Recount Wins Fermanagh For Sinn Fein

Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew has now been re-elected in Fermanagh/South Tyrone.

She was elected on the third recount with a margin in single figures defeating independent unionist unity candidate Rodney Connor.

But, outside of DUP leader Peter Robinson losing his long held Westminster seat to Alliance's Naomi Long and the Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey now facing a leadership question after he failed to dislodge the DUP's William McCrea in South Antrim, there are few other shocks.

In West Belfast, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has defended his long held seat with a massive 22,840 votes against the nearest contender.

A Sinn Fein Stormont Minister has been displaced by an Assembly Executive colleague.

The SDLP's new leader Margaret Ritchie has held on to the South Down Westminster seat held by her party's outgoing MP, Eddie McGrady.

The NI Minister for Social Development polled 20,648 votes, well ahead of NI Education Minister Caitriona Ruane of Sinn Fein, with 12,236.

The party leader was at odds with the Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, over the SDLP's rejection of a poll agreement to allow a single candidate in Fermanagh South Tyrone, after SF withdrew from the South Belfast constituency when Ritchie underlined the SF policy of abstention from Westminster.

The DUP's Paisley Jnr has seen off TUV leader Jim Allister and will succeed his father as MP for the area having collected 19,672 votes against Mr Allister's 7,114.

In North Down, Lady Sylvia Hermon - who left the Ulster Unionsists over the Conservative pact - won a landslide victory as an independent with 21,181 votes ahead of Ian Parsley of Ulster Conservative and Unionists - New Force with 6,817.

Iris Robinson's seat, in Strangford - taken over by Jim Shannon after her resignation - has been retained by the DUP man with almost 15,000 votes.

The DUP's Nigel Dodds has retained his seat in North Belfast with 14,812 votes. Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly was second with 12,588 and Alban Maginness of the SDLP third with 4,544.

Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy has been re-elected in Newry and Armagh, again with a sizeable majority. Mr Murphy polled 18,857 votes, the SDLP's Dominic Bradley, who came second in the constituency, received 10,526.

The DUP's Gregory Campbell has been re-elected as MP for East Londonderry with 12,097 votes. Sinn Fein's Cathal O hOisin finished second with 6,742 votes.

Stormont Finance Minister, the DUP's Sammy Wilson has been re-elected as MP for East Antrim. Mr Wilson polled 13,993 votes ahead of Rodney McCune, Ulster Conservatives and Unionists - New Force, with 7,223.

The SDLP's Alasdair McDonnell has held on to his South Belfast seat with a sizeable majority.

Deputy First Minister, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness has been re-elected as MP for Mid-Ulster with 21,239 votes.

The DUP's David Simpson has held on to the Upper Bann seat that he won from Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble in 2005.

Sinn Fein's Pat Doherty has been re-elected as MP for West Tyrone. Mr Doherty polled 18,050 votes, giving him a majority of 10,685 and retaining the seat he first won for the party in 2005.

The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson has retained his seat with another huge majority in Lagan Valley. Mr Donaldson polled 18,199 votes. In second place was Ulster Conservative and Unionists - New Force candidate Daphne Trimble with 7,713.

(BMcC/GK)