‘I am overwhelmed unionists supported me’

‘I am overwhelmed unionists supported me’

14 June 2017

THE loud cheer that greeted the official announcement that DUP candidate Diane Forsythe polled almost 9,000 votes was as loud as it was significant at last week’s election count.

The party has found a successor to current South Down MLA Jim Wells and Mrs Forsythe will certainly be in its thinking when it comes to choosing a candidate to contest the next Assembly election, given her impressive Westminster showing.

While a newcomer to politics, Mrs Forsythe almost doubled her party’s share of the vote in South Down. In 2015, when three unionist candidates contested the Westminster election, Wells secured 3,486 votes, 478 behind the UUP’s Harold McKee and 442 ahead of UKIP’s Henry Reilly.  Last week, Mrs Forsythe polled 8,867 votes, further cementing the DUP’s place as the authentic voice of unionism in South Down.

The beaming DUP woman said she was “absolutely delighted and overwhelmed” that so many people had voted for her, thanking her father Glyn Hanna — a Mournes councillor — for his support, explaining he had been her “grounding support and motivation” throughout the campaign.

“I am absolutely delighted with the result I have received today,” declared Mrs Forsythe. “This is my first election. After a very short campaign I am overwhelmed and humbled that the unionists in South Down have come out and given me such a strong vote.

“I hope they will recognise in me that there is a future for unionism in the constituency and I believe the DUP is the strongest voice to carry that forward. I hope people will stand behind me and we will work together for the future and for strong unionism representation in South Down. The people have come out and shown their support for the party and I did not expect to get such a vote and am totally overwhelmed. I never expected this and am absolutely delighted,” she continued.

Dismissing suggestions that she could be the DUP flag bearer at the next Assembly election, Mrs Forsythe said she was the party’s Westminster candidate, delighted with her result and happy to talk with party headquarters about how they felt about her performance. 

Asked if the success of the DUP and Sinn Fein further polarises Northern Ireland politics, she said she does not believe this is the case, suggesting it indicates unionist people 

have realised the importance of the strongest unionist voice for the Province.

”I can’t speak for anyone else other than the people I represent,” she continued. “I think the DUP is the strongest voice in Northern Ireland. It is the biggest party with representation at Westminster and for me tonight represents a very successful result and I am delighted with that. During my canvass there was great emphasis on ensuring people were registered to vote and I got a real sense they were highly motivated and would be turning out in numbers.”

Mrs Forsythe added: ”Everyone was positive and engaged from the word go. It was important people came out Province-wide to show their support for the Union. The people of South Down could see the bigger picture and the importance of unionism by coming out and supporting the DUP which has been given a very strong mandate.”