Alliance scored a big win today as Patricia O’Lynn was elected as an MLA for North Antrim.
And the constituency witnessed a seismic shift as the DUP’s Mervyn Story lost his seat with the party only managing to get one MLA home and dry.
Paul Frew will now be the only DUP MLA in the one-time Paisley citadel. The Alliance candidate becomes the party’s first and the first female MLA elected in the constituency.
Read more: LIVE: Northern Ireland Assembly starts to take shape
Speaking after she pipped the DUP’s Mervyn Storey to the final seat, Ms O’Lynn said: “No candidate is entitled to a seat. The age of entitlement is over.
“We have not only elected North Antrim’s first-ever Alliance MLA but North Antrim’s first-ever female MLA.
“For me to become an MLA is a history-making situation.
“I think people have come out to vote Alliance because they know we are workers, not wasters.
“We do not waste a single vote that is given to us. We have a mandate of hope.”
The North Antrim count is now complete with TUV leader Jim Allister; Paul Frew of DUP; Sinn Fein’s Philip McGuigan; Patricia O’Lynn and Ulster Unionist Robin Swann elected.
Robin Swann became the first Ulster Unionist to top the poll in North Antrim since 1966. The Health Minister who guided Northern Ireland through the coronavirus pandemic was elected in the first count with 9,530 first preference votes.
He needed 8,438 to get past the post and retake his seat.
He said during his victory speech: “1966 was the last time an Ulster Unionist topped the poll in North Antrim.”
Just 62% of eligible voters cast their ballot on polling day in the constituency.
The next to be elected was Sinn Fein’s Philip McGuigan.
He told Belfast Live: “I am absolutely delighted. This is a big result in the constituency - we have upped our vote here - whilst I am not aware of all that’s going on across the North I am well aware that Sinn Fein are doing well.
“I think that’s due to the positive message of Sinn Fein and all our candidates during this election - but it’s also a clear signal that the people out there want politicians to get straight back to work.”
TUV leader Jim Allister reclaimed his seat in the constituency on stage 5A of the count - a disappointing outcome for the North Antrim man who fielded a second candidate, Matthew Armstrong.
He used his victory speech to label Alliance a “crypto nationalist party”.
Speaking on the Northern Ireland Protocol he added: “I will be the one shining a searchlight into the dark corners of this government.
“I will be the one asking the hard questions.”
He also hit out at Sinn Fein in his speech.
O’Lynn hit back saying at Allister’s slight against her party saying “the age of entitlement is over”.
She added: “Today I want to say to David [Ford] I hope you are happy, to Steven [Farry] I hope you are impressed and to Naomi [Long] I hope you are as happy as I am. Together we can and together we build.”
Paul Frew was the only DUP candidate elected in the constituency after taking a large number of the TUV’s transfers.
He paid tribute to Mervyn Storey.
“I believe Mervyn will come back stronger in the future,” he added.
Read more: Follow the Northern Ireland election results live using our interactive map
Read more: NI election results 2022: What happens if Sinn Fein wins Assembly poll
For the latest politics news straight to your inbox , sign up to our newsletter here
