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There were variations in voting patterns throughout Northern
Ireland, but the general picture was that of Unionists staying
away from the polls in large numbers, and republicans coming
out in strength to cast their vote for Sinn Fein.
Generally, the unionist electorate per se need to be galvanised
into voting in the numbers needed to get the maximum number
of candidates elected.
This applies especially in the east of the Province, in constituencies
like North Down and South Antrim. Larger turnouts by Unionists
would surely have yielded more victories.
South Belfast, once a Unionist stronghold, which was represented
by the late Rev Robert Bradford, and the Rev Martin Smyth,
is a constituency experiencing great changes in its demographics.
It has the largest ethnic population in the city, it is home
to many people with connections to Queen's University, and
it has a growing Roman Catholic population, especially in
the Malone-Balmoral area.
But the constituency is still 55 per cent Unionist, and it
contains Protestant strongholds like Sandy Row, Donegall Road
and Donegall Pass - areas which have massive housing problems.
It is vital that South Belfast, with its large working class
loyalist population is represented by as many Unionist MLAs
as possible, hence the need for the main Unionist parties
to ensure that they are geared to the utmost.
Elsewhere in Belfast, it has to be of the utmost disappointment
that Diane Dodds did not get re-elected. She did a great job
for the Unionist people, and it is tragic that much of the
Shankill does not have a Unionist MLA - part of the Shankill
falls into North Belfast and does have Unionist representation.
If it is true, as some observers have said, that a few more
Unionist votes at each of the polling stations in West Belfast
would have ensured Diane Dodds being elected, then that is
sad. Every effort must be made in future elections to get
every single Unionist out on election day.
This election was significant in another respect. It underlined
the fact that Sinn Fein is well enough organised to make inroads
even in the most Unionist of constituencies. South Antrim,
Lagan Valley and North Antrim are notable examples, and there
is a great need for those huge numbers of Unionist people
who stayed at home, to get out and vote in future elections.
The Democratic Unionist Party did exceptionally well, and
it was noticeable that they had many workers and supporters
out in the run up to voting day.
The Ulster Unionist Party, once greatly admired for its professionalism
and its ability to get its people out on election day, has
a lot to do to get back to that great position. In quite a
few constituencies, independent Unionists did not manage to
get elected, but still polled enough votes to have a damaging
effect on the prospects of Ulster Unionists and Democratic
Unionists being elected.
The Orange Order has appealed to politicians from both the
major Unionist parties to do their best to try and achieve
Unionist unity. Nothing would do more to lift the morale of
the unionist electorate and people than to see a single Unionist
party carrying the standard for British Ulster.
It will not be easy to achieve any form of unionist unity,
but politicians should be working hard to bring this about.
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