Alliance Surge Marks Change In NI Politics

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long has said the surge in public support for her party demonstrates a significant change to politics in Northern Ireland.

It comes after she was elected to represent the region in the European Parliament, making history by securing a final count of 170,370 votes and taking the second MEP seat, alongside the DUP and Sinn Fein.

The battle for the final seat was expected to be a lot closer between Alliance and other candidates, including the SDLP and Ulster Unionists, however the cross-community party collected 115,000 more votes than they had received in the previous 2014 European election.

Speaking after the momentous moment she was elected, Mrs Long said: "I want to thank everyone who gave me their first preference vote, or who transferred to me – I take this seriously and I'll work hard to serve everyone in Northern Ireland.

"The past few weeks have proven that if you vote Alliance you can get Alliance. We went into this campaign with a clear message to remain with a people's vote, providing real solutions and willing to represent everyone, with people across Northern Ireland responding to that.

"The surge towards Alliance has marked a significant change to the dynamics of politics here, as for the first time in a Northern Ireland wide elected people everywhere have voted on the issues, not the orange and green division. This can only be a good thing as we move forward."

The result has shifted the balance to two pro-Remain MEPs, with 57% of first preference votes in Northern Ireland going to Remain candidates who also support the backstop.

The DUP, whose pro-Brexit candidate Diane Dodds was the first elected, saw a rise in first preference votes of 0.9%, while Sinn Fein's Martina Anderson saw a loss of 3.3% despite topping the poll.



(JG/CM)