Historic election result in Northern Ireland as Sinn Fein wins most seats for first time

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Sinn Fein has become the biggest party at Stormont for the first time after it gained 27 seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly election, pushing the DUP into second place.

The result in Northern Ireland today (May 7) means Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill will be entitled to become first minister, an unprecedented move for a nationalist.

The vote "ushers in a new era," she said. Earlier, Ms O'Neill described the results as a "defining moment for our politics and for our people." "Today ushers in a new era which I believe presents us all with an opportunity to reimagine relationships in this society on the basis of fairness, on the basis of equality and on the basis of social justice," she continued. READ MORE:Fears as parents of disabled twins see energy bills rocket by £840 a year Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon congratulated Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and the party’s vice president Michelle O’Neill.

She tweeted: "Many congratulations to @moneillsf and @MaryLouMcDonald on a truly historic result for Sinn Fein. "I wish Michelle and her colleagues – and all Northern Ireland’s elected representatives – the very best for what comes next and hope to see the NI government functioning again soon." As Sinn Fein became the largest party in Stormont for the first time, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle said his party could act as an "honest broker." He said: "Congratulations to all the new assembly members and to Sinn Fein for earning the right to nominate a new first minister, it is healthy for Northern Ireland that parties from either community can nominate a first minister and shows the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement working. “Unionism will still have a strong voice within powersharing and