General election 2015: Wilson retains seat in East Antrim

A very happy Sammy Wilson (centre) with members of his campaign team at the count in the Valley Leisure Centre. INNT 20-510CON

While the DUP’s vote was down from the last Westminster election, Mr Wilson was delighted with his poll-topping performance.

“I am happy that it’s all over and very thankful to the people of East Antrim for once again putting their faith in me,” he said.

Commenting on the number of votes that went to UKIP candidate Noel Jordan, Mr Wilson claimed that the DUP had been “disadvantaged” by not being included in national TV debates.

Making a dig about Mr Wilson’s double-jobbing as an MP and an MLA, UUP candidate Roy Beggs Jnr said he hoped that Mr Wilson would “give all of the people of East Antrim the full-time representation they deserve.”

Speaking to the Times, the DUP man stressed that his two roles are “complementary to each other” and said he will keep on his MLA role until the end of the current session and then take a decision on his Stormont future at that stage.

Full result:

EAST ANTRIM

Eligible electorate: 62,811

Total votes polled: 33,688

Percentage turnout: 53.63

Roy Beggs, UUP 6,308

Stewart Dickson, Alliance 5,021

Noel Jordan, UKIP 3,660

Margaret McKillop, SDLP 1,639

Oliver McMullan, Sinn Fein 2,314

Alex Wilson, Conservatives 549

Ruth Wilson, TUV 1,903

Sammy Wilson, DUP 12,103