tie for the numbers of MLAs between the SDLP and the UUP, and that would mean two ministries for the UUP as they had the higher first preference vote.

SDLP, 105,064
UUP, 103,145

Poor auld Keith is even getting the predictions wrong after the votes hve been counted.

And of course don't forget Keith's classic from last night:

I wouldn't be surprised if Bob McCartney and co. ended up with 4 or 5 seats.

eh . . . no. 8)