bees-and-mice-and-frogs-and: mapsontheweb: Northern Ireland assembly election results, 2022. This ma
bees-and-mice-and-frogs-and: mapsontheweb: Northern Ireland assembly election results, 2022. This marks the first time that a nationalist party has won the most seats. It’s worth, very much, pointing out that most people within NI are not surprised by this result and don’t expect an immediate push for reunification.This is not reflective of any real change of feeling on the border question overall. What has happened is Unionist parties are losing voters to non-sectarian parties like Alliance. It is reflective of a softening of vitriol among unionists, and a desire for governance that is not single issue. Also the DUP is shite.If you look at the figures, republican parties have also lost voters to this non-sectarian push (though not nearly as much.) They’re down on where they were at the last assembly election. Sinn Féin did better than in 2017, but overall the republican voteshare is lower.A border poll will not (or at least should not) be called until it can be ascertained that republicans will win. This is certainly closer than it was, there is a slow tide towards it. But we’re not there yet.Is this an important step in getting the 6 counties returned? Absolutely. The softening of unionists is nothing to be understated. It reflects a people who are finally realising Westminster wouldn’t deign to piss on them if they were on fire. However, if you think we’ll be done by 2024 you’re an eejit. -- source link