Five major NI takeaways from a night of election drama

Eighteen constituencies, hundreds of thousands of votes and 10 hours of counting - welcome to the 2024 general election in Northern Ireland.

It's been a long, bleary night for the candidates, vote counters and commentators watching on but we now know who is being sent to Westminster.

From Sinn Féin celebrations to DUP commiserations, the storylines that have emerged since the polls closed will reverberate through Northern Ireland politics for some time to come.

Here's a rundown of everything you need to know from a night of drama.

The DUP losing three seats is bad – but the nature of those losses will really sting.

First, in Lagan Valley, the constituency of former leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Jonathan Buckley was defeated by Alliance’s Sorcha Eastwood.

The constituency, formed in 1983, has only ever returned unionist MPs – until now.

Mr Buckley highlighted boundary changes and unionist splits for the defeat, although others may also wonder about the impact of Sir Jeffrey stepping down from the DUP as he contests charges over alleged historical sex offences.

Then another shocker – Ian Paisley toppled in North Antrim by Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister.

It will be the first time in 54 years the constituency will not be represented by an Ian Paisley – the younger had succeeded his father, the DUP co-founder and former first minister who dominated Northern Ireland politics for decades.

In East Londonderry and East Antrim, Gregory Campbell and Sammy Wilson held onto their seats, but with a much reduced share of votes.

Elsewhere, leader Gavin Robinson did see off the challenge of Alliance leader Naomi Long. But, just a few months into his leadership, he’ll be left to contemplate what comes next.

The largest Northern Ireland party at local council level, at Stormont and, now, at Westminster - not a bad night's work for Sinn Féin.

After a bruising time in the Irish council and European elections, this will be a welcome pick-me-up for leader Mary-Lou McDonald and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill.

The party may not take their seats at the House of Commons, due to their long-held policy of abstentionism, but it will nonetheless see the results as a welcome step forward.

There may be some disappointment it did not get closer in Foyle, although it did eat into SDLP leader Colum Eastwood’s majority, but all in all it was a relatively smooth night for the party.

From 2019 to today, the number of Alliance MPs remains the same – one.

But the manner of returning that single MP couldn’t have been more of a rollercoaster.

First, early indications showed that sitting MP, and party deputy leader, Stephen Farry faced an uphill battle to retain his seat from independent unionist Alex Easton.

Independent unionist Alex Easton, who previously represented the DUP in the constituency as an assembly member, was aiming to take it back - his success was a disappointing blow for Mr Farry.

But that Alliance disappointment soon turned to joy, when it emerged that Sorcha Eastwood had won Lagan Valley, seeing off the challenge of the DUP’s Jonathan Buckley.

That was a historic victory - given a non-unionist had triumphed in the constituency for the first time - but Alliance may feel disappointed they were unable to increase their Westminster representation.

There were high hopes leader Naomi Long would take back her seat in Belfast East but she was unable to topple DUP leader Gavin Robinson.

The party went in with two – Colum Eastwood and Claire Hanna – and came out with both still in their Westminster seats.

Ms Hanna eased to victory in Belfast South and Mid Down.

And while Colum Eastwood saw his majority in Foyle significantly cut back, he’ll be happy to have seen himself get back over the line.

Elsewhere, a hoped-for challenge to Sinn Féin's Chris Hazzard in South Down did not really materialise and the SDLP may feel it has been leapfrogged by Sinn Féin in East Londonderry.

But the party will likely be content it has avoided the significant losses incurred in previous elections.

The Ulster Unionists used to dominate Northern Ireland politics, not least in Westminster representation. But they haven’t had an MP since 2017 – until now.

Step forward former health minister Robin Swann, who defeated the DUP’s Paul Girvan in South Antrim.

Mr Swann’s decision to step down as a minister to run for Westminster attracted some flak – particularly since Stormont had only been restored a short amount of time – but he and UUP leader Doug Beattie can feel the move has paid off.

That’s doubly true since the party failed to make breakthroughs anywhere else. It was hopeful of deputy leader Robbie Butler’s chances in Lagan Valley but he did not seriously trouble Sorcha Eastwood.

Meanwhile the selection of Iraq War veteran Col Tim Collins did not work in North Down.

He conceded the seat earlier this morning saying that North Down residents “don’t want someone who doesn’t live in Northern Ireland” and that voters there “are not interested in international affairs – they are interested in potholes and hedges”.