Lagan Valley: No surprises as Donaldson retains seat

Jeffrey Donaldson easily retained his seat

The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson has retained his seat with another huge majority in Lagan Valley.

Mr Donaldson polled 18,199 votes. In second place was Ulster Conservative and Unionists - New Force candidate Daphne Trimble with 7,713.

The Alliance Party's Trevor Lunn was third with 4,174 votes.

Keith Harbinson of the TUV polled 3,154 votes, Brian Heading of the SDLP, 1,835, and Paul Butler of Sinn Fein, 1,465.

Mr Donaldson, a former Ulster Unionist who is entering his fourth term as MP for the area, said the voters had sent out a clear message.

"I will work with all of my colleagues locally in the assembly and at council level to represent this area, to bring investment to this area, to win jobs for people who are jobless, to give hope to our young people.

"Most of all this election was about taking Northern Ireland forward - that's what we have stood for in this campaign," he said.