is a major question. the dup pulled out of power sharing in february in opposition to the protocol, and they have said they will not go back into power without amendments to that protocol, and unionists would find it difficult to share power with sinn fein, so it could be a major step in that direction, but sinn fein has been playing that down in this campaign, saying that it is about local issues, about the cost of living, energy prices, and this is not the time to determine northern ireland s constitutional position, but certainly major issues at play, a complicated system, proportional representation means it takes a while to work out how the seats are shared amongst the parties, and one thing to look out for, turnout will be down in five years ago, estimates last night were that it was around 54% before the polls closed. it may be a bit up from that, but below the 65% of
2017, which may favour the cross community parties, we may see them doing better, an indication of the old divide is being thrown off by some of the younger electorate here in northern ireland, as people focus on other issues, not determined by the old issues of whether northern ireland is part of the union or part of a united ireland. but it is not a question that people are looking out for, potentially taking a step towards, if sinn fein do come out on top. what is the mood? you outlined very comprehensively the issue of power sharing, because when i listened and watched the debate with the party leaders in northern ireland earlier in the week, jeffrey donaldson, the dup, would not be committed to saying he would go back into unless and the northern ireland protocol that guides the trading arrangements as part of the brexit
no, let s ust do last night. you have tot no, let sjust do last night. you have got to no, let sjust do last night. you have got to put no, let sjust do last night. you have got to put it no, let sjust do last night. you have got to put it in no, let sjust do last night. you have got to put it in context, and that is have got to put it in context, and that is not have got to put it in context, and that is not there for the headline that is not there for the headline that we that is not there for the headline that we have done terribly badly across that we have done terribly badly across the country. in hartlepool, we would across the country. in hartlepool, we would not have assumed that we would we would not have assumed that we would have we would not have assumed that we would have had a conservative mp, and last would have had a conservative mp, and last night, despite the fact of 12 years and last night, despite the fact of 12 years in and last night, d
whether there is a general dissatisfaction with the old parties, the old ways of politics in northern ireland. we have seen the government essentially collapsed again in the last few months, in action on a number of core issues that many people think need to be addressed, the state of the health service in northern ireland is a major priority that a lot of people feel is not getting the attention and progress it deserves because of these other political and constitutional questions. there is a certain level of dissatisfaction with both the major parties. that is why we may see some support for the cross community under other political and constitutional questions. there is a certain level of dissatisfaction with both the major parties. that is why we may see some support for the cross community under the parties. it may be that both the big parties lose seats, the question could be which one loses more. dan seats, the question could be which one loses more. seats, the question could b
earlier in a red wall, former red wall seat, saying they are still not doing well enough in red all areas question of i doing well enough in red all areas tuestion 0’ ~ . , doing well enough in red all areas question o question of i think that is true. labour question of i think that is true. labour still question of i think that is true. labour still has question of i think that is true. labour still has a question of i think that is true. labour still has a big question of i think that is true. labour still has a big task - question of i think that is true. labour still has a big task to i question of i think that is true. l labour still has a big task to do, question of i think that is true. i labour still has a big task to do, i don t think anybody you spoke to in the labour party would disagree with that. if you look at opinion polls, the majority of voters we speak to say they don t think labour is ready for government. the majority of voters we speak to don t think ke