Simpson blasts UUP after retaining Upper Bann seat

He received 15,430 votes with the UUP’s Jo-Anne Dobson polling 13,166 votes, Sinn Fein’s Catherine Seeley took third place with 11,593 Votes.

Dolores Kelly of the SDLP took 4,230 votesx.

Delivering his victory speech, amid some heckling, Mr Simpson was clearly enraged by certain aspects of the campaign hitting out at what he described as ‘despicable attacks on his family’.

He said: “First of all I very humbly thank God for this victory today, despite what has been thrown at us this has been and is a fantastic victory.

“There’s some sore heads here. It hurts when the DUP has a victory.”

He thanked electoral staff for their efforts and added: “Can I also thank each and every voter who came out and supported us in this election,

“Can I also thank my family, my wife who is here tonight and my three kids. I have to say about the despicable attacks on my family over the past seven weeks. Disgraceful is the only word I can use.

“I have been in frontline politics for 18 years and I cannot believe what has been thrown at us over the past seven weeks.”