UUP 'Emergency' As Council Seats Declared

All 582 seats have been declared in the elections to Northern Ireland's 26 councils.

The first result emerged less than an hour after counting commenced on Monday morning.

The DUP, Sinn Fein and Alliance have gained seats, while losses were announced for the Ulster Unionists (UUP) and the SDLP - leading to an urgent meeting being arranged for the UUP this weekend.

The DUP has won 175 seats, Sinn Fein 138, the Ulster Unionist Party 99, the SDLP 87 and Alliance 44. The TUV won six seats, Greens took three, the PUP two and others 28.

The results have largely mirrored those in the Northern Ireland Assembly poll with the DUP and Sinn Fein well ahead of their rivals.

In Belfast City Hall (pictured), Alliance again holds the balance of power while the UUP are down to three council seats.

The UUP, which used to dominate at City Hall, was reduced to three and Gerry Kelly of Sinn Fein said their return of 16 seats - which makes them the largest party on Belfast council - shows the success of the power-sharing arrangement.

Emergency For UUP

News of an 'emergency executive meeting' of the UUP on Saturday, now means that speculation is again growing about the future of Leader, Tom Elliott.

Party colleague and UUP Assembly Member Basil McCrea has already said his party needed to conduct a fundamental review following its poor showing.

Mr McCrea commented: "I do think that we have had a complete melt-down of our vote in the urban centres, particularly in the east.

"There have been some very difficult results in my own city council, in Lisburn. When you look at the vote for the MLAs, there's been very challenging outcomes there too. This is not something we can duck. This needs a fundamental review. If we do not deal with this, it will be the end of the party."

However, it is understood a direct challenge to Mr Elliot's leadership is unlikely to materialise at the weekend meeting in Dungannon.

Meanwhile, the SDLP's representation in Belfast stayed at eight councillors, but the party admits it has not been a triumph.

Margaret Ritchie has said she has no regrets about becoming Party Leader despite facing criticism from the party.

She said: "We are the largest party in Derry and in South Down which is a testament to the work the party is doing," she said, but admitted: "Like all parties we face challenges and we are taking those on and moving forward."

The DUP and UUP agreed to a coalition on Castlereagh Council after the DUP lost overall control, due to gains made by Alliance and the Green Party.

The last council ward to declare its final tally was Balmoral in Belfast, where the SDLP's Bernie Kelly was elected on the ninth count.

(JG/BMcC)