Ulster vote reveals tensions over peace deal
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sinn Fein topped the poll for the first time in a European election to take one of three seats in Northern Ireland.
But a nervous tremor passed through parties subscribing to the peace process when a hardline unionist, Jim Allister, polled better than had been expected although not enough to win a seat.
His success suggests that Protestant opposition to the powersharing settlement is stronger than thought and may increase strains over the powersharing deal between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionists.
Sinn Fein's Bairbre de Brun held her European seat and was elected on the first count with 126,000 votes. Her solid showing contrasted with her party's performance in the Irish Republic, where it made no significant advances.
Jim Nicholson, the Ulster Unionist who has been a Euro MP for more than 20 years, was re-elected with the support of the British Conservative Party to which his party is now linked.
For the Democratic Unionists, Diane Dodds took 88,000 first-preference votes, enough to take a seat, but in third place and a far cry from the days when her former party leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, regularly topped the polls.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments