41.  Public opinion polls published on the eve of the election showed the two main parties evenly matched.

42.  The main parties also agreed on constitutional changes to stem the influx of immigrants, one of the main reasons for the rise in attacks on foreigners.

43.  Industry certainly needs to be high on the political agenda but like Northern Ireland policy, the main parties must agree a mutual policy.

44.  As for wartime political activity, this was naturally inhibited for all the main parties by the electoral truce.

45.  The Leadership election rules of the three main political parties follow.

46.  But their achievement was marred by suggestions that they had benefited from protest voters motivated primarily by disillusionment with the main parties.

47.  The candidates of the main parties are selected locally, though the national party in each case retains some veto power.

48.  More notably, there was a relative desertion by voters of the two main parties.

49.  The Prime Minister is to invite the leaders of the four main parties in Northern Ireland for talks on the crisis there.

50.  In the end, the three main parties compromised on a ten million pound overspend.