Just 24 hours ago it all seemed unimaginable that the DUP leader Peter Robinson could loss a seat in East Belfast he has held for decades, but the electorate have spoken and elected Naomi Long of the Alliance Party.

The statisticians predicting the outcome of the poll in East Belfast had surmised that the opposing factions would cancel each other out, but it didn't happen and the renowned hard working East Belfast MLA Naomi Long romped home to victory in the first seat ever won by the Alliance Party at Westminster.

It really appears a bad night for unionism across the country with each of the leaders suffering near fatal blows. The people of North Antrim appear to have stayed true to Ian Paisley Senior by electing his son and sending a message loud and clear to the TUV Leader that:

Jim Can't Fix It For Us!

The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party lost his bid to take a seat from the DUP MP the Rev. William McCrea and the 'New Force' with the Tory party rendered meaningless as they failed to have elected a single MP. The Ulster Unionist Offices at Westminster are indeed 'EMPEY'.

The Democratic Unionist Party had. reelected all but one of their MP's, except the Leader Peter Robinson, whose defeat surprised many as boundary changes extending the East Belfast constituency were thought by many to have increased his vote. The causes for this defeat could be numerous as this is the first real vote since the DUP sat down with SF, this is the first vote since his family problems came to light and a £5 land deal were uncovered, it could be public disillusion at what appears to be his party's family dynasties, their double jobbing and their employment of family members.

On a more predictable note Lady Sylvia Hermon romped home to victory in North Down having stood down from the Ulster Unionists due to their pact with the Tory Party, perhaps now David Cameron wishes he had done a deal with her, rather than with Sir Reg. The win was however predicable and as Simply Belfast said before the Ulster Unionists were 'UUP, UUP and away with the fairies' for taking on their own seating MP.

Last Updated 7th May 2010