The 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election

The 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election was held on 5 May 2022. It elected 90 members to the Northern Ireland Assembly. It was the seventh assembly election since the establishment of the assembly in 1998.

The election was held three months after the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed due to the resignation of the First Minister, Paul Givan (DUP), in protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol.

In the sixth assembly, elected in 2017, eight parties had Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs): the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), latterly led by Jeffrey Donaldson; Sinn Féin, led by Michelle O'Neill; the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), latterly led by Doug Beattie; the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), led by Colum Eastwood; Alliance, led by Naomi Long; the Greens, led by Clare Bailey; People Before Profit (PBP), who have a collective leadership; and the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), led by Jim Allister.

Sinn Féin became the largest party, marking the first time an election in Northern Ireland has resulted in a nationalist party winning the most votes, and thus has the right to nominate Northern Ireland's first nationalist First Minister. The Alliance also made large gains, overtaking the UUP and the SDLP to become the third largest party in the Assembly

The Campaign

The Sinn Féin campaign avoided talk of a United Ireland, with The Irish Times reporting that although it was on the agenda, the focus was on "bread and butter" issues.  Sinn Féin called for a £230 payment to help people with the cost of living.  A threat to destroy a Sinn Féin billboard was reported to the police.

The Democratic Unionist Party campaign has focused on their opposition to Sinn Féin.   The Traditional Unionist Voice said that opposing the Northern Ireland Protocol is "top priority".  They have received a number of defections from the DUP.  The Green Party pledged the establishment of a bill of rights, an independent Environmental Protection Agency and rent controls.  The Social Democratic and Labour Party's campaign has reportedly been difficult. Candidate Elsie Trainor was attacked by youths in Belfast.  Leader Colum Eastwood urged tactical voting.

The Ulster Unionist Party campaigned against a United Ireland, with Doug Beattie saying it would not happen in his or his children's lifetime.  The Alliance Party has promised to build Casement Park and has been campaigning in constituencies west of the River Bann, where they have never won any seats.  Aontú campaigned on an anti-abortion platform.  On 13 April, it was reported that the Police Service of Northern Ireland had been notified of 41 political poster incidents.  The People Before Profit manifesto was launched on 22 April. In it, they promised a £1000 to help with cost of living.  On 30 April, PBP candidate Hannah Kenny was attacked by three men in East Belfast.

Televised debates between the party leaders were held on 1 May and 3 May.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Northern_Ireland_Assembly_election