It’s 1-2-3 for DUP and they silence Bell

It’s 1-2-3 for DUP and they silence Bell

8 March 2017

THE DUP retained its three seats in Strangford in a best possible result for the party.

Simon Hamilton, Michelle McIlveen and Peter Weir, all outgoing ministers, have secured another Assembly term.

With one less seat to go round this time in the Strangford constituency, a high profile Unionist casualty was feared. But it was expected that this would be fought out between Peter Weir, shipped in from North Down, and the UUP’s Philip Smith who secured the sixth seat in Strangford just 10 months ago.

In the end it was a nail-biting late night finish between SDLP veteran Joe Boyle — who did better than expected in his fifth attempt for a seat — and Mr Weir. 

Mr Weir, outgoing Education Minister, had been chosen to fill the gap left by suspended DUP member and independent candidate Jonathan Bell. 

Prior to the election Mr Bell said that the people of Strangford would deliver their verdict on his sensational TV interview on the RHI heating scandal, which criticised the DUP and helped trigger the snap election. 

However, an absent Mr Bell received just 1,479 first preference votes and only managed to rack up a total of 1,794 during the next six stages before being eliminated. 

Earlier in the evening outgoing Economy Minister, Simon Hamilton,was the second person elected in the poll and the to be returned for the DUP. He was elected at stage five with a total of 6531 votes.

Speaking just after his own result, Mr Hamilton said he was not disappointed that Alliance was first over the finish line.

“Our main objective is to get our three seats back and we still hope Peter Weir will be the third representative,” he said.

He said voters on the doorsteps had asked questions about the RHI heating debacle but more in an attempt to understand the situation.

“People realised that the DUP had been trying to deal with the problem,” he said.

Following a disappointing result for the UUP, Mr Hamilton said it wasn’t his place to comment on that party’s future. However, he did say some voters had queried why there was not one unionist party.

“People would have asked - why are you not working more closely together?” he said.

In his victory speech Mr Hamilton thanked campaign workers and colleagues.

“I am honoured to have received the vote I have received today,” he said. “The party’s vote has held up and we are able to return three Assembly members to Stormont again representing the DUP.

“I got a very clear message on the doors of Strangford. They want devolution, they want a working Assembly and a working Executive building on the progress that has been made over the last number of years on issues that matter to them such as jobs and investment into Northern Ireland, reforming our health service and education system.”

Party colleague, Michelle McIlveen, was elected in the next round. She had 5,728 first preference votes (up from 4,663 on the last occasion).

Ms McIlveen, who has a Masters in Irish history, is a former teacher of history and politics and also worked in a family business before entering politics. Elected as an MLA for Strangford in 2007, she was a previous DUP representative on Ards Borough Council.

Always a quiet presence at an election count, Ms McIlveen said before the result was announced she believed she had done enough.

She said the focus on the doorsteps had been local issues and that she had a track record of constituency work in the area. 

“I am absolutely delighted to be standing here yet again as an Assembly member and look forward to representing the people of the constituency of Strangford,” she said in her victory speech.

“It is a privilege to be here. We are going to get back to work and work hard for the people who have put their trust in us.”

Commiserating with those who didn’t secure a seat, she added: “I would like to pass on my thoughts to Joe. Back in 2007 it was actually Joe and I who were fighting it out for the last seat. I remember a recount at one stage as well.”

Peter Weir was eventually elected at stage 11 of the count process with a total of 5,392 votes, ahead of Joe Boyle’s 5,167. He acknowledged his win on the fifth seat had been hard fought.

“I want to pay tribute to Joe Boyle who gave a very fair and competitive fight in a very narrow victory,” he said.

He also acknowledged the role party “giants” had played in helping elect him in his new Strangford constituency, with “too many” to thank but a special word for DUP MP, Jim Shannon.

“I continue to look forward to working with Jim, Michelle and a great bunch of councillors in Strangford,” he said. “I look forward to delivering for them in this fresh challenge.”