Sinn Fein? They have gone away, you know.

[Hound]

I think another reason is that local elections are usually fertile for independents, and in the current climate even more so. The question would be, in a GE where you will have less candidates, and probably less viable independents, will SF pick up a lot of those votes? I suspect if it happened tomorrow, they might.

Yip, maybe. Although I think Labour are a completely different case to the Greens and will bounce back to 12-15% for the GC (by getting some of that Independent vote back).
The task for SF is to get more viable candidates. Poaching some discontented Labourites might be a good idea.

[AZOffaly]

I expect SF to court Labour Candidates, and Labour voters even more now. I don't think Labour can bounce back without major, major changes in direction in government. Gilmore will have to go. Will Joan Burton be the leader? Pat Rabbitte (whom I have good time for), Ruari Quinn and Howling mad will also probably have to be sacrificed unless there is a massive row back on things like Water Charges, and there's a giveaway budget. I can't see how that can possibly happen, so I think Labour might be in for a scutching.

[foxcommander]

I expect SF to court Labour Candidates, and Labour voters even more now. I don't think Labour can bounce back without major, major changes in direction in government. Gilmore will have to go. Will Joan Burton be the leader? Pat Rabbitte (whom I have good time for), Ruari Quinn and Howling mad will also probably have to be sacrificed unless there is a massive row back on things like Water Charges, and there's a giveaway budget. I can't see how that can possibly happen, so I think Labour might be in for a scutching.

Labour have to get rid of Rabbitte, quinn and Gilmore from their front benches - retire them like FG did with Fitzgerald to be "wise old men" to refer back to when needed. Otherwise they will get wiped in the next election without a new look. Burton would be an early favourite though.

[Feckitt]

All-Ireland Euro Election Results May 2014

Sinn Fein 483,113 - (21.2%)
Fianna Fail 369,545 - (16.2%)
Fine Gael 369,120 - (16.2%)
Independents 328,766 - (14.4%)
DUP 131,163 - (5.7%)
Green Party 92,056 - (4.0%)
Labour 88,229 - (3.9%)
Ulster Unionists 83,438 (3.7%)
SDLP 81,594 (3.6%)
TUV 75,806 (3.3%)
Alliance Party NI 44,432 (1.9%)
Socialist Party 29,953 (1.3%)
UKIP 24,584 (1.1%)
DDI 24,093 (1.1%)
PBP 23,875 (1.0%)
Catholic Dems 13,569 (0.6%)
NI21 10,553 (0.5%)
Fis Nua 4,610 (0.2%)
Conservatives 4,144 (0.2%)

[Farrandeelin]

Jaysus...that's some amount of parties on a small island like ours!

[Feckitt]

Jaysus...that's some amount of parties on a small island like ours!

Only two of them stood in all 4 constituencies.  The Green Party is the other one.

[armaghniac]

Jaysus...that's some amount of parties on a small island like ours!

Great people for parties, we are.

[Tony Baloney]

I'd prefer that lost displayed in 3 columns - Usuns, Themmuns and Other.

[Applesisapples]

Nally/Glens how'd SF get the majority of first prefs but not translate them into seats? Serious question, I think it is perhaps down to lack of SDLP transfers? If they have a job to do within nationalism. As do the stoops. Unionism have galvanised their vote particularly the young vote and middle class. Middle class nationalist seem content to lie back and think of Britain. SF and the SDLP are now too accepting of all things British, City of Culture for example and this conveys an acceptance of the union to voters. There is still no consensus on unity amongst nationalist parties and this is disgraceful. Particularly in light of the UUP/DUP pact which will be undoubtedly be agreed between Peter and His poodle, as they both fall over themselves to become Cameron's poodles. Thoughts?

The above is not unrelated to my post about lack of ynity in nationalism in another thread. As Glens and Nally on the SF side are unwilling or unable to give an answer can anyone from the SDLP?

[glens abu]

Nally/Glens how'd SF get the majority of first prefs but not translate them into seats? Serious question, I think it is perhaps down to lack of SDLP transfers? If they have a job to do within nationalism. As do the stoops. Unionism have galvanised their vote particularly the young vote and middle class. Middle class nationalist seem content to lie back and think of Britain. SF and the SDLP are now too accepting of all things British, City of Culture for example and this conveys an acceptance of the union to voters. There is still no consensus on unity amongst nationalist parties and this is disgraceful. Particularly in light of the UUP/DUP pact which will be undoubtedly be agreed between Peter and His poodle, as they both fall over themselves to become Cameron's poodles. Thoughts?

The above is not unrelated to my post about lack of ynity in nationalism in another thread. As Glens and Nally on the SF side are unwilling or unable to give an answer can anyone from the SDLP?

ffs Apples do you think the world revolves around you.I am only back after working on election for 4 days so never seen your post.Yes SF still have a problem getting transfers from other parties so therefore big 1st preference doesn't always mean we can get a seat.If you take Newtownabbey for example in Glengormley we had about 1.4 qoutas but dont get tranfers so can only get the one elected. We always ask on the door for to be considered for 2nd or 3rd preference and I do believe that is happening but very slowly. 

[Applesisapples]

Nally/Glens how'd SF get the majority of first prefs but not translate them into seats? Serious question, I think it is perhaps down to lack of SDLP transfers? If they have a job to do within nationalism. As do the stoops. Unionism have galvanised their vote particularly the young vote and middle class. Middle class nationalist seem content to lie back and think of Britain. SF and the SDLP are now too accepting of all things British, City of Culture for example and this conveys an acceptance of the union to voters. There is still no consensus on unity amongst nationalist parties and this is disgraceful. Particularly in light of the UUP/DUP pact which will be undoubtedly be agreed between Peter and His poodle, as they both fall over themselves to become Cameron's poodles. Thoughts?

The above is not unrelated to my post about lack of ynity in nationalism in another thread. As Glens and Nally on the SF side are unwilling or unable to give an answer can anyone from the SDLP?

ffs Apples do you think the world revolves around you.I am only back after working on election for 4 days so never seen your post.Yes SF still have a problem getting transfers from other parties so therefore big 1st preference doesn't always mean we can get a seat.If you take Newtownabbey for example in Glengormley we had about 1.4 qoutas but dont get tranfers so can only get the one elected. We always ask on the door for to be considered for 2nd or 3rd preference and I do believe that is happening but very slowly.

LOL, does the world not revolve around me? What about working with the stoops and getting some nationalist unity, a big job I know given that you have to try and work around the big egos and small iq of big Dolly and big Al.

[glens abu]

Nally/Glens how'd SF get the majority of first prefs but not translate them into seats? Serious question, I think it is perhaps down to lack of SDLP transfers? If they have a job to do within nationalism. As do the stoops. Unionism have galvanised their vote particularly the young vote and middle class. Middle class nationalist seem content to lie back and think of Britain. SF and the SDLP are now too accepting of all things British, City of Culture for example and this conveys an acceptance of the union to voters. There is still no consensus on unity amongst nationalist parties and this is disgraceful. Particularly in light of the UUP/DUP pact which will be undoubtedly be agreed between Peter and His poodle, as they both fall over themselves to become Cameron's poodles. Thoughts?

The above is not unrelated to my post about lack of ynity in nationalism in another thread. As Glens and Nally on the SF side are unwilling or unable to give an answer can anyone from the SDLP?

ffs Apples do you think the world revolves around you.I am only back after working on election for 4 days so never seen your post.Yes SF still have a problem getting transfers from other parties so therefore big 1st preference doesn't always mean we can get a seat.If you take Newtownabbey for example in Glengormley we had about 1.4 qoutas but dont get tranfers so can only get the one elected. We always ask on the door for to be considered for 2nd or 3rd preference and I do believe that is happening but very slowly.

LOL, does the world not revolve around me? What about working with the stoops and getting some nationalist unity, a big job I know given that you have to try and work around the big egos and small iq of big Dolly and big Al.

Alex Maskey stood aside in S.Belfast to help get big Al elected the stoops have never yet made that gesture in F&S.Tyrone or N.Belfast.

[Applesisapples]

Nally/Glens how'd SF get the majority of first prefs but not translate them into seats? Serious question, I think it is perhaps down to lack of SDLP transfers? If they have a job to do within nationalism. As do the stoops. Unionism have galvanised their vote particularly the young vote and middle class. Middle class nationalist seem content to lie back and think of Britain. SF and the SDLP are now too accepting of all things British, City of Culture for example and this conveys an acceptance of the union to voters. There is still no consensus on unity amongst nationalist parties and this is disgraceful. Particularly in light of the UUP/DUP pact which will be undoubtedly be agreed between Peter and His poodle, as they both fall over themselves to become Cameron's poodles. Thoughts?

The above is not unrelated to my post about lack of ynity in nationalism in another thread. As Glens and Nally on the SF side are unwilling or unable to give an answer can anyone from the SDLP?

ffs Apples do you think the world revolves around you.I am only back after working on election for 4 days so never seen your post.Yes SF still have a problem getting transfers from other parties so therefore big 1st preference doesn't always mean we can get a seat.If you take Newtownabbey for example in Glengormley we had about 1.4 qoutas but dont get tranfers so can only get the one elected. We always ask on the door for to be considered for 2nd or 3rd preference and I do believe that is happening but very slowly.

LOL, does the world not revolve around me? What about working with the stoops and getting some nationalist unity, a big job I know given that you have to try and work around the big egos and small iq of big Dolly and big Al.

Alex Maskey stood aside in S.Belfast to help get big Al elected the stoops have never yet made that gesture in F&S.Tyrone or N.Belfast.

Why though can we not have a similar approach to that of Unionism.

[glens abu]

Nally/Glens how'd SF get the majority of first prefs but not translate them into seats? Serious question, I think it is perhaps down to lack of SDLP transfers? If they have a job to do within nationalism. As do the stoops. Unionism have galvanised their vote particularly the young vote and middle class. Middle class nationalist seem content to lie back and think of Britain. SF and the SDLP are now too accepting of all things British, City of Culture for example and this conveys an acceptance of the union to voters. There is still no consensus on unity amongst nationalist parties and this is disgraceful. Particularly in light of the UUP/DUP pact which will be undoubtedly be agreed between Peter and His poodle, as they both fall over themselves to become Cameron's poodles. Thoughts?

The above is not unrelated to my post about lack of ynity in nationalism in another thread. As Glens and Nally on the SF side are unwilling or unable to give an answer can anyone from the SDLP?

ffs Apples do you think the world revolves around you.I am only back after working on election for 4 days so never seen your post.Yes SF still have a problem getting transfers from other parties so therefore big 1st preference doesn't always mean we can get a seat.If you take Newtownabbey for example in Glengormley we had about 1.4 qoutas but dont get tranfers so can only get the one elected. We always ask on the door for to be considered for 2nd or 3rd preference and I do believe that is happening but very slowly.

LOL, does the world not revolve around me? What about working with the stoops and getting some nationalist unity, a big job I know given that you have to try and work around the big egos and small iq of big Dolly and big Al.

Alex Maskey stood aside in S.Belfast to help get big Al elected the stoops have never yet made that gesture in F&S.Tyrone or N.Belfast.

Why though can we not have a similar approach to that of Unionism.

Like what?You cant force people to transfer down the card if they don't want to and if you look at the state of the parties over the last 20/30 years Nationalists/republicans have been eating into the Unionist seats anyway.Think this will continue to happen and would like us to secure F&S.Tyrone next time and take N.Belfast,would also be very hopeful we will take more seats in Assembly election 1916 and Marty will be 1st Minister.

[balladmaker]

ould also be very hopeful we will take more seats in Assembly election 1916 and Marty will be 1st Minister.

And at that point, Unionists will pull the whole thing down.