Eleven unionists and seven nationalists will now represent Northern Ireland at Westminster. Unionists gained two seats by agreeing an election pact against Sinn Féin in Fermanagh and against Alliance in East Belfast. The results are particularly disappointing for Sinn Féin whose vote share declined. Because the Tories have a slim overall majority the Democratic Unionist Party will not have the key role in determining government policy its leaders hoped for.
But the North will not be immune from the expected UK-wide political and constitutional changes nor from the consequences of the referendum on EU membership promised by David Cameron. The campaign usefully, if fitfully, aired these emerging issues and helped prepare voters for their impact on the North. The Tories are committed to further spending cuts in their drive to reduce the size of the state. Already the powersharing executive has had to follow suit in a painful set of decisions that could still threaten its survival. More such pressure can now be expected as well as greater efforts to match local taxation and spending, potentially threatening the North's status as the most subsidised part of the UK.
Scotland's place in the union will drive those efforts. Mr Cameron has pledged to legislate for deeper devolution, but making Scotland more fiscally responsible for its own spending would be a radical step with a sting in the tail. Scots would have to raise taxation to pay for it and could not be sure of their continuing disproportionate subsidy from London. The North's conflict-driven exceptionalism will also be harder to sustain.
During the campaign DUP leaders backed Tory calls to hold a referendum on EU membership. The potentially disastrous consequences for Northern Ireland should the UK vote to withdraw must now be made a priority issue by its leaders. They should document and canvass the North’s deep interest in remaining part of the EU as part of the forthcoming UK-wide debate. They should make common cause on this question and on devolution with Scottish and Welsh leaders – and with the Government in Dublin.