Westminster Election 2010

In the UK pundits and pollsters are predicting the closest run election in British Politics for many decades.

However, as always in Northern Ireland, our particular brand of politics will roll out its own drama.

This time around however, there are a few changes. Unionism is split three ways with the DUP, UUP and TUV vying for control.

Within nationalism the SDLP will try again to wrest the mantle of the largest nationalist party back from Sinn Fin-who remember, do not take their seats at Westminster.

The UUP have hitched their wagon to the Tory party and dependent results in England, Scotland and Wales, unionism could hold the balance of power in the event of a hung parliament.

For the first time in 30 years, the leader of the SDLP is not from Londonderry. Mark Durkan relinquished the leadership some months ago, but still holds a hefty majority from the last Westminster election in 2005. He will face Sinn Fin MLA Martina Anderson in the battle for Foyle this time around.

In unionism the DUP are fielding Deputy Mayor of Londonderry, Maurice Devenney, whilst the Conservative and Unionist-New Force are standing Coleraine Borough councillor, David Harding.

In East Londonderry, Gregory Campbell, the MP for the area since 2001, will renew acquaintances with his old rival William Ross, from whom he claimed the East Londonderry seat. William Ross has re-entered the fray of mainstream politics at the age of 74 and will take to the hustings as a Traditional Unionist Voice candidate. The SDLP are standing Derry City Councillor Thomas Conway, whilst newcomer Lesley Macaulay will fly the flag for the Conservative and Unionist-New Force and for women, as she is the only female candidate.

Whatever the permutations, machinations and eventual outcome, the Londonderry and Roe Valley Sentinel's will bring you daily coverage on the Sentinel website. Here, you can follow the latest from all the candidates as it happens.

To access the Sentinel websites coverage see the options at the top of the sentinel homepage for Politics-Foyle 2010 and Politics-East Londonderry-2010 or navigate to http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/sectionhome.aspx?sectionID=17463 or http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/sectionhome.aspx?sectionID=17464.