With a few days left until the vote, the main task for all of them was to overcome the pressure of a televised debate without significant slips. There were some intense exchanges on issues ranging from the cost of living crisis to the post of first minister, but all five managed to escape largely unscathed. Read more:Any candidate for the Stormont Assembly While staying true to their core campaign messages, some of the Stormont leaders performed better than others in the studio.

Jeffrey Donaldson

The DUP leader was by far the most consistent control of the debate.

At first he seemed dumb, failing to take full advantage of newspaper reports about Sinn Féin approaching Saorad for the unity of Ireland. However, he was forced to go further in the attack as the challenge was heightened by Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Alliance for the Crisis of Life. Sir Jeffrey was even stronger when he stressed that Sinn Féin had ousted the Stormont executive three years after the RHI controversy, at a time when Michelle O’Neill was health minister. But he struggled to defend the DUP that ousted the first minister over the Brexit Protocol – and his claims that it did not end the executive branch were confused. 5/10 Read more related articles Read more related articles

Michelle O’Neill

With Sinn Féin leading the polls, the party’s vice president probably had the most to lose in this clash of leaders.

Ms O’Neill has been under pressure over Sinn Féin Declan Kearney’s 2020 letter to Saoradh, a group accused of having links to the New IRA. He asserted that his confession had been obtained through torture and that his confession had been obtained through torture. Ms O’Neill largely managed to stay on the message, conveying Sinn Féin’s lines that the party repeated throughout the campaign. Although not as candid as the others in the debate, she was more vocal in challenging the DUP and the UUP because she refused to say whether they would take office with a nationalist Prime Minister. 6/10

Naomi Long

The leader of the Alliance Party is considered one of the best public speakers in Stormont and has given another definite performance.

She did not face particularly difficult questions, but she was clear and honest in her arguments. Ms Long briefly sent trade controls to the Irish Sea through the DUP door, saying the party “had a huge influence on the Brexit process and we came up with the Protocol”. Although he seemed to be looking at notes on the back of an Alliance document during the time allotted by leaders for the opening remarks, it was at least a way to bring the party’s brand to the fore. 7/10

Colum Eastwood

As the SDLP failed to make progress in the polls, Mr Eastwood took full advantage of the opportunity to challenge his political opponents head-on.

From the beginning, he skillfully differentiated his party from Sinn Féin on his approach to Saoard, saying: “These people will not get involved with me in trying to build a new Ireland.” Focusing his message on cost-of-living pressures, the SDLP leader was hit in the DUP by his departure from the Executive and avoided talking about a nationalist Prime Minister, noting the common nature of the office. And while his “vote Mike, get Colum” days may be over, his praise for Health Secretary Robin Swann may lock in some UUP transfers on election day. Mr. Eastwood appears more relaxed in these discussion environments, and this occasion was no different. 8/10

Doug Beatty

The leader of the Ulster Unity Party was on the sidelines, both in terms of drafting positions and contributing to the debate.

Mr Beattie has not been able to clearly distinguish his party’s message from others, particularly the DUP, saying on several occasions that he agreed with his colleagues. With Sir Jeffrey at the center of the challenge for other parties, the UUP leader has faded into irrelevance. Even on health issues, he did not make the most of public support in polls to handle the Covid-19 pandemic by Robin Swann. Poor performance. 3/10 Read more:DUP MP’s Letter to Court Revealed for Tory MP Accused of Sexually Assaulting Children Read more:Alliance candidate faces surveillance inquiry for post about council recruitment process For the latest political news directly to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter here.