Northern Ireland's new anti- powersharing unionist party, the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), is awaiting the outcome of its first electoral test later today. Results of the vote in a council byelection in Dromore, Co Down, expected this afternoon, will be under unusual scrutiny as it will be the first it has contested since it was formed last December by former DUP MEP Jim Allister.
Now an Independent opposed to the DUP-Sinn Féin arrangement at Stormont, Mr Allister is pitching his new party as a viable alternative to the main unionist parties based on traditional values.
A seat on Banbridge District Council became available after former Ulster Unionist councillor and ex-Ireland rugby international Tyrone Howe stepped down to concentrate on business and personal commitments.
Mr Allister quit the DUP last March in protest at the decision to share power with Sinn Féin, despite winning the safe European Parliament seat vacated by DUP leader Ian Paisley in 2004.
The TUV says it will be looking to gain some ground from disillusioned DUP voters opposed to the sight of Dr Paisley and Martin McGuinness working together. In the last Dromore election in 2005 the DUP filled three of the five seats contested.
Although Ulster Unionist Carol Black will defend the seat Mr Howe vacated, much interest lies in the battle between Keith Harbison of the TUV and Paul Stewart of the DUP.
Sinn Féin's Paul Gribben, the SDLP's John Drake, the Alliance Party's David Griffin and the Green Party's Helen Corry are also fighting for the seat.
Voting last night was reported to be slow with turnout estimated at somewhere between 20 and 30 per cent. Speaking to The Irish Times last week TUV leader Jim Allister refused to prematurely claim victory.
He said: "The nature of this area is that in 2005 the DUP got 50 per cent of the vote. So, if they are right that they haven't lost any support, they should be winning the election on the first count.
"They won't because they have lost support and that will be reflected in a credible vote for us."