Independent Alex Easton’s victory in the North Down constituency left him stunned, defeating incumbent MP, Stephen Farry from the Alliance party, who had unsuccessfully tried to maintain his seat. The race was anticipated to be tight, nonetheless, Easton outperformed by a margin of 7,300 votes.
Overwhelmed with emotions, Easton attributed his win to his parents, Alec and Ann Easton, who tragically lost their lives in a house fire in Bangor in 2023. He revealed that his father always had faith in him and that he owed his triumph to his parents.
Previously a DUP Assembly member, Easton stood as the election candidate for the same party in the constituency as other parties like Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) chose not to participate.
Colonel Tim Collins of Ulster Unionists’ (UUP) was the only Unionist contender, but his campaign started on shaky grounds due to his disorganised media interactions. Another nails in his campaign’s coffin were his clear disconnect with the constituency – not owning a home there and only promising to buy one if he won, and his ill-judged remark about North Down voters being interested only in local issues, not international affairs.
Notwithstanding the dismal performance by DUP in the election, party leader Gavin Robinson highlighted Easton’s success as a testament to the positive outcomes achievable when Unionists collaborate and work collectively.
Stephen Farry labelled the election night as regrettable but promised his party would introspect on and learn from the defeat. Reflecting on his five-year tenure, he expressed pride for his achievements and commitment to his vision and values for North Down and beyond.