Assembly elections Northern Ireland

With the 2022 Assembly elections taking place today, we wanted to dig into key environmental problems in Northern Ireland, where parties stand on them, ...

As it stands, there’s something called the Northern Ireland environmental agency. Between 1990 and 2019, the United Kingdom as a whole reduced its emissions by 44 per cent. If that’s the case, there’s a governance vacuum that will open up in Northern Ireland that could go on for weeks, months or longer – and that would mean a total standstill for any new policy or legislation to address the climate and biodiversity emergencies. The second big threat he outlined was that of extractive industries. The only way to ensure then that a dedicated environmental agency can operate to the best of its ability is to make sure it’s independent, which is what organisations like Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland are calling for. Northern Ireland has become a hot spot for companies looking to extract minerals like gold and there’s also the issue of unauthorised quarrying, which has a negative impact on both local areas and the communities that live in them.

Before the polls were scheduled to close at 10pm, a pilot digital programme on voter turnout by the electoral office showed that by 9pm, the west Belfast ...

Jim Allister, leader of the TUV, voted early in the morning at Kells and Connor primary school in Co Antrim. Colum Eastwood, leader of the nationalist SDLP, voted at the Model primary school in his home city of Derry accompanied by his wife, Rachael, and his children. Unionist rival, Doug Beattie, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, voted at Seagoe primary school in Portadown, Co Armagh. The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland confirmed that by 9pm, turnout was sitting at an indicative 54 per cent based on returns from 96 per cent of polling stations. Voting in the Assembly elections was described as “busy” on Thursday, in a poll that could lead to a seismic shift in how the North is governed. The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland confirmed that by 5.45pm, turnout was sitting at an indicative 31 per cent.

The process will elect 90 MLAs to the devolved Stormont Assembly, with 239 candidates running.

The official final turnout figure will not be known until Friday morning. A unionist party has always been the biggest in the Assembly, and previously the Stormont Parliament, since the formation of the state in 1921. The DUP and Sinn Fein are vying for the top spot in the election, which comes with the entitlement to nominate the next first minister. Jim Allister, leader of the TUV, voted early in the morning at Kells and Connor primary school in Co Antrim. Colum Eastwood, leader of the SDLP, voted at the Model primary school in his home city of Derry accompanied by his wife, Rachael, and his children. Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you

An indicative turn out of 31 per cent was reported at 5pm by the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland.

While the office of the First and Deputy First Minister is an equal one with joint power, the allocation of the titles is regarded as symbolically important. A unionist party has always been the biggest in the Assembly since the formation of Northern Ireland in 1921. Jim Allister, leader of the TUV, voted early in the morning at Kells and Connor primary school in Co Antrim. The DUP and Sinn Féin are vying for the top spot in the election, which comes with the entitlement to nominate the next first minister. Colum Eastwood, leader of the nationalist SDLP, voted at the Model primary school in Derry accompanied by his wife, Rachael, and his children. Unionist rival, Doug Beattie, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, voted at Seagoe primary school in Portadown, Co Armagh.

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA. Voting has officially opened in Northern Ireland as political leaders have cast their ballots in the Assembly election.

I encourage everyone to get out there and cast their vote. He said: “It’s polling day, I don’t think anybody really knows the outcome of this. Things change throughout the day. We are very confident we will do well.” “The people of Northern Ireland are going to the polls today. A unionist party has always been the biggest in the Assembly, and previously the Stormont Parliament, since the formation of the state in 1921.

Voting is under way to elect 90 MLAs to Stormont.

I encourage everyone to get out there and cast their vote. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. “The people of Northern Ireland are going to the polls today. A unionist party has always been the biggest in the Assembly, and previously the Stormont Parliament, since the formation of the state in 1921. The DUP and Sinn Fein are vying for the top spot in the election, which comes with the entitlement to nominate the next first minister. Jim Allister, leader of the TUV, voted early in the morning at Kells and Connor primary school in Co Antrim.