Excellent election results for Alliance

8.02.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th May 2011

"Our positive campaign and clear message of leading change resonated strongly with people across Northern Ireland."

The Alliance Party is on course for significant gains in the local government elections, we have had an excellent election. I thank everyone who voted for Alliance and I pay tribute to the hard work of all the Alliance candidates and their teams across Northern Ireland.

"Early indications show that has been very good election for Alliance with potentially around ten extra Council seats being won by us. We are growing as a party right across Northern Ireland and our significant number of gains demonstrates a real change in politics here.

"I wish to thank everyone who voted for change and backed Alliance. People have shown that positive politics works and that change is possible. I also want to congratulate all our candidates and everyone else involved who have worked so hard to make this success possible.

"We ran a very positive campaign and our clear message of building a shared future and leading change has resonated very strongly with people right across Northern Ireland."