Night of shocks for DUP as Ian Paisley loses family hold on North Antrim

Ian Paisley arrives at Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt, during the count for the 2024 General Election (Niall Carson/PA)

The DUP has suffered a bruising set of election results in Northern Ireland with the party suffering a seismic shock when Ian Paisley lost his seat in North Antrim.

In a difficult night for the unionist party, the Alliance Party’s Sorcha Eastwood also had a historic result as she triumphed in the DUP stronghold of Lagan Valley – the seat formerly held by party leader Jeffrey Donaldson.