Historic result as Sinn Féin becomes North's largest Westminster party

Sinn Féin have emerged as Northern Ireland’s largest party at a Westminister level for the first time.

With only the safe DUP seat of East Derry left to declare, Sinn Féin has won seven seats, the DUP four, the SDLP two, while the UUP, TUV and Alliance have all won one each; an independent unionist has also won in North Down.

The historic result comes two years after Sinn Féin won the most seats in the Stormont Assembly.

The republican party comfortably held its two most marginal seats; in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, the Sinn Féin majority soared from 57 votes over the UUP to 4,571.

In Belfast North, the party’s majority over the DUP increased from 1,943 to 5,612.

There was also a strong swing to the party in Foyle, where SDLP leader Colm Eastwood saw his majority tumble from 17,110 to 4,166.

"You endorsed Sinn Féin candidates who will work hard for you every day and lead positive change for everyone," First Minister Michelle O'Neill tweeted.

"We will continue to work for all, striving to build a brighter and better future for workers and families."

The DUP, which won eight seats in 2019, has lost Lagan Valley to the Alliance, South Antrim to the UUP and - most sensationally of all - Ian Paisley Jnr has been defeated in North Antrim by the TUV.

In Belfast East, Party leader Gavin Robinson held off a strong challenge from the Alliance’s Naomi Long, while former DUP MLA Alex Easton won in North Down as an independent.

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