What if the majority take up a position that Mr Blair regards as conservative?

ECONOMIST: Tomorrow belongs to me

Perhaps the Times should live up to its assuredly well-deserved reputation and take heed of the esteemed position that it holds by knowing the facts before drawing conclusions about the relative quality of health care in the United States.

FORBES: The Liberal Media's Erroneous Indictment Of U.S. Health Care: There They Go Again...

Logan will take up his position in the new year in succession to Michael Reid, who announced in September that he was stepping down from the role.

BBC: Logan is new Ulster rugby chief

Mr de Boer announced in February that he would step down in the middle of this year to take up a position with global accountancy firm KPMG as a consultant on climate and sustainability issues, and to work with several universities.

BBC: UN picks new climate change chief

It seems unlikely that the Sinn Fein position would change in this Parliament - were they to take up their seats, they'd probably want to say so to their voters in a manifesto, first.

BBC: Numbers game