Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has been re-elected as MP for West Belfast with a slightly larger percentage of the votes compared with the last Westminster elections in 2005.
His share of the vote went up to 71.1 per cent of the total valid poll from 70.5 per cent five years ago. The SDLP’s Alex Attwood secured 16.4 per cent of the votes as against 14.6 per cent in 2005. Turnout fell from 64.2 per cent to 54.9 per cent.
In his victory speech, the Sinn Féin leader said he had been given a “renewed mandate” to build peace, equality, job-creation and Irish unity through the common action of Orange and Green.
He welcomed what he said were “trickles” of votes from the loyalist and unionist parts of the constituency and pledged to represent these voters just as strongly as the republicans and nationalists.
“Its not so much they voted for Sinn Fein, but they told us so because Sinn Féin had done more for them than the unionist parties. I don’t want to exaggerate this," he claimed. "It is small, but it is significant. It most comes from a section of working class people.
“This election campaign has been very good to me in terms of being a human being. Even if I never got one vote, but to be out there meeting people - some complete strangers - and being totally sympathetic to my family situation.
“There have been a lot of lies and untruths, but people have made up their mind and decided I was good enough to represent them. I feel humbled by that.”
Asked if this might be his last general election campaign, he laughed as he replied: “How long ago have I been elected? It‘s now 2.30am. So I’ve only been elected for an hour and you want me to give it up. Give me a chance.”
Total valid poll: 32,13; Gerry Adams (Sinn Féin) 22,840; Alex Attwood (SDLP) 5,261; William Humphrey (DUP) 2,436; Bill Manwaring (UCUNF) 1,000; Maire Hendron (Alliance) 596.
In the West Tyrone constituency, Sinn Féin's Pat Doherty was elected with 18,050 votes. Turnout in the constituency was 61.54 per cent with a total of 37,632 votes cast.
The Alliance candidate Michael Bower received 859 votes. The DUP's Tom Buchanan took 7,365. The SDLP's Joe Byrne, a former Assembly member received 5,212. Ross Hussey, the Ulster Unionist candidate, secured 5,281. Independent Ciaran McClean received 508.
There were 357 rejected ballot papers.
In 2005, about 12,000 votes went to an Independent candidate, local GP Kieran Deeny, who did not run this time. The count got underway shortly after 10pm last night, although boxes were still coming into the Omagh leisure centre, where the count took place, at about 11.30pm.
Additional reporting: PA