SINN FEIN

NATIONALIST PERCENTAGE VOTES

REASON FOR SHIFT IN NATIONALISM

• Sinn Fein more charismatic that SDLP.
• Only all Ireland party.
• People have forgotten about Sinn Fein's IRA past and the Civil rights past of SDLP, thinking of the SDLP now as irrelevant.
• More money= better PR
• Shift to centre more welcomed by middle class nationalists
• Portray SDLP weak and compliant to unionists (Stoop Down Low Party)

PERCENTAGE VOTES SF/DUP

WHY IS THE DUP aHEAD OF SINN FEIN, BUT ONLY SLIGHTY?

• The majority of people in NI are unionist with the vote being mostly centred around the DUP. However, Sinn Fein still manage to do well as a large portion of the Northern Ireland's society is Catholic who are more likely to vote for a nationalist party. There, is a growing sense of unionism within the catholic community, but many feel that Sinn Fein would better represent them in Stormont especially when it is a Unionist majority.

CONTINUATION FROM LAST SLIDE

• This could be a similar situation to the Scottish referendum when the majority of Scots voted SNP but voted to stay in the union when there was a referendum.

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WHY HAVE SINN FEIN GROWN

• Sinn Fein has managed to gain more middle class votes as they are seen as being more efficient than SDLP, and have become less hardcore marxist coming into SDLP ground while knowing that there is no other party that will appeal to hardline republican.
• Sinn Fein also gain more of the younger vote, however in 2015 this has decreased from a third to 20%.

CONTINUATION FROM LAST SLIDE

• Younger voters also don't remember NICRA associated with SDLP or Sinn Fein's link with the IRA, making them more acceptable to vote for.
• Sinn Fein have more of a charismatic base of younger politicians such as John O'Dowd or Michelle O'Neil appealing to younger voters and also older politicians such as Gerry Adams appealing to older voters.

CONTINUATION FROM LAST SLIDE

• Sinn Fein lost Fermanagh and south Tyrone due to unionist pacts and the SDLP refuse to do pacts with Sinn Fein which splits the vote in nationalism.
• Sinn Fein have been more clear cut about their policies so people know what they stand for whereas SDLP have been more ambiguous about their policies such as abortion.

% SEATS IN WESTMINISTER 2010

WESTMINISTER PERCENTAGE OF VOTES 2010

SEATS IN WESTMINSTER 2015

PERCENTAGE OF VOTES IN WESTMINSTER ELECTIONS 2015

ALALYSIS

• Sinn Fein's votes may have gone down due their policy of abstentionism.

SINN FEIN ROI

• Polled at 24% in 2015
• 4TDs before 2011 rose to 14 in 2011
• 2011 presidential elections came 3rd of 7 candidates
• Approval ratings: Gerry Adams (SF) 26%, Taoiseach Edna Kenny 28%, labour leader Joan Burton 31%.

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• SINN Fein benefited from loss of votes from Fianna Fáil (lost 51 seats) as they governed during the economic crisis.
• Fianna Fáil didn't put up an official presidential candidate in 2011.
• SINN FEIN present themselves as a socialist party of the people through policies against austerity and the water tax

mARTIN MCGUINNESS

• Martin McGuinness has been criticised by other Irish politicians, Hogan attacked him due to his IRA past saying that if he were elected into office then it would bring in "some shady figures" into government.

Untitled Slide

• Although attacked by other politicians McGuinness gained 13.9% of the vote in 2011.
• This may be due to: anti austerity
• Anti water tax