Northern Ireland

North Belfast rejects Brexit, says new MP John Finucane

Sinn Féin's John Finucane has declared North Belfast has rejected Brexit after winning the seat from incumbent, the DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds.

Mr Finucane triumphed following a tight contest with Mr Dodds taking the seat with 23,078 votes ahead of his rival who finished on 21,135 votes.

The Sinn Féin man, who benefited from a pro-Remain alliance with the SDLP and Green Party who stood aside in support of him, said his victory was a rejection of Brexit.

"I want to thank each and every person who came out to vote for me today and I also want to acknowledge here tonight that there were those who stretched themselves and I know that this election was an election that transcended party politics and I know that I was very much the beneficiary of that today," he said.

"I think this election is about the future of North Belfast, we saw the threat of Brexit and what that meant for the people of Belfast, we saw the threat to our economy, the threat to our children's futures and I think that message, that remain voice that was heard in 2016 was amplified beyond recognition again tonight.

"North Belfast rejects Brexit, North Belfast is a Remain constituency, North Belfast wants a future as part of the European Union and I think that is hugely significant."

He added: "As an MP I pledge to you all tonight that I will work for every single person in this constituency whether you voted for me or not."

Referring to Sinn Féin's policy of not taking seats at Westminster, Mr Dodds said he "regrets North Belfast will be left unrepresented in the House of Commons at a challenging time".

The DUP man who had held the seat since 2001 said: "As far as Brexit is concerned, it is very clear now that Brexit is going to happen with Boris Johnson's predicted majority and it is very very important that the Northern Ireland Assembly is got up and running as quickly as possible so that the Northern Ireland Executive and politicians can have a role in that going forward. But Boris Johnson needs to understand that we must have a Brexit that ensures that it protects the integrity of the United Kingdom and is the best deal for Northern Ireland and that is something we will continue to work with the government on in the days ahead."

Read more: North Belfast MP John Finucane remembers father's murder

CANDIDATE VOTES % CHANGE SINCE 2017

Nigel Dodds (DUP)    21,135 (43.10%) -3.1%

John Finucane (SF)    23,078 (47.06%) +5.4%

Nuala McAllister (Alliance)    4,824 (9.84%) +4.4%

Electorate    72,225

Turnout  49,425 (68.43%) +0.9%

Majority:  1,943