Sinn Fein wins North Belfast seat in general election
Belfast, Northern Ireland - Sinn Fein have unseated the Democratic Unionist Party's Westminster representative and deputy party leader Nigel Dodd in North Belfast as Sinn Fein enjoyed a 5.4% swing in votes in the traditionally Loyalist held area.
John Finucane, who captured the North Belfast seat, was joined by Orfhlaith Begley (West Tyrone), Chris Hazzard (South Down), Mickey Bradey (Newry and Armagh), Francie Molloy (Mid Ulster), Michelle Gildernew (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) and Paul Maskey (West Belfast). The 7 Sinn Fein MP's will maintain their traditional abstention from taking seats at Westminster as they fail to recognise the UK Parliament as a legitimate entity on the island of Ireland.
The loss of Dodds is a major blow to the DUP who prior to this election propped up the crumbling government of Theresa May in exchange for preferential treatment, and a £1bn 'cash for votes' agreement following her disastrous election results.
Finucane, who campaigned long and hard in the weeks prior to the election, paid tribute to his late father, Pat Finucane, a solicitor, who was brutally murdered by the Ulster Defence Association in collusion with the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Remaining humble in his victory, Finucane was quoted as saying 'I can't help thinking of my father and where we have come from, not just as a family but as a society as well'.
DUP leader, Arlene Foster, was quoted as saying 'I am absolutely very disappointed, not just for North Belfast, but also for Northern Ireland'.
In terms of political consequences, the election results in Northern Ireland have demonstrated that pan-nationalism is augmenting in popularity across Northern Ireland. The British occupied enclave has seen its fair share of conflict, and has witnessed transition from ‘The Troubles’ throughout the 1970's and 1980's, to an educated and rational people striving to achieve a peaceful and united Ireland.
This victory for Sinn Fein comes at a period of numerous successes for the party who also recently saw a bi-election win in Dublin mid-West in November.
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