The Labour Party whip said today that he is confident the party can recover, despite enduring "a terrible day" at the polls.
Speaking to KFM news, Emmett Stagg said that while it has been a bad result so far, the party will re-assess and re-build.
"It's a terrible day, it reminds me of 1985, and 1987, and water charges was the issue again," he said.
"We had a bad day today.
"I've no doubt the party will recover, we will have to re-trench, think our position out and see where we go from here."