Sinn Féin’s luck has turned once again after receiving a “sweeter election result” in the UK general election than the recent local elections. 

The nationalist party has now become the largest Northern Irish party in Westminster – although they will maintain their tradition of refusing to take their seats. 

In 1997, the party gained two seats – while yesterday, it earned seven seats. 

Lunchtime Live host Andrea Gilligan said Sinn Féin has “made history yet again”. 

“It's a much, I suppose, sweeter election result or victory for them than what we were talking about here three, four weekends ago,” she told The Anton Savage Show. 

“I know that's something that Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill are talking about in a lot of the papers today - how it's time for change and all of the usual kind of sentiment.” 

Sinn Féin did not see the same success in the Republic last month during local and European elections, where they returned far fewer seats than expected. 

The UK general election, however, comes after Sinn Féin became the biggest party in the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly. 

The British election also uses First Past the Post (FPTP) as its voting system rather than Proportional Representation (PR) in the Republic of Ireland. 

Sinn Féin gain as DUP lose

Andrea said the main shock following the general election was the losses from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). 

Most notably, Ian Paisley Jr lost his seat in North Antrim – the first time since 1971 there has not been an Ian Paisley MP in Northern Ireland. 

Andrea noted Mr Paisley Jr “blew a kiss over his shoulders” to reporters following his loss. 

“Which I thought was a fairly bizarre performance to give,” he said. 

“But it would certainly appear that the DUP, or particularly those in the Paisley camp, were 99.95% certain that he was going to take the seat.” 

Ian Paisley watches a partial recount of votes in the North Antrim count at Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt, during the 2024 General Election.

Irish Times Ireland & Britain Editor Mark Hennessy said the Paisley loss was a shock for many – including North Antrim winner Jim McAllister. 

“Jim Allister had intended going on holidays next week,” he said. 

“But I mean, in a bizarre way, it is important to remember that the result for the DUP could have been an awful lot worse. 

“If Gavin Robinson had failed in East Belfast and had been beaten by Naomi Long, the DUP would now be in the early stages of another leadership battle.” 

While Sinn Féin builds a stronger nationalist hold in Northern Ireland, it appears unionism is becoming more “fragmented”. 

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