However, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said that his party had polled strongly but conceded unionism needed to learn lessons from the election. At the end of the count Sinn Féin emerged with 144 seats, an increase of 39 from the last council election in 2019. The party has also replicated its result in the Assembly election last year when it became the largest party at Stormont. Sinn Féin will be the largest party in six local government areas, including Belfast, while the DUP will have the largest representation in five councils. He said: “I made it quite clear that the party elected me, and I am the party leader, and I am going absolutely nowhere.

Source: The Herald May 21, 2023 08:21 UTC