Northern Ireland

Stormont talks to begin against backdrop of council results and intense European election campaign

THE latest talks aimed at restoring Stormont are to begin tomorrow against a backdrop of the fall-out from council elections and what is expected to be intense campaigning for the upcoming European poll.

With little over a fortnight to go before the next polling day on May 23, the main parties look set throw all their resources into what is arguably the most open European Parliament election for decades.

While Sinn Féin and the DUP are forecast to comfortably return MEPs, the third seat previously held by veteran Ulster Unionist Jim Nicholson is thought to be vulnerable.

The battle has also been given fresh impetus following a surge in support for the Alliance Party at last Thursday's local government elections.

Council elections 2019: full results

Naomi Long's party saw its number of councillors across the north dramatically increase from 32 to 53.

The Alliance leader is her party's candidate in the European election, running against sitting MEPs Diane Dodds of the DUP and Sinn Féin's Martina Anderson.

Also contesting the poll, which was called at short notice after the EU agreed to delay Brexit, are SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and former Ulster Unionist minister Danny Kennedy.

While the DUP increased its vote by one per cent and Sinn Féin's dropped marginally, Stormont's two biggest parties maintained their dominance of the north's council chambers.

However, the UUP saw its share of the vote drop by 2.1 per cent and its number of councillors reduced by 13 to 75.

The SDLP too lost vote share and saw its council seat tumble by seven to 59.

On the basis of Thursday's election Alliance now sits just half a percentage point behind the SDLP on 11.5 per cent.

The Greens and People Before Profit also enjoyed comparative successes in the local government poll.

Representatives of the British and Irish governments are expected to join political leaders in Belfast tomorrow to convene the latest round of negotiations to restore devolution.

The talks were called in the aftermath of public outcry following last month's murder of Lyra McKee in Derry.

The issues expected to dominate the discussions are the Irish language, provisions for same-sex marriage, women's reproductive rights and dealing with the legacy of the past.