Daniel McConnell: Sinn Féin may lead, but government not guaranteed in divided North

Political editor Daniel McConnell analyses the forthcoming elections for the Northern Ireland Assembley

A succession of polls has shown Sinn Féin, led by Michelle O’Neill in the North, holding a solid lead over the DUP.

The starting gun has been fired on the Northern Ireland Assembly elections, and not since its creation in the wake of the Good Friday Agreement have the results been so keenly awaited.

This is because Sinn Féin looks set to formally oust the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) as the largest party if the current opinion polls are to hold true on polling day.