In Foyle, the SDLP victory was anticipated as a certainty, given the whopping majority received in the prior year’s election, it was no shock when the current SDLP MP Colum Eastwood maintained his position, although by a reduced margin. Only once has the kingdom of Foyle slipped from the reins of the SDLP – by Sinn Féin’s Elisha McCallion in 2017 who scraped through with just 169 votes.
Nonetheless, Eastwood garnered 26,881 votes during the 2019 UK elections, achieving a staggering majority of over 17,110 votes, and capturing 57% of the total vote. This numbered the largest majority seen in Foyle’s 31-year existence, with 28 of those years represented by an SDLP MP.
In more recent events, Sandra Duffy of Sinn Féin, a councillor and ex-Mayor of Derry City, fetched 11,481 votes, a step up from 2019 when Elisha McCallion received 9,771. Despite this improvement, a significant margin of 4,166 votes placed Eastwood comfortably in the lead.
“Politics can be challenging. There are victories and defeats, I have experienced both,” he commented following the election results. Eastwood emphasised the value of democratic processes free from fear, intimidation or violence, and commended everyone who participated in the election.
Identifying himself as a nationalist willing to voice concerns at Westminster, as opposed to Sinn Féin’s traditional abstentionist approach, Eastwood affirmed that his victory symbolises Derry’s people desire to make their voices heard in Westminster.
“I am committed to serving as your spokesperson and I will stand in defence of the citizens of our city and constituency. We will not maintain silence,” he pledged.
Despite his delight at the exit of the Tory government, Eastwood noted that incoming Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made certain pledges, among them the abolishing of the contentious legacy act and acknowledging the statehood of Palestine.