NI poll shows only 6 points between main parties

Northern Ireland is facing one of its tightest elections in recent history according to the first major opinion poll of the campaign.

The poll carried out by research group Millward Brown on behalf of the Belfast Telegraph shows the Ulster Unionist Party six points ahead of rival unionist party the DUP.

With two weeks to go in the campaign, the SDLP is shown to be leading Sinn Féin by two percentage points.

However the four main parties all remain within striking distance of each other and with the transfer of votes the final outcome remains uncertain.

On the basis of first preference votes, the Ulster Unionists lead the way on 26 per cent with the DUP on 20 per cent, SDLP on 22 per cent and Sinn Fein on 20 per cent.

Traditionally Sinn Féin and the DUP record lower support in surveys as pollsters are said to hide their support for more hardline parties.

Millward Brown say its findings suggest: "The final results will be very close indeed but that the SDLP will retain its position as the premier nationalist party and the UUP as the premier unionist party".

The poll also asked respondents who they thought would occupy the position of First Minister after the election.

Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble came out on top with 22 per cent of the vote.

But significantly Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams came in one percentage point higher than SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan on 15 per cent.

Among Catholic voters, the poll found Mr Adams was preferred to Mr Durkan by 33 per cent to 31 per cent.

The survey, which involved a sample of 1,058 adults interviewed at 50 locations across Northern Ireland, was conducted on November 6th-8th