Politics

Constituency Profile: Michelle Gildernew retakes Fermanagh and South Tyrone

SINN Féin's Michelle Gildernew has regained the Westminster seat of Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

In 2015 she lost the seat to Ulster Unionist candidate Tom Elliott, who won with the help of a unionist pact.

But this time Ms Gildernew was able to retake the seat despite the sitting MP benefitting from another unionist solo run.

For a full list of results click here.

The Sinn Féin MLA outpolled Mr Elliott by almost 1,000 votes with more than 25,230 compared to 24,355.

Cheering supporters applauded Ms Gildernew at the election count in Omagh leisure centre as her triumph became clear.

"It's all very surreal. It's a bit like an outer-body experience happening to somebody else," she told reporters after her victory was confirmed.

"I'm just so proud and humbled to be returning to Westminster with team Sinn Féin. It really is a huge privilege."

She added: "The people have spoken in their thousands tonight. They have again rejected the idea of Brexit and what that would mean for our constituency."

The SDLP's Mary Garrity received 2,587 votes, Alliance's Noreen Campbell 886 and the Green Party's Tanya Jones 423.

Turnout for the constituency was 76.08 per cent – a significant increase on the 72.61 per cent in the assembly election in March and 72.96 per cent in 2015.

Constituency Quick Links

  • Belfast North
  • Belfast East
  • Belfast South
  • Belfast West
  • East Derry
  • Lagan Valley
  • East Antrim
  • Fermanagh & South Tyrone
  • Foyle
  • Mid Ulster
  • Newry and Armagh
  • North Antrim
  • South Antrim
  • North Down
  • South Down
  • Strangford
  • Upper Bann
  • West Tyrone