Abstract
The 2009 European election in Northern Ireland saw some noteworthy changes and developments: two of the three successful candidates were female; Sinn Féin topped the Euro‐poll for the first time; the DUP share of the vote, although second in the first ballot of the poll, was badly hit due to the campaign of a disaffected former member. The UUP candidate – replete with newly formed backing from and alliance with David Cameron’s Conservative Party – secured the other seat. In every other previous Euro‐election in Northern Ireland, the DUP had topped the poll. Though it regained its Euro‐seat from Jim Allister, it did so at a price. The TUV leader performed embarrassingly well against his former party, not least in North Antrim where he now openly coveted the Westminster seat of retiring DUP heavyweight Ian Paisley.
Acknowledgements
The authors, with the usual provisos, would like to acknowledge the comments made on an earlier draft by Katy Hayward, John Garry and the editors.