06/05/2016 BBC Newsline

would ignore the clues of the last few days. That's all from the BBC

News at 6. A strong showing for the DUP

who could possibly take 40 seats while Sinn Fein appears

to be holding its own. UUP predictions of gains have yet

to materialise and the SDLP may struggle to keep its place

at the Executive table. People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll

tops the poll in west Belfast, while the Green Party looks

on course to gain a seat It's bad news for the independent

John McCallister. The DUP has put in a very strong

performance in this Assembly election and may increase the number

of seats it holds. Sinn Fein are set to

retain their position While the Ulster Unionist leader

Mike Nesbitt topped the poll in his constituency,

predicted gains by his party And it's looking like a bad day

for the SDLP which may struggle Let's have a look at how the numbers

stack up this evening. With the health warning that it is

early days, a pattern is already emerging. That is have a look at

this pattern, this trend in our virtual storm chamber here in the

BBC studio. Who has got what so far? Out of the 25 seats that have been

filled. The DUP, here they come, all 13 of them. All elected so far, and

the DUP are very confident of telling this bench, getting right

down here to around the 38 or even 40 mark. They got 38 last time under

Peter Robinson. Can Arlene Foster do any better? We will wait to see.

Let's look at the other site Sinn Fein and Martin McGuinness can have

begot on? They have eight seats at this stage. Martin McGuinness, looks

on course to be Deputy First Minister but First Minister as far

as we can see is that with out of his reach. We want to get right down

to 30 seats, here, the Magic number that gives them a veto, the petition

of concern. Back to the unionist benches, and Unionist Mike Nesbitt

hoping for big increases. There is Mike himself, a virtual mike: he got

in in Strangford, but nobody else there yet. A lot of work for them to

do at this early stage. A similar situation over the for the SDLP.

Only one SDLP MLA voted so far. Very alone over there. And why is this

really matters will store them, if they are struggling and that seems

to be the turn at the moment, if they don't get at least 11 seed said

they may not even get a ministry. Bad news for them. But as I say it

is early days, early days for the Alliance party at the back of the

chamber, and how many have they got? Just the one MLA. A virtual Miami

loan in east Belfast. She has a little bit of company, Gerry

Carroll. People before profits topping the poll for west Belfast,

who would believe it. If you look at the little scores on the doors up

there, 25 seats. A long way to go but we have a pattern, a trend. We

can see roughly what is happening, and will this trend continued to and

tomorrow as the votes are counted but amok we will wait and see.

Needless at the moment that Martin McGuinness is on course to be

rebooted as Deputy First Minister and Arlene Foster the new re-elected

First Minister. Our political correspondent

Stephen Walker examines how the first day of counting has

unfolded. It's the day when our politicians

find themselves in the big picture. When the assembly reconvenes there

will be some familiar names, but also some new ones. So, the first

day of counting has produced a number of fresh faces who will sit

on the Stormont. To some observers, the election campaign was dull and

an interesting, but today, at the count centres, the full emotional

success and failure was on public display. Gerry Carroll of People

Before Profit pulled a staggering 8000 votes in west Belfast and one

of the first to be elected today both of today by the result is

testament that people are after fresh candidates. We are seeing a

rise of Bernie Sanders, in the US, the rise of Jeremy Corbyn in

Britain, and people want a change. People in west Belfast are looking

for a political alternative, and that is what today's result

represents. Another new face at Stormont will be Joanne bunting of

the DUP. She topped the poll in east Belfast. It still seems surreal. I

am still trying to dig it in, it has been a long number of weeks, we are

all very tired and all going on adrenaline, but I'm still try to

absorb it to be honest. Very thrilled. Are you excited about what

happens next quiz science --? Yes east Belfast has a new MLA at a

familiar face, paternity Stormont after a six-year bid. I am looking

forward to Monday. I'm looking forward to starting the work that we

have committed to do over the course of the campaign begins today is

about the politicians and about the election, but Monday is about hard

work of governing Northern Ireland following extra ideas and that is

what we need to focus on. -- for the next five years. All the DUP, Arlene

Foster topped the poll. A tough day for the Ulster Unionists. Mike

Nesbitt topped the polls in Strangford, but predicted how many

seats his party would win beforehand. You promised, saying

that you would open the envelope with us. Are you up for that? I may

have been ambitious. I'm still up for it but I may have been

ambitious. Is that going to be tonight, Mike or tomorrow? I think

tomorrow. I'm going to stay here for the rest of the count here today and

as soon as the result is declared here, tomorrow, I will come up to

the BBC, as long as the rugby is not on. If the DUP were feeling

disappointment, the SDLP are feeling the same was that they are battling

in upper barn and south Belfast. In foiled a space a strong challenge

from Sinn Fein but by the lenient -- party leader Colum Eastwood within a

defined mood. We are under huge pressure with Martin McGuinness

they're coming back. The deputy minister, large profile stop we will

see how that shakes out. For smaller parties can and independents, it was

a tough day. Deputy leader Clare Bayley has performed well in south

Belfast. In Southdown, independent John McAllister lost his seat where

the DUP's Jim Wells was returned. In foil, People Before Profit pulled

well. In North Antrim, UUP leader had hoped to bring in a running mate

but that looks unlikely. I am kiss about no change in North Antrim,

likely to be as we were. I am gratified yet disappointed that we

haven't grown, although we are substantially from the percentage of

last time. Deep first day of counting has produced a series of

new faces, but it is two morrow that the full picture of the election

2016 finally emerges. Sinn Fein say they are hopeful they can win more

than 30 seats. It is certainly within our ambit, we can certainly

do it. It is a PR election, and with PR elections, it is difficult to

predict in the early stage. The interesting area is west Belfast,

Derry come and we have three in on the roster already, so those are the

areas. Upper barn as well. Two candidates done well there. Let's

see how it goes full stop throughout the evening.

The votes cast in the 18 constituencies are being counted

in nine count centres across Northern Ireland.

First Belfast counts with Tara Mills.

Thank you. The four Belfast constituencies are being counted

here and I am joined by two fresh faces to the assembly, one who is

inevitably going to get there, it's fair to say. What do you think you

will bring to the assembly but amok I think I will bring, as you say, a

new voice, different conversations, change happening in Stormont. I

think for a long time we have seen a bit of a stalemate and the growth

may be of a political institution and political parties and settling

themselves. I want to start to focus minds on rebels ending people and

beware -- representing people and the majority. Gerry, what do you put

your success down to? I put it down to a couple of things was the hard

work on the ground, on the ground campaigning all year round, we stood

in three elections, over the last two years and every single team we

have fought. A commendation of hard work on the ground and also people's

out of -- aspirations for politics. People are fed up with the status

quo in Stormont and they want an alternative vision based on people,

based on standing up against the corporations tax cuts, benefit cuts,

and cuts to public services. I represent all of that and a fresh

face for politics. Is it a republican vote or is a Socialist

vote you got, is that the appeal? I am a socialist, and I think our

votes come from all across Wells Belfast. There is working class

discontent in west Belfast, fed up with experiencing high levels of

poverty, at the same time the people of being north valid leasing lots of

wealth. -- experiencing lots of wealth. Working class people and

working class discontent have helped, and we will see what happens

over the next few years. Clare, obviously do you have taken the seat

for the first time. You are online to take the seat for the first time

for the Green party. Where have you got these words from, the south

Belfast hasn't had an MLA Green party before? The same as Jerry, it

is hard work and determination. Proving your integrity with the

voters, I don't think that my voters really come from a particular party

or an area, I think my vote is really coming from people who are

tired of identity politics, people looking for something else, passage

is coming loud and clear. They aren't voting for somebody they

don't like, to keep somebody out, and they are starting to focus on

policy. They once delivery and performance and art record over the

past five years, showing what one MLA can effect change. That is where

the vote is coming from. Jerry, you are obviously a counsellor as

worthy. You won't be double jobbing. No, we will be nominating somebody.

I will be focusing on being an MLA, putting up a socialist voice in the

assembly. We have just heard that the Sinn Fein seat as lost in west

Belfast. Here at the foil arena, the count is continuing for is

Londonderry and foil. We have had a result in the last half hour, after

about nine hours of counting. The DUP Maurice Bradley has been elected

in East Londonderry. He has a lots of experience in local government, a

councillor in cold name for 19 years and served as Maher of Coleraine for

two terms. He says he will be used to the pressures of Stormont because

as a production manager of a local newspaper he is used to meeting

deadlines. In the last few months, George Robertson has been re-elected

under the DUP ticket. He will join him in Stormont. They hope to take

three seats, the DUP in East Londonderry. In the camp old

particularly well for conservatives. He and his wife arrived here

recently, in a buoyant mood. They have has lots of photos taken of

him. They went inside the hall to take a check on his progress. Martin

McGuinness has arrived in the past few moments, republican sources

don't think they will take the third seat in foil, but again that caveat,

it is early days yet. Here in Ballymena, the Ulster count is

coming down to a fascinating count for the final. Patsy McGlone of the

SDLP, but the finals to seats of the constituency are a battle between

Ian McRae and DUP. His father was a MLA for 13 years this could be an

end to his dynasty. Similar to an jungle we have nobody elected yet,

Mervyn Storey, and the TUV are almost certain to be in. A battle

between Robin is one of the UUP and Philip Logan and the DUP. A

fascinating battle to come here in Ballymena. In Armagh here, we have

three elected. The DUP stop Sinn Fein got Megan, 11 votes over the

greater. There other candidate five votes over the crater. They are sure

to be elected. Danny Kennedy will also be in the man then really it is

down to who will take the last seat, the SDLP seat. At the moment Justin

McNulty is in pole position to take that seat for his party. In upper

barn we have another elected just in the past few moments, UUP are

predicting they will hold two with Jo-Anne Dobson, and to Sinn Fein

candidates to. They will fight for the last two seats. Difficult

accounts to be done here, seven more stages perhaps before we know how

that plays out. And I'm in banger where the straightforward in North

Down constituencies are being counted. For elected, two in each

constituency. The Strangford candidates are very high profile,

three DUP ministers standing here, thus the Ulster Unionist leader Mike

Nesbitt, who said he was stunned to have topped the poll here ahead of

somebody having the honour in the past. Ulster Unionists Philip Smith

looks to be in danger. There is a changing situation in the 15 years

and for an MLA seat for Joe Boyle. He is not ruling out winning this

time. Kenny Armstrong seems strong. She bids for Kieren McCarthy's seat.

The status quo regards numbers. A sterling performance, one and a half

times the crater, very emotional about that result. Gordon Dunn came

in after that. There's one thing uniting all the candidates here in

Lisburn and it's this, this count is taking far too long for their

liking. Just one MLA elected in Southdown, Jim Wells as we heard,

and is just one in Lagan Valley, Paul given who topped the poll for

the DUP, taking the crown. Lagan Valley constituency, the DUP

stronghold, with four MLAs, but the party and the Ulster Unionists are

still both saying that the DUP could reduce their seat quota here with

just three, with potentially Jonathan Craig just losing out,

meaning Paul given, Edwin Poots, and another. That will become clearer in

the hours ahead. We have had a Unionist casualties in Southdown,

the independent John McAllister 's. Harold McCabe will take that. Good

use for the Ulster Unionists in Southdown. They are hopeful of two

seats in Lagan Valley. That would be good progress for the Ulster

Unionists where they have high hopes for whistle-blower and councillor

Jenny Palmer who of course left the DUP amid acrimony and joined the

UUP. Here at Valley leisure Centre in News on Abbey, votes are counted

for the South Antrim constituency and for the DUP Paul Gervin and Pam

Cameron just in the last few moments elected. A surprising name amongst

the several eliminations in this constituency, the UUP's Adriaan

Cochrane Watson. He had been co-opted into the assembling after

Danny can head become an MP. -- MLA. There is no sign here of the

hoped-for UUP resurgence in South Antrim. Perhaps why Nesbitt opened

the letter get. Also counted here votes for the Eads Antrim

constituency. The UUP Maureen Murrell levitated here. All taking a

bit longer to work at the elected next. One person who won't be

elected, Sammy Wilson, an MP, can't be an MLA as well. Here in Armagh

there are jubilant scenes earlier as Arlene Foster topped the poll. No

surprise there but surge in the support in the DUP insured Lord

Morrow finished just over 100 votes short on the first stage. He was

elected then on stage two. On the nationalist side the SDLP targeted

this seat, hoping to regain the seat lost five years ago. But does not

seem to have happened. Sinn Fein are on course to retain three seats

although currently newcomer John Fila is a thousand votes ahead, of

Phil Flannigan. We had to have a full recount of the first stage of

the 36 ballots were unaccounted for, but the SDLP MLA outgoing MLA Daniel

McCrossan should retain his seat despite splits in the local party

which meant to councillors stood against him, an independent social

Democrats, but we still wait for the first MLA to be deemed elected in

west to roll. Our Political Editor Mark Devenport

is keeping a close eye on the gains What's grabbed your

attention so far? Let's take a look at the share of

the vote of the established parties because there was a lot of the talk

of the run-up to the election to who the biggest party would be, DUP or

Sinn Fein. The first reference their shows DUP in terms of votes across

Northern Ireland is holding a fairly clear lead over Sinn Fein. Different

from a couple of recent elections, council elections and European

elections, Sinn Fein out polling the DUP, but in this instance the DUP

has held the top spot. Let's see how it compares with 2011, the loss is

only election and you find that in fact none of the established parties

have actually put on votes. The DUP has dropped votes, Sinn Fein has

dropped more votes than any and that might reflect the growth of some

parties in their backyard, like people before profits, and

independents. A number of DUP candidates were clinging on by

narrow margins are beginning to hurt more. Do two main parties seem to

hold their own in terms of seats but what are your thoughts on the

performance of the SDLP and Ulster Unionists customer the leaders of

those parties will be disappointed, and it doesn't look like the UUP

have made any particular gains. This may be robs them of a bit of

momentum that they have inherited from previous elections. The big

question is how much they will be SDLP lose? They have los Fearghal

McKinney, and perhaps another losses in foil and Londonderry. We were

here questions of Rosie McCauley being eliminated in west Belfast.

Good news for Alex Attwood, and it may be that he and Dolores Kelly

will be duking it out for transfers at the end of their councils. That

makes a difference as to whether they will actually qualified to get

into the Executive. We don't know the precise details, but there will

probably be about 11 MLAs to get into a ministerial seat. People may

turn them down on principle. An interesting story with the others,

People Before Profit and the Greens. Even loyalty corner in the chamber

as it is known will still be there, but with a different cast. Jim

Allister will continue to be a one-man band, but from the left, the

Executive will now face quite severe scrutiny from the likes of Eamon

McCann, People Before Profit's Jerry Carroll, and the Green party

doubling in size. In other news... In other news a 28-year-old man

who was shot four times this morning The police say while they're

investigating a number of lines of enquiry they're keeping an open

mind as to a motive Ten weeks after the Republic's

general election, a new It's a minority government

with the Fine Gael leader He was re-elected to the post this

afternoon following a deal with the second largest party

Fianna Fail, and independent TDs. Our Dublin correspondent

Shane Harrison joins me. it's been quite a journey. It has,

and there was drama up to the very end. He needed 58 votes Fianna Fail

the main opposition party abstaining. He did it with just 59,

but makes history as the first in a gale Taoiseach to resume office

after a general election, albeit on his fourth attempt and 70 days after

that poll. Fianna Fail say they will support the Dorothy Finlay gale or

facilitated as they say, by... Sinn Fein accused Fianna Fail of reneging

on their promise to not put and Kenny back into the office. They

replied that they tried to get another teacher again, but the

numbers went there. Numbers just announced in the past few minutes.

Here's hoping it will last through the weekend.

With the forecast, here's Angie Phillips.

It has been a finance to the weekend it will get even more warm as we had

sued the start of next week but we have a transition to go through

before we get there, in the form of some wet weather, through tomorrow

into tomorrow night, then turning drive and warmer on Sunday

eventually rotting up as well. A bright evening out there this

evening. Some lovely sunsets and it will stay dry through the course of

the night mostly. Cloud will start to increase in the east,

temperatures dipping not much lower than 5 degrees in the countryside.

Later tonight we will see some showers approaching the south-east,

part of a complex set of front moving up through the day tomorrow.

It will be wet at times, and also quite breezy. It will be a messy

Peter tomorrow morning, most people in this south will see the rain

swinging out to the west. Though some brightness for the east. Once

the rain set into the Western it won't go too far throughout the

course of the day, probably the wettest weather here. Brightness in

the north-east, temperatures perhaps higher than what we can see here,

but generally 12 or 13 degrees. Sunbury rain perhaps developing to

tomorrow night, perhaps quite muddy, and staying quite humid into Sunday

as well. Still a risk of one or two showers on the south-easterly

breeze, very isolated however, and dry and wet weather generally. Cloud

thins out to give us brightness. Temperatures of 18 and 19 degrees,

that rise continuing into next week, into the low 20s, highest in the

west and more in the way of sunshine. Goodness, Angie, I like

it!