Northern Ireland

Analysis: The DUP has a badly bloodied nose and Sinn Féin a bruised backside

The DUP's Nigel Dodds reacts after losing the Belfast North seat at the Titanic exhibition centre, Belfast, for the 2019 General Election. PA Photo. Picture date: Friday December 13, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Election. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire.
The DUP's Nigel Dodds reacts after losing the Belfast North seat at the Titanic exhibition centre, Belfast, for the 2019 General Election. PA Photo. Picture date: Friday December 13, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Election. Photo credit should read: Liam The DUP's Nigel Dodds reacts after losing the Belfast North seat at the Titanic exhibition centre, Belfast, for the 2019 General Election. PA Photo. Picture date: Friday December 13, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Election. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire.

The DUP has a badly bloodied nose and Sinn Féin a bruised backside, though the latter will obviously be delighted with the outcome in North Belfast.

Both Stormont’s big two will be reflecting on a poor electoral performance, which will no doubt help focus minds when talks aimed at restoring devolution begin on Monday.

Alliance and the SDLP will be buoyed by their respective performances -  a surge for the middle ground and moderate nationalism may well reflect frustration with Brexit though equally it may illustrate a wider growing disillusionment with a political status quo based on antagonism and polarity.

Developments in Britain will also have a major impact on the direction of travel for politics in the north.

Boris Johnson’s clear majority delivers the mandate to ‘get Brexit done’ but as the SNP’s landslide in Scotland demonstrates there will be inadvertent consequences for the rise of English nationalism throughout the union.

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Read more: 

  • Live: DUP disaster as Nigel Dodds and Emma Little-Pengelly lose seats
  • Push for Irish Unity referendum 'almost inevitable' following hard Brexit
 Get breakfast done! Ian Knox cartoon
 Get breakfast done! Ian Knox cartoon  Get breakfast done! Ian Knox cartoon