Sinn Fein is on course for a historic victory in the Northern Ireland Assembly election, after receiving the most first-preference votes.

       With counting for the 90 Stormont seats continuing, the republican party had won 16 seats, well ahead of the Alliance on seven, the DUP on six, the Ulster Unionists on three and the SDLP on one.

       Sinn Fein looks set to emerge with the most seats after it received 250,388 first preferences, compared with 184,002 for the DUP and 116,681 for the Alliance Party.

       If its victory is confirmed when the result is declared this morning, it would be the first time a party wanting a united Ireland has won the elections for the Northern Ireland executive.

       ？？Follow the latest updates below.

       Confronted by Conservative voters spitting mad about Boris Johnson during the local election campaign, Tory critics of their own leader adopted a novel approach, Ben Riley-Smith writes.

       Rather than gritting their teeth and defending the Prime Minister, the MP rebels said they too wanted Mr Johnson gone - but that the council elections were the wrong way to do it.

       “You don’t need to send him a message by getting rid of hard-working councillors,” they would explain, according to one MP. “You can rely on me to do that for you.”

       The fact such a message of open mutiny was considered a vote-winner with some traditional Tories underscores how the shine has rubbed off Mr Johnson.

       Read more: How the Blue Wall fell out of love with Boris Johnson

       The Conservatives suffered a net loss of almost 400 councillors as a day of vote counting delivered a bruising set of local election results for the Prime Minister.

       Ministers conceded it had been "tough" for the ruling party, particularly in the south of England where it lost ground to Labour in London and the Liberal Democrats in its "blue wall" heartlands, but warned against extrapolating the results on a national level.

       As the losses trickled in throughout the day, Tory figures continued to publicly raise the prospect of Boris Johnson being replaced as party leader as one senior pollster suggested middle and upper class voters had distanced themselves from the PM after his fixed-penalty notice for breaking Covid laws.

       Labour, which is facing its own difficulties after police announced a probe into whether leader Sir Keir Starmer broke lockdown rules last year, said the result had been "shattering" for the Conservatives.

       Justin McNulty, the SDLP candidate elected in Newry and Armagh, admitted his party was hoping for some "Lazarus" moments on Saturday.

       He told the PA news agency in the Magherafelt count centre: "It has been a great night for the SDLP in Newry and Armagh, we have weathered the storm.

       "We have taken the scenic route, but we came back with more votes than the last election so l am delighted. Hope has won out."

       Asked about the SDLP results across Northern Ireland, Mr McNulty said: "It is looking pretty poor at this point, but some Lazarus moments may happen yet.

       "We will remain hopeful."

       Counting is set to resume in the Northern Ireland Assembly election this morning with Sinn Fein firmly on course to emerge as the largest Stormont party.

       It would be the first time a party seeking a united Ireland has won the elections for the Assembly.

       You can follow all the results and reaction in our live blog throughout the day.

       Here are the latest results:

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