NI Elects Three Female MEPs

Northern Ireland has elected three women MEPs for the first time ever, with the DUP, Alliance Party and Sinn Fein each gaining a seat in the European Parliament.

The count in Magherafelt on Monday 27 May saw Diane Dodds of the DUP reclaim her seat in Brussels first, with Sinn Fein's Martina Anderson also returned as an MEP a short time later.

The story of the election however is the huge Alliance Party surge, which saw party leader Naomi Long take the second seat after receiving 105,928 first preference votes and becoming the party's first MEP. She will now retire from her position as an MLA, but will remain as party leader.

The results, which followed the vote on Thursday 23 May, shifted the balance of Northern Ireland's representation in the European Parliament to two remain MEPs- Sinn Fein and Alliance- and one leave, the DUP.

Reflecting on the election, Martina Anderson said the vote sends a powerful message to both Britain and the EU that the people of Northern Ireland "reject Brexit".

Speaking after she topped the poll, Ms Anderson commented: "This has been an historic election. The people of the north have elected two remain MEPs and have sent a powerful message that people here reject Brexit just as they did in the 2016 referendum. 

"I want to thank everyone who came out and voted in this election. You have made it absolutely clear that the DUP do not speak for the people of the north. 

"That is the message I will be taking to Europe in the crucial weeks and months ahead.

"The Brexit process is still in chaos. But whatever happens next, the democratic wishes of the people of the north must be respected. 

"As your MEP, I will continue to campaign tirelessly to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement is protected, there is no hardening of the border and people's rights are upheld."

Meanwhile, Naomi Long said the Alliance Party result was a "watershed moment for NI politics" after receiving a total of 170,370 votes including transfers.

"This can be the beginning of a new politics and future for all of us," the new MEP commented.

In a post on Twitter following the result, unionist MEP Diane Dodds thanked her voters for trusting her to serve another term in the EU.

"I am honoured and humbled to be the first Northern Ireland MEP to be returned to the European Parliament," she wrote.

"Thank you for allowing me to continue my work to defend the union and deliver Brexit!"

The three elected MEPs will continue to represent Northern Ireland in Brussels until the UK leaves the EU in October 2019.



(JG/CM)