Unionists likely to take 10 seats while Sinn Féin makes strong showing but says it will not end Westminster boycott to back Corbyn

The Democratic Unionist party’s leader at Westminster has ruled out any chance of backing Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister and confirmed they will deal solely with the Conservatives as a hung parliament looks increasingly likely.

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With the DUP expected to win 10 out of Northern Ireland’s 18 seats, North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds acknowledged that he and his are likely ‘kingmakers’ after all the votes are counted in the general election.

“We will look at it in the clear light of day. We have increased our mandate quite substantially. We have taken 10 seats which puts us in a strong position for the negotiations that need to happen here (in Northern Ireland) and also now on the national stage. So will see what happens and talk to people over the next few days.”

Dodds however stressed that his party will not be talking to Jeremy Corbyn about supporting Labour for government.

“Under no circumstances would we support, help, prop up or any way assist Jeremy Corbyn to achieve any of his objectives given his track record,” the DUP MP said.

Sinn Féin, however, has ruled out ditching its historical policy of boycotting Westminster and instead lending its support to Jeremy Corbyn, a key long-term ally in parliament.



In the first sign that the general election would bring a surge in the DUP’s fortunes, its Lagan Valley MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, was returned with 26,762 votes – up nearly 8,000 on his majority in the last election.

The DUP was on course through the early hours of Friday morning to make gains in South Belfast and South Antrim. Emma Little Pengelly looked likely to take the South Belfast seat from Alasdair McDonnell of the nationalist SDLP.

The overall Northern Ireland result would end up with the DUP holding 10 seats, two more than last time, and possibly having a major say in the formation of the next Westminster government. A revised exit poll put the Conservatives on 322, four short of a majority – which would make the DUP’s support crucial.

Speaking after his victory, Donaldson said the DUP “could be very influential” at Westminster once all the votes were counted. “Even if the Tories get a small majority or there is a hung parliament, the DUP MPs this time around will have a big say in terms of national government,” he said.

Donaldson stressed the DUP “would not be parochial but would make decisions that would be beneficial for the whole of the United Kingdom”. On Brexit, he said the party would seek “the best deal possible” for both Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole.

With the rival Ulster Unionists possibly losing all their seats, Donaldson said the outcome could “bring the day of unionist unity even closer”, which means a single party representing the pro-union position in Northern Ireland.

The DUP leader and former first minister Arlene Foster got a euphoric reception from her supporters inside the Titanic Centre in Belfast at about 2am on Friday.

Asked about backing the Tories in a post-election deal, Foster said: “We have always said that we would put forward the strongest possible team in any Brexit negotiations. Obviously we want devolution back up and running again as quickly as possible so we can have a discussion about getting a distinctive Northern Ireland voice. It’s important we have that Northern Ireland voice in those Brexit negotiations.”

Foster said the DUP’s resurgence after losing votes in the Stormont assembly election in March “underscored the fact that Northern Ireland remains British”.

Play Video 0:55 Gerry Adams confirms Sinn Fein MPs will not take their seats – video

Sinn Féin was the other the big winner, with the party poised to wrest the Foyle seat off the SDLP MP Mark Durkan. The SDLP has dominated the Derry constituency for decades and its defeat there signals its terminal decline in the face of a post-peace process Sinn Féin surge.

The SDLP was in danger of losing all its seats at Westminster, including Margaret Ritchie in South Down, where Sinn Féin’s Chris Hazard has mounted a very serious challenge.

Gerry Adams, the Sinn Féin president, ruled out any possibility that the party would reverse its traditional policy of boycotting Westminster. Adams said: “No. If we are fortunate enough to have candidates elected as MPs it will on the basis that we will not be going to take our seats in Westminster.”