The last area where the DUP are currently behind the UUP in representation is Local Government. With that in mind, it is interesting to note that this election is the first ever where the DUP are running more candidates for Local Government than the UUP. Is the sign of a growing party a growing number of candidates?My count has the party totals running at the DUP on 215 and the UUP on 186. The DUP will be fielding more candidates than their unionist rivals in 17 of the 26 Local Council areas with the only exceptions being Craigavon, Down, Fermanagh, Larne, Newry & Mourne, North Down and Omagh.
Obviously while the number of candidates fielded doesnt equate to the seats won it certainly must be a blow to the UUP to have the DUP running nearly 30 more candidates in the Local Government elections.
I haven’t counted the numbers of candidates for the nationalist parties so maybe someone else will have done the homework on those.