Sinn Fein has consolidated its position as the biggest political party in Northern Ireland. It retained its seven seats and, as a result of DUP reversals, is now Northern Ireland’s largest party at Westminster. Sinn Fein were very close to winning the East Londonderry seat from the DUP – which went to various recounts – but the DUP held on with a majority of 179. So the result could have been even better for them.
Northern Ireland now has an alphabet soup of parties representing it
Already the largest party at the Stormont Assembly and on Northern Ireland’s councils, it is quite the hat-trick for Sinn Fein and its leader Michelle O’Neill. Increasing its majorities in each of the seats it held will also be a morale boost to the party after recent electoral reversals in the Republic.
That Sinn Fein domination is unlikely to be challenged anytime soon, largely as a consequence of the atomisation of the unionist vote.
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