Durkan and Trimble fight for survival

Harry McGee, Political Editor

As early returns last night indicated that Labour Party leader Tony Blair has been returned to Downing Street as prime minister for a historic third term albeit with a substantially reduced majority focus this morning turned to Northern Ireland, where the votes are counted a day later.

With indications of a high turnout for yesterday's elections in the North's 18 Westminster constituencies, the consensus view of strong swings to Sinn Féin and the DUP remained unchanged.