'Bittersweet' victory for Nesbitt

'Bittersweet' victory for Nesbitt

6 May 2016

MIKE Nesbitt said he is “shocked” to top the poll in Strangford but that his victory is “bittersweet”.

Mr Nesbitt said he would rather the UUP had finished “fifth and sixth” rather than “first and seventh”.

The UUP leader is referring to the fact it will be a struggle for fellow UUP candidate Philip Smith to get a seat. However, he is not ruling it out at this stage.

He said: “You just don’t know the way transfers will work.” 

Michelle McIlveen, coming a close second said she was “very happy” and “absolutely relieved” by the result. She said she was not at all disappointed to come second to the UUP party leader.

She added that the DUP had carefully managed its vote to maximise the number of MLAs it could return.