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DUP's Peter Robinson loses Westminster seat
Friday, 7 May 2010
First Minister and DUP Leader Peter Robinson after conceding defeat to Naomi Long of the Alliance Party in the East Belfast constituency
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Northern Ireland's first minister Peter Robinson has lost his seat in east Belfast after a close fight with the Alliance Party's Naomi Long.
The DUP leader polled 11306 votes, while Ms Long topped the poll with 12,839 representing a massive 22.9% swing in support.
It was a stunning setback for Mr Robinson who had held the seat since 1979.
Speaking after his defeat Mr Robinson said he would have preferred not to stand in this election but would continue to carry out his work in the Assembly.
Mr Robinson said: "I will continue to carry out vital work...I will always do my best to get the best deal for the people of Northern Ireland."
Thanking the voters Ms Long said: "I went to the electorate with a track record of hard work with a passion for east Belfast that I have lived in my whole life and with a dedication to serve them in an open and transparent way and give them my best and to build a better future for everyone in east Belfast.
"If that is what has won it, I'm pleased about that."
Sammy Wilson blamed the media for Mr Robinson's defeat.
"As far as the result for Peter is concerned it has to be seen in the context of a barrage against him by the media over the last six to nine months," he said.
"At the same time people have to recognise that despite all of those pressures he guided Northern Ireland to the completion of devolution, he has ensured that the Assembly has continued to function and improve it's work."
Ian Paisley Jnr claimed Peter Robinson had been the victim of a 'hunt him down' campaign.
Election results
South Belfast: DUP candidate Jimmy Spratt urges unionist pact
West Tyrone: Sinn Fein's Pat Doherty holds seat
Upper Bann: David Simpson holds his seat
East Antrim: Sammy Wilson cruises to comfortable victory
Lagan Valley: DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson ready to join talks on forming government
North Antrim: Ian Paisley Junior's celebrations halted by questions about Peter Robinson
Foyle: Comfortable win for SDLP's Mark Durkan
North Belfast: Nigel Dodds hails North Belfast victory as vote for progress
West Belfast: 'Stream of unionists help Gerry Adams to victory'
Mid-Ulster: Martin McGuinness increases share of vote
South Antrim: Firebrand preacher defeats UUP leader Sir Reg Empey in South Antrim
Newry and Armagh: Victory for Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy
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Comments
118 Comments
Diane
When I witness the dereliction and deprivation of inner East Belfast I find it difficult to understand how you feel he has served his community well?
I can only look on Peter Robinson's 31 years as MP as a dismal failure for the community of the lower Newtownards Road.
Posted by Maria | 10.05.10, 20:35 GMT
Again, w.gould and david, I refer to the first half of my last post.
Incidentally, w.gould. It is "grammar" not "grammer." Not to say that I would be as petty.
Posted by Ulysses32 | 10.05.10, 10:18 GMT
im clad peter robinson lost his seat its time for change
Posted by daniel chapman | 08.05.10, 15:50 GMT
The voters of East Belfast have ended Peter Robinson's double jobbing. The Free Presbyterian Church must now end William McCrea's double jobbing. McCrea must now resign as a gospel minister because if it is unacceptable to double job in politics then how much more is it wrong to rob God of the time that a minister must give to his calling in the gospel.
Posted by One Job Only | 08.05.10, 15:28 GMT
Maybe he can now go and spend some time with Iris shopping, sorry recovering!!!
Posted by eugene | 08.05.10, 14:19 GMT
Agree with Leon. It would appear the voters of E. Belfast have shown great maturity in their vote. I hope voters in the South can send a similar message to those politicians who appear to have lost the notion of service and leadership and are only interested in their expenses and pensions.
Posted by cname | 08.05.10, 11:50 GMT
Never have I been so disappointed in the Unionist people of Northern Ireland, especially those in East Belfast! How can we overlook 3 decades of Peter Robinson’s commitment and dedication, not only to East Belfast, but to Northern Ireland as a whole? Whilst Naomi deserves to be congratulated, it is impossible to argue that she won Peter’s seat entirely on merit as we have watched a smear campaign do its worst to him in the last 6 months, culminating in the removal of a brilliant politician and MP who has served his constituency and wider community with diligence and effective leadership. I, for one, hope Peter continues to steer us through the unchartered waters that are ahead of us in Northern Ireland. Both he and his Unionist colleagues in the DUP have moved Northern Ireland forward significantly and if given the chance and the support they deserve, will continue to do so! I urge his colleagues in the DUP to stand united behind him and to give him the support he so clearly deserves.
Posted by Diane | 08.05.10, 11:47 GMT
Ufortunately the man's ego, arogance and greed are too much for him to consider giving up power. East Belfast has sacked him as our MP. Will the DUP be stupid enough to keep him as leader against the wishes of the East Belfast electorate? Kick him out!
Posted by East Belfast Voter | 08.05.10, 11:08 GMT
i am glad to see peter robinson gone but there is a bigger issue that every politician in NI should pay heed to. that is the dramatic slide in the number of people who didnt even bother going to the poll station to cast their legal voting right. i am one of them and i cannot ever imagine voting again for any party. i think all mp's are self serving and put their own material gains first. as for ni's future, we only exist because gb carries us on her back. without that support, we would be a back water.
Posted by tomos | 08.05.10, 10:17 GMT
at last we are a proper, democratic country where people decide who they want to represent them. bye bye peter. its time to go.
Posted by peter the great | 08.05.10, 10:09 GMT
It was a case of 3 (known) strikes and you are out. He may have to switch from politics to real estate
Posted by pragmatist | 08.05.10, 09:48 GMT
Its a cautionary tale. Poor old Peter - I feel sorry for the chump. He should go out for a dander along the river and have a coffee to console himself.
Posted by Bapman | 08.05.10, 09:46 GMT
Enoch Powell said "all political lives end in failure" Crash and burn Peter, crash and burn. No more big house unionist fawning from the masses for you and your wife. But hey - it beats the hell out of retiring quietly.
Posted by william | 08.05.10, 09:28 GMT
Peter achieved the impossible. Shame on him. The people are not as stupid as he thought. Greed and arrogance his downfall.
How could he morally accept muliple salaries while we all know nurses etc are going to be asked to take cuts to their only salaries due to Government over spend. We can't with a population of 1.5 million afford Stormont never mind muliple salaries.
Posted by Ed | 08.05.10, 09:00 GMT
Ulyysses32, the Alliance Party is not a unionist party, it is a party of the people, it is a party for all, nationalist or unionist.
I am a unionist, in the past I have voted SDLP, they are a nationalist party, but they speak of reason and understanding and while they aspire to a nationalist ideology, they represent all of the people of Northern Ireland. The SDLP live in the real world, they work in Westminster, they vote in Westminster, they represent the people of Ireland in a UK government because as things currently stand, the six counties are part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The problem I have, as an Alliance voter based on economics and my families wellbeing, I believe that being part of the UK is a much greater alternative to a united Ireland, I am by ideology a unionist, yet there is no place for me in Sinn Fein's "Ireland of Equals".
Sinn Fein and republicans cannot even say Northern Ireland.
It's sectarian and pathetic.
Posted by Steven73 | 08.05.10, 02:39 GMT
Very crushing defeat. Sorry for you Peter even though I have been a critic of your dynasty's excesses. Time to leave politics and make a new live for yourself your wife and family. Best regards.
Posted by BrianH | 07.05.10, 23:42 GMT
Well done Naomi...
TUV and PUP deliver the seat to a non-unionist.
Posted by David | 07.05.10, 23:05 GMT
In a years time all will be forgive Peter, thanks for all your hard work on our behalf.
Can't see Namoi sticking round Long ;)
Posted by William | 07.05.10, 23:03 GMT
Mont Blanc Pen £305
Kingsize bed £1600
Brief case £700
Meals for 25 years £30,000
Claiming second mortgage payments
Land sold for £5
employing your family who don't live in the country for part of the year
Claiming you knew nothing about £50k peculiar money transactions.
The good ppl of east Belfast will to coin a phrase NEVER stand for this! Time to go Pete and Reg the partnership didn't work we need a shake up in both parties. All the best Naomi!
Posted by Who Knows? | 07.05.10, 22:46 GMT
Ulysses32, w.gould makes a reasonable point. East Belfast has shown a willingless to vote for a different party, to embrace policies rather than simply voting for a Unionist Party for the sake of it.
Maybe it's time some of the Sinn Fein voters did the same?
Posted by david | 07.05.10, 22:32 GMT
118 Comments