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O what a night

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Ken Reid
News
The Four Seasons had it right with their hit ....O What a Night.

And as the results sink in the future looks bleak for DUP leader Peter Robinson and his Ulster unionist counterpart Sir Reg Empey, not to mention TUV leader Jim Allister.

Naomi Long's sensational victory in East Belfast now puts the focus on Peter Robinson's position.

He blamed the recent controversy surrounding his wife and his business dealings plus a split Unionist vote for his defeat.

Interestingly both William McCrea and Jim Shannon refused to back their leader after the result saying the situation would be assessed later.

But it is hard to see how he can continue as party leader after this reversal. Indeed his position as First Minister will also be scrutinised.

Already there is speculation over what will happen.

Some DUPers believe Arlene Foster is the natural successor as First minister but there has been no obvious candidate as party leader in recent months.

Some favour Nigel Dodds. There will be some hard thinking in the Dundela headquarters later in the day.

The South Antrim result was a disaster for Sir Reg Empey.

David McNarry has already said Empey is finished as leader.

In the background others are whispering the same thing. Expect the voices to grow louder during the day.

Jim Allister had a night he will want to forget. Not only was he hammered in North Antrim but TUV candidates flopped across the constituencies.

The DUP will be relieved it is going back with eight seats, albeit with reduced majorities.

The night was a triumph for Naomi Long and the Alliance party. Anna Lo's vote in South Belfast another source of comfort.

The SDLP retained all three of their seats and generally performed quite well.

Sinn Fein played on its obvious strengths but now have a sweat over Fermanagh South Tyrone.

Another recount and more controversy ahead.

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At 11:15 on 07 May 2010, Máirtín Ó Catháin wrote:
Have to say I'm disappointed in UTV's choice of Deirdre Heenan as a pundit. She is a sociologist and not in any way a political scientist.
At 09:26 on 07 May 2010, T J McClean wrote:
'The future looks bleak for DUP leader Peter Robinson and his Ulster unionist counterpart Sir Reg Empey, not to mention TUV leader Jim Allister.' All three should now 'leave the building'. They are yesterday's men. Their remaining presence will only damage the cause of unionism even further. Time for unionists to have a bit of sense and take stock. Time to cut out the in-fighting and squabbling. 'A house divided against itself cannot stand'. Time to try and work together for a change, against the Sinn Fein, SDLP nationalist band-wagon. Unionists should give silly 'ego trip' people like Jim Allister a wide birth and concentrate on the things they have in common rather than the personalities and pride that divides. The TUV didn't seem to care that Sinn Fein would do well out of unionist division. Mr Allister's paramount concern in these elections was to pursue a personal vendetta against the DUP. He could only look back in anger. Voters gave him their clear response. The UUP should ask themselves the question are they more concerned with party survival and personal pride or unionist unity? They were too smug and self-satisfied with their Conservative alliance to notice any personal weakness. Overall the DUP have done reasonably well despite struggling to stand against the never-ending the bad publicity and widespread public suspicion surrounding the Robinson saga double-jobbing and expenses. A lot of DUP support stayed at home or voted Alliance. Time for a new DUP leader should be considered. Would Arlene Foster be a popular choice? Ms Long certainly made gains out of disillusionment with Peter Robinson but she has done well as Belfast Mayor and she is a tireless constituency worker. She actually deserves her victory in her own right and has developed solid cross community support. The SDLP vote has held firm. Maybe nationalists are beginning to tire a little of the old repetitive Sinn Fein rhetoric. The South Down voters certainly gave Mrs Ruane with her old-guard republican stance (‘my way or the high-way’) the heave-ho. Perhaps this was also a warning shot across Sinn Fein's bows as regards their obsessive desire to ditch academic selection. Oh and well done also to Lady Sylvia you are nobody’s lackey!
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