NORTHERN IRELAND party leaders early this morning were anxiously observing how they and their parties were performing in the Westminster general election, while also maintaining a close eye on the results in Britain.
As they watched the results start to come in from Northern Ireland’s 18 constituencies, they also checked if the predictions of a British hung parliament would prove correct.
Almost 1.17 million people were entitled to vote in the election. Polling stations opened at 7am yesterday and saw a steady stream of voters until they closed at 10pm last night.
In the 2005 Westminster election the DUP won nine seats, Sinn Féin five, the SDLP three and the Ulster Unionist Party, which is now in alliance with David Cameron’s Conservatives, took one seat.
As the counts continued this morning – the first time overnight counting took place in the North – there was a particular focus on Fermanagh-South Tyrone, where Sinn Féin minister and outgoing MP Michelle Gildernew faced a strong challenge from the unionist unity candidate Rodney Connor.
The SDLP was competing to hold its three seats, particularly its most threatened seat in South Belfast, where outgoing MP Dr Alasdair McDonnell was facing opposition from both the DUP and the Tories-Ulster Unionists.
There was also a focus on North Antrim, where Ian Paisley jnr was hoping to hold on to his father’s seat. His chief adversary was Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister, who aimed to cause an upset, and failing that to win a significant vote that would set up his party for next May’s Assembly elections.
The DUP has targeted 10 seats, although UUP leader Sir Reg Empey was battling to win South Antrim for the Tories-Ulster Unionists by taking the seat from the DUP’s Rev William McCrea.
DUP leader Peter Robinson, who faced a challenge from the Tories-Ulster Unionists and from Alliance in East Belfast, was hoping for a hung parliament that would significantly increase his party’s influence at Westminster.
Mr Robinson has consistently argued that a vote for the DUP could strengthen the chances of his party maintaining the Westminster block grant to Northern Ireland. In the event of a hung parliament, either David Cameron or Gordon Brown could need the votes of DUP MPs.
He said he would “exploit” a hung parliament for the benefit of Northern Ireland. A letter he received from Gordon Brown this week promising not to interfere with the block grant this financial year demonstrated how the DUP rather than the Ulster Unionists could have a role in determining the next British government and prime minister, said DUP sources.