Sinn Fein emerges as biggest party in Northern Ireland – DUP claims most seats BELFAST TELEGRAPH.

Posted By: May 25, 2014

 May 24, 2014

Sinn Fein has emerged as the biggest party in Northern Ireland following the local government elections – but the DUP has claimed the greater number of council seats. The republican party claimed 24.1% of all first preference votes with the DUP on 23.1%. Both parties, however, saw their share of the vote slip with the DUP down by 4.1% and Sinn Fein marginally down by 0.7%. Of the four main parties only the Ulster Unionists saw an increase in its overall share, up 0.9%. The SDLP slipped from 15% to 13.5%. The Alliance Party share of the vote was also down – by less than 1% and is on around 6%. NI21, has had one councillor elected despite controversy that has overshadowed the party after up to nine women made allegations of inappropriate sexual activity against party leader Basil McCrea.