Seen as a safe win for the SDLP, following on from an overwhelming majority in 2019, it was no surprise that incumbent SDLP MP Colum Eastwood retained his seat in Foyle, though with a reduced majority.
A nationalist stronghold, the SDLP’s throne in Foyle has only been snatched once – by Sinn Féin’s Elisha McCallion in 2017 who had just 169 votes to spare.
However, Mr Eastwood received 26,881 votes in the 2019 UK general election, a majority of more than 17,110, and 57 per cent of the vote.
It was the highest majority recorded in the constituency’s 31-year history, 28 of which have seen an SDLP MP at the helm.
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This time around, Sinn Féin candidate Sandra Duffy, a councillor and former mayor of Derry City, received 11,481 votes, a gain from 2019 when Elisha McCallion received 9,771, though a significant 4,166 margin pushed Mr Eastwood well ahead on Friday.
“Politics is very difficult. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t win and I’ve been on both sides of that.
“The most important thing is that we have a democratic process that people take part and without fear of intimidation and violence, and I take my hat off to everybody who’s put their name on a ballot paper in this election,” he said after the results were declared.
Mr Eastwood, who has fought his campaign as a nationalist who will be present at Westminster, a contrast to Sinn Féin’s long-standing abstentionist stance, said his win signifies the people of Derry wishing for their voice to be heard in Westminster.
“I will gladly continue to be your voice and I will stand up for the people of our city of our constituency. We won’t be quiet,” he said.
Although “delighted to see the back of the Tory government,” he said incoming prime minister Keir Starmer “made promises”, including scrapping the controversial legacy act and recognising the state of Palestine.
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