Sinn Fein party makes gains on Democrats in Ireland election

Mr Storey, one of three DUP candidates vying for election in the constituency, admitted yesterday afternoon it would be huge challenge for the party to hold on to its third seat this time around.

Turnout in the Northern Ireland Assembly election has hit its highest level since the Good Friday peace agreement in 1998.

The last powersharing coalition executive led by the two largest parties at Stormont – the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein – collapsed in January, only eight months after last May’s election.

But the reduction in the DUP’s share of the vote – and the big rise in the Sinn Fein share – puts Foster further on the defensive, and gives Sinn Fein no incentive to do a deal with her.

“I’d be more pessimistic than optimistic that the DUP and Sinn Fein can get back in a government together quickly”, Jonathan Tonge, a Northern Ireland politics expert at Liverpool University, told the AFP news agency. The DUP has said it will not concede on either point. These included the DUP’s stance on Brexit and gay marriage; cuts to Irish language funding and – perhaps most important of all – Martin McGuinness’ failing health.

Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Fein’s northern leader, said: “I think it’s a brilliant day for equality, I think it’s a great day for democracy”.

Sinn Fein wanted her to step aside during an investigation and say they will not enter government if the DUP nominates her to become first minister again, or deputy first minister if the DUP finishes second.

Sinn Féin is on course to become the largest party in nationalism in the next Assembly if the power-sharing institutions can be resurrected.

The parties have three weeks to form a government to avoid Northern Ireland’s devolved power returning to the UK Parliament at Westminster for the first time in a decade.

Indicating that he will remain in position until his successor is found, he said his real regret was that Northern Ireland’s society appeared to have emerged from the election more polarised.

There are also concerns about damaging cross-border trade.

Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he will seek an agreement in Brexit talks for Northern Ireland rejoining the European Union, if the voters seek that option in future.

At best, this means weeks or months of uncertainty – and possibly a return to some form of direct rule from London – just as the United Kingdom triggers the Brexit process.