Everything Ulster - Election 2005

I'm sure cheers will be going up from DUP supporters all over Northern Ireland following David Trimble's announcement today that he was resigning from he Ulster Unionist Party. Trimble blamed republicans for the state of his party following yesterday's disastrous election results.

Announcing his resignation, Trimble said "I am pleased to have had the privilege of leading what I regard as the best and most democratic political grouping in Ulster."

Read more!

Alasdair McDonnell has come through the middle of the two Unionist candidates to top the poll in South Belfast with 10,339 votes (32.3%). Spratt came second on 9,104 (28%) and McGimpsey 3rd on 7263 (23%).

Read more!

WEST Belfast was the first constituency to elect an MP in the 2005 election from Northern Ireland. Gerry Adams was elected with 24,000 votes and 70% of the vote (3,000 votes down on 2001 but a 4% increase).

Read more!

WOKE this morning to news that Tony Blair's Labour party had won the election (no surprise there) but with a much reduced majority (no big shock there either).

He got a ticking off for the way he handled the Iraq war and his majority (with only 9 mainland seats left to declare) the BBC think it'll be around the 66 mark predicted by the exit polls yesterday - so my bet for a 61-80 majority is still on!! Happy days.

Read more!

The first seat to declare has gone to Labour. The seat was a safe Labour seat that they were expeced to win.

More interestingly, the exit poll conducted by MORI has suggested Labour will end up with a majority of 66 seats. Why's this more interesting? Well if it comes true my £2 stake at BetFair will turn me £9.60 profit (money's on a majority of between 61 and 80)

That said, these exit polls tend to vary slightly from the actual result so it's not guaranteed, I'll have to keep my fingers crossed.