Northern Ireland

Once dominant UUP and SDLP face possibility of missing out on executive seats

The first executive was dominated by the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP. Picture by John Harrison
The first executive was dominated by the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP. Picture by John Harrison The first executive was dominated by the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP. Picture by John Harrison

THE TWO parties that dominated the executive in the immediate aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement were last night in danger of being excluded from the next Stormont administration.

Under the d'Hondt system, which is based on a mathematical formula reflecting party strength in the assembly, the threshold for a place at the next executive table is likely to be nine seats.

Forecasts last night suggested both the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP would struggle to secure the desired number of seats that would entitle them to nominate a minister.

In the first executive established in July 1998, the Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble held the first minister's post alongside three of his party colleagues, while deputy first minister Seamus Mallon was joined around the table at Stormont Castle by three fellow SDLP representatives.

The rules dictate that the Northern Ireland Executive must be a coalition government of at least two parties, representing unionists and nationalists.

After the largest party nominates the first minister and the largest party in the second largest community nominates the deputy first minister, with the following nine ministers then chosen using d'Hondt.

Political analyst Nicholas Whyte yesterday raised the possibility that a slump in support for the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists would leave them outside the executive.

"It looks like the Ulster Unionists and SDLP may be in danger of sinking too low to actually qualify for a seat on the executive if there's one formed," he told the BBC.

"Because by my calculations they would need to have at least have nine seats to get there at the minute."

Brian Feeney, columnist with The Irish News, agreed that the two once-electorally dominant parties were unlikely to meet the necessary threshold, but he believes the parties' interests would be best served in opposition.

"Even if in the end they have enough seats for an executive place both UUP and SDLP should go into opposition," he said last night.

"It’s clear Sinn Féin and the DUP would not treat them as equals at the executive table – having ministerial positions didn’t help at all in the election."

"Going into opposition would allow them to carve out independent positions which slightly unnerved Sinn Féin and DUP in 2016."

Mr Feeney said the result of Thursday's election should signal some self-reflection for both parties.

"It also gives both parties a chance for a serious rethink," he said.

"A cross community opposition is the right decision now."