McDonnell to focus on restoring devolution

Newly elected South Belfast MP Dr Alasdair McDonnell said getting devolved government up and running again would be one of his chief priorities.

He said: “People want an end to direct rule. They want to control their own affairs and it beholds us all to make sure this happens as quickly as possible.”

SDLP supporters were jubilant tonight having won the seat which was never out of Ulster Unionist control, but the unionist demise followed dramatically heightened tensions with each side blaming each other for the loss.

Mr Spratt, an ex-RUC officer and former chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Federation was clearly deeply disappointed after failing in his first election campaign, but he warned: “In four years time I will be back to re-claim this seat for unionists.”

Talks had taken place between the two parties in a bid to agree an electoral pact.

Mr McGimpsey said he too was deeply disappointed and claimed unionism had shot itself in the foot.

He added: “The DUP deliberately intervened and handed the seat to the SDLP. They are to blame for this because for someone who has represented this area for 12 years I was entitled to stand.”

Sinn Féin Alex Maskey’s 2,882 votes was slightly down on the party’s 2001 Westminster result amid claims that his votes suffered badly as a result of widespread criticism of republican involvement in the murder of Robert McCartney.