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DUP stunned as Peter Robinson loses seat

Friday, 7 May 2010

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has sensationally lost his seat in east Belfast

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Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has sensationally lost his seat in east Belfast.

The MP, whose wife Iris quit in disgrace as MP for Strangford after admitting to an affair, was beaten by the Alliance Party's Naomi Long, the lord mayor of Belfast, to leave Democratic Unionist Party supporters gasping in disbelief.

Mr Robinson's support was expected to dip because of his involvement in a controversial land deal, but nobody - not even in the Alliance Party - expected this result which represented an unbelievable 22.9% swing in support.

The defeat was a stunning setback for Mr Robinson who had held the seat since 1979. It was confirmed just minutes after his colleague Ian Paisley Jnr took over from his father as MP for North Antrim.

His big and bitter rival Jim Allister of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) had been expected to mount a major challenge because of his opposition to Unionists sitting with Sinn Fein in the powersharing government at Stormont.

But he trailed in a poor second, more than 12,500 votes behind Mr Paisley who was favourite to win, but not by such a massive majority. His father, the Rev.Ian Paisley, held the seat for 40 years

The future of Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey will be in doubt if he fails to oust the DUP's William McCrea in south Antrim. But it was neck and neck in Fermanagh/South Tyrone where Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew faced huge challenge from Independent Unionist Rodney Connor. The turn out was in the high 70s.

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it is beyond my comprehension that a SPOUSE'S infidelity allegation could [or should ] influence a candidte's position in a poll.

r.c. , cork

Posted by rory conway | 08.05.10, 18:17 GMT

East Belfast has shown we are not so gullible after all. Power to the people! We want a moderate future. Now we can look forward to one.

Posted by thecracksgood | 08.05.10, 00:50 GMT

oh dear, how will Peter cope now on his greatly reduced income?

Posted by Carolyn Rhodes | 07.05.10, 16:21 GMT

Robin, could you define what a liberal patsy is please? Presumably you would prefer the opposite. What's that then, an illiberal nazi?

Posted by Graham Smyth | 07.05.10, 14:38 GMT

cant believe that east belfast voted for a liberal patsy, i have never seen naomi long do any work were i live didnt see her looking 4 my voted didnt see any of her team looking 4 my voted. after all the work peter has done for east belfast shame on you for voting a liberal patsy who has an open policy of letting every tom dick or harry in2 the country

Posted by robin | 07.05.10, 12:41 GMT

Peters 9/11, 22.9. Quit while the goings good (well not so good)

Posted by ron54 | 07.05.10, 12:41 GMT

Well done Alliance and Noemi. At last sense is being seen.

Posted by samuel | 07.05.10, 12:39 GMT

What smear campaign? Have all of you defending Robinson never heard of the libel courts or the Independent Press Complaints Commission?? If it's all smears and made up then why isn't he suing and why haven't the IPCC upheld his complaints? The man had opportunities to defend himself that we will never see in our lives and he still couldn't get people to believe him. Why is that then?? How naieve some of you are. All this nonsense that is being spouted about the 'lying media' is propaganda straight from the mouths of those in positions of authority who don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to denying those 'lies' in court. Look up the internet and you'll see thousands of cases of people suing the media (and winning) for anything and everything. Robinson lost the last grain of respect I had for him with his utterly contemptuous, arrogant and downright rude behaviour during his BBC interview. I'd have voted him out just for that. Imagine what he must be like away from the cameras!

Posted by graham smyth | 07.05.10, 11:37 GMT

No great surprise really. Good luck to Naomi.

Posted by Billy | 07.05.10, 10:50 GMT

the people of east belfast must be mad to dump a politican like robinson

Posted by Pete | 07.05.10, 09:39 GMT

we'll get him a carriage clock unionistvoter

Posted by niall | 07.05.10, 09:37 GMT

Perception has trumped reality. A very successful smear campaign.

Posted by Paul, Craigavon | 07.05.10, 09:13 GMT

Well done Naomi Long - sensational victory for the Alliance Party. Hopefully, she can now demonstrate that Northern Ireland is better served by moderate politicians.

Posted by SW | 07.05.10, 09:09 GMT

The people of east belfast rejoice

Posted by glenn mann | 07.05.10, 08:52 GMT

Another day and another election result.
It would appear that the Drone Wars of the Imperial TUV Army have utterly failed. Palpantine, sorry, Allister must surely know he is completely out of touch with anyone in Northern Ireland.
Roll on Northern Ireland, Episode 4: A New Hope.
And congratulations to Naomi Long. That was surely the shock of the election.

Posted by Ulysses32 | 07.05.10, 08:04 GMT

I can say with my hand on my heart that I voted for Naomi Long due to her hard work for the people of East Belfast, including me personally. I actually felt sorry for Peter Robinson the last few months, but employing family members, doing "dodgy" land deals did nothing for his campaign. Well done Naomi.

Posted by Grainne | 07.05.10, 08:04 GMT