Video: UUP group leader says team effort was key to Kinahan’s election success

Alderman Mark Cosgrove, who was one of dozens of UUP members involved in Mr Kinahan’s successful campaign in South Antrim, is delighted with the party’s continuing resurgence in the constituency.

Mr Kinahan unseated the veteran DUP politician, securing a majority of 949 votes - something Alderman Cosgrove puts down to “a direct swing” from Dr McCrea’s party to the UUP.

“I am absolutely delighted for Danny and for the centre ground of unionism. We have proved that we can win and I know that Danny will serve all of the people - those who voted for him and also the thousands of people who didn’t,” Alderman Cosgrove said.

The Glengormley councillor said the UUP had built on the momentum from last year’s council election when the party fielded 12 candidates in Antrim and Newtownabbey and all were elected.

“We played as a team,” he continued. “We played as a wider team. We had 40 or 50 people out canvassing. We had a strategy and we implemented that strategy and it all came together on the day.”

Mr Kinahan said he was “phenomenally grateful” to all those who helped him get elected to the House of Commons, particularly his 75-strong campaign team and all those who voted for him.

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