Sinn Féin becomes NI's largest Westminster party
Written by Davy Wilson and Chris Andrews for BBC News NI
Sinn Féin's top officials were honored at the Magherafelt vote counting center.
Sinn Féin is currently the biggest party in councils, the assembly, and at Westminster in Northern Ireland.
The nationalist party, which chooses not to participate in the House of Commons, has maintained its seven seats following the recent UK general election, the same amount as it had in 2019.
The head of the party, Mary Lou McDonald, stated that it was time to get ready for a fresh start and work towards a united future on this island.
The party emerged victorious following a disappointing evening for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
In 2019, the DUP had eight seats but in 2024 they only have five seats.
One of the most well-known losses in Thursday's election was Ian Paisley, who was defeated in the North Antrim constituency that his father had previously held since 1970.
In Lagan Valley, Sorcha Eastwood from the Alliance Party won the position that was previously held by the former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson since 1997.
Robin Swann from the Ulster Unionist Party was victorious in the South Antrim election, defeating Paul Girvan of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
Sorcha Eastwood from the Alliance Party made history by becoming the first female and non-unionist Member of Parliament to represent Lagan Valley.
Sinn Féin saw their vote share increase by 4.2% compared to the previous general election five years ago.
The event also introduced new individuals, such as Dáire Hughes and Cathal Mallaghan, to the group.
Pat Cullen, who previously led the Royal College of Nursing, was elected as a representative for Sinn Féin in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. She played a key role in the recent health strikes in the UK.
Ms McDonald stated that Sinn Féin is committed to establishing a positive partnership with the new Labour government.
She stated that her party expects the incoming prime minister to support the Good Friday Agreement, which was achieved with the help of Labour. This means ensuring that its political, legal, and constitutional protections are upheld.
In another place, the Labour Party achieved a decisive win, and Sir Keir Starmer was appointed as the new leader of the country.
The Conservatives lost 250 seats, while the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK made significant gains.
Ian Paisley (on the right side in the picture) no longer has the position that he and his father have held for over 50 years. Instead, it has been taken by TUV leader Jim Allister (on the left side in the picture).
Northern Ireland Elected Official
The big surprise of the evening happened in Lagan Valley, where Sorcha Eastwood made history as the first female and non-unionist Member of Parliament for the constituency.
She beat Jonathan Buckley from the DUP in the election, as he was standing in place of Sir Jeffrey, who is facing accusations of historical sex crimes that he denies.
Ms Eastwood expressed joy over her victory, stating that the party's outcome was a significant accomplishment.
"I am a girl from Lagan Valley, born and raised," she stated.
Mr. Buckley mentioned that the changes in boundaries and the division within unionism were the reasons he lost the seat.
Robin Swann won the South Antrim seat over Paul Girvan.
In a surprising turn of events in North Antrim, Ian Paisley from the DUP was defeated by Jim Allister, the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV). Allister referred to the outcome as "groundbreaking".
The TUV, which collaborates with Reform UK, strongly criticized the DUP's agreement to rejoin the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.
The SDLP brought back two of its Members of Parliament, Colum Eastwood in Foyle and Claire Hanna in Belfast South and Mid Down.
Robin Swann's victory in South Antrim marks the return of a UUP representative to Parliament, a first since 2017.
He resigned as health minister to focus on his campaign, a decision that party leader Doug Beattie called "careful and effective planning."
In North Down, an independent unionist representative made a comeback in Westminster.
Alex Easton, who used to be in the DUP, won against Stephen Farry, the deputy leader of the Alliance Party.
Alex Easton celebrated with his loved ones following his victory in North Down.
In other areas, the following individuals have been chosen in Northern Ireland:
Brendan Hughes: Political Reporter At BBC News NI
Ian Paisley's unexpected defeat in North Antrim has shocked the political world.
For more than five decades, the seat has been controlled by a family dynasty closely associated with the Paisley name and the entire DUP.
Rev Ian Paisley, the founder of the DUP, held the position since 1970 until his son took over in 2010.
Now, it will be TUV leader Jim Allister who will be the representative for North Antrim in the House of Commons.
His partnership with Reform UK seemed uncertain after its leader Nigel Farage publicly supported Paisley.
However, TUV's concerns about the DUP's agreement to reinstate Stormont appear to have resonated, allowing Allister to win over a DUP stronghold despite being in the minority.
For Allister, who was rejected by the DUP as a "hopeless unionist", this victory will be especially satisfying.
SDLP's Claire Hanna successfully retained her position in the Belfast South and Mid Down constituency.
A total of 136 individuals ran for office in Northern Ireland during the most recent general election, which was the first one held since 2019.
It works on a first-come, first-served basis, where voters simply mark an X next to the candidate they wish to see elected to the House of Commons.
The count of people who signed up to vote in Northern Ireland for the recent election was greater than ever before, reaching 1,363,961.
Yet, the number of people showing up was 57, which is a decrease of 4.5% compared to last year.
How To Track The Progress
Stay informed about the most recent news in Northern Ireland by following live updates on the BBC News NI website.
The nationwide election coverage show, led by Laura Kuenssberg and Clive Myrie, airs on both BBC Two and the BBC News Channel.
A longer version of Good Morning Ulster started at 06:00 and is also available to watch on the BBC News NI Website. Live coverage will continue all day on Friday, with discussions and responses to the complete results from Northern Ireland and the UK.
