Finally, with an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the province hosted its own election night for many years. Northern Ireland voters usually expect more of the same at election time, taking part in the traditional sectarian headcount, and voting the old faithful at the ballot box. The May 2010 Westminster general election however, while returning most of the same, bared witness to some unprecedented moments, not to mention a senior republican quoting British icon Winston Churchill.
BY GOWN REPORTER
It was shortly after 12.30.a.m when the first Northern Ireland seat was declared, with Sinn Féin’s Pat Doherty returned to West Tyrone, boasting an increased majority since his 2005 victory. Another first was the announcement that the DUP’s Ian Paisley Junior, alternatively Ian Óg, had recorded a comfortable win over TUV leader Jim Allistair in North Antrim. Junior finally put to bed previous promise of a serious Traditional Unionist challenge and rounded off a triumphant victory with a quality karaoke session. The Lagan Valley constituency produced no such surprise with the return of the DUP’s Daniel O’ Donnell look-a-like Jeffery Donaldson, comfortably seeing off the challenge of UNCUNF’s Daphne Trimble, wife of former First Minister, Lord David Trimble. UCUNF’s Freddie Mercury impersonator ‘Flash’ Harry Hamilton had no such luck, however, in his bid to unseat Democratic Unionist David Simpson in Upper Bann.
Weeks of speculation has passed and it is still unknown whether North Down’s incumbent MP, Lady Slyvia Hermon cut her ties with the Ulster Unionists due to the principle of the Conservative link up or the insulting UCUNF acronym. Running as an independent, victory for Hermon was never in doubt. Commiserations to the UUP’s Ian Parsley on a second consecutive electoral defeat, his first with the Ulster Unionists. Belfast West witnessed another landslide for Sinn Féin. A modest man of the Bible, in a shirt and blue jeans Gerry Adams was a picture of comfort in the constituency where he boasts one of the biggest majorities in the House of Commons. Deputy First Minister Martin Mc Guinness likewise had no problem retaining his Mid Ulster seat in a rather confusing 6.7% constituency swing from DUP to Sinn Féin. Newry and Armagh returned local Sinn Féin Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy, pledging his party will carry on not turning up at Westminster but holding onto the taxpayer’s money.
In Belfast South, Foyle and South Down, the Social Democratic and Labour Party hoped to hold on to the three seats they had whilst contesting constituencies for the craic. East Antrim returned the DUP’s Sammy Wilson, as did Gregory Campbell hold East Londonderry (only sometimes known to Jim Allistair as ‘Derry’) as expected. Meanwhile their Strangford DUP counterpart Jim Shannon easily saw off the challenge of ladies’ favourite Mike Nesbitt of UCUNF to take the seat previously held by young men’s favourite Iris Robinson.
In the run up to the general election all eyes were on South Antrim where Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg “never-to-be MP” hoped he could gain the holy grail of a single Westminster seat. This was a close contest but even tactical voting by some nationalists was not enough to put Willie McCrea’s seat in Tory hands. Reg later claimed, “I’m not stupid”, an insight not shared with potential leadership candidate David McNarry. Sir Reg Empy was not alone in his dejection as Peter Robinson, after 31 years, lost his massive majority along with his East Belfast constituency seat to the Alliance Party’s Naomi Long. Both seats will no doubt have repercussions for the leaders, possibly an end to single jobbing for both figures.
The Fermanagh/South Tyrone constituency always looks forward to elections, and on occasions multiple recounts. Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew came up against unionist independent candidate Rodney Connor here. SDLP’s Fearghal McKinney, formerly known as Fergal, was happy to win back his £500 deposit after polling enough votes. After rumours and recounts, Mrs Gildernew was announced victorious by a majority of four seats, boasting the smallest majority of the House of Commons.
The green and orange map of Northern Ireland remained almost the same on 8th May 2010. An addition to the mix is the first Westminster seat ever to be held by the Alliance Party. The anti-Good Friday Agreement TUV had no such luck. The race for Assembly seats has begun, with unionists plotting pacts, nationalists picking fights while Norn Iron neutrals have their ears to the ground.