ireland, irish, ulster, belfast, northern ireland, british, loyalist, nationalist, republican, unionist

(Irelandclick.com)

With three days to go until polling day nationalist politicians last night urged voters to come out in record numbers on Thursday and ensure that nationalists win a majority on Belfast City Council for the first time in history.

With the combined Sinn Féin/SDLP representation at 23 councillors – just three short of a majority – both parties believe that if voters come out in large numbers that nationalists will wrestle control from unionists for the first time.

Speaking to the Andersonstown News last night Sinn Féin leader on Belfast City Council Tom Hartley said, "We are obviously close to taking 25 seats or ideally 26 for the majority. With greater voter participation we can build on what we have at the minute, regardless of the ultimate goal of a nationalist majority." And SDLP North Belfast councillor Alban Maginness said there was a "wind of change in the air". "If people don't come out to cast their votes, we cannot benefit from this change."

This article appeared first on the Irelandclick.com web site on May 2, 2005.