Counting well underway in North’s Westminster election
Counting is well underway in the North's Westminster elections. Preliminary results could be known as early as 2pm.
Sinn Féin workers are claiming that the SDLP vote in West Belfast has collapsed, with Gerry Adams taking 80% of nationalist votes, but the party is apparently doing well in South Belfast.
The unionist vote in that constituency is believed to be split around 60-40 in favour of the DUP's Jimmy Spratt, which could help SDLP deputy leader Alistair McDonald to get elected.
The SDLP has also claimed that tactical voting in Foyle could help party leader Mark Durkan to clinch John Hume's Westminster seat ahead of Sinn Féin's Mitchel McLaughlin.
Sinn Féin, meanwhile, has expressed confidence that its candidate, Conor Murphy, will secure the seat in Newry/Armagh held by Seamus Mallon of the SDLP since 1986.
Elsewhere, UUP leader David Trimble is also facing a tough battle with the DUP's David Simpson in Upper Bann.
