Diocese of Down & Dromore

The results are in, and the in the Diocese of Down and Dromore there are 2 new faces among our 6 MPs, both women.

Mayor of Belfast, Naomi Long, became the first ever Alliance Party Member of Parliament when she dramatically unseated Peter Robinson, MP for Belfast East for 31 years. (Naomi started her worshipping life in St Christopher's in our diocese).

In South Down, Margaret Ritchie, party leader, held the seat for the SDLP after the retirement of Eddie McGrady. Another woman, Lady Sylvia Hermon, romped home with a 21,181  majority to retain North Down.

Elsewhere in the diocese:

• Strangford: Jim Shannon replaces Iris Robinson for the DUP

• Conor Murphy holds newry and Armagh for Sinn Fein 

• Jeffrey Donaldson retains a large majority for the DUP in Lagan Valley

• David Simpson retains Upper Bann for the DUP    

Click here for the BBC News profile of Naomi Long and here for a profile of Margaret Ritchie.