UK General Election 2012 - Campaign Thread (FULL RESULTS)

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January 5 - January 12


First Minister Arlene Foster speaking to a group of DUP supporters in Belfast on January 10, 2012

January 5, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster, DUP Westminster Leader Nigel Dodd, and North Antrim MP Ian Paisley, Jr. held a press conference in Ballycastle, County Antrim to launch the DUP’s 2012 general election campaign. Foster spoke about the “boundless optimism of the Northern Irish people” and their “desire for a greater say in the governing of their own lives”. She went on to say that the DUP is the only party “positioned to fight for Northern Ireland” in Westminster.

After the press conference, the three DUP officials toured Holy Trinity Church, Church of Ireland. They observed a minute’s silence at the end of their tour.

January 6, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster spent much of the day meeting with senior DUP leadership and staff, selecting their proportional list candidates and developing a messaging strategy.

Foster also held a conference call with DUP MLAs to discuss events in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

January 7, 2012:

The DUP held a rally in Belfast to formally launch the DUP 2012 general election campaign. DUP Leader Arlene Foster used her speech to reiterate many of the same points she made in her January 5th press conference, adding the tagline, “Northern Ireland holds the keys to its own destiny. It’s time to turn the key and unlock our potential!”. She also unveiled the DUP’s manifesto “Standing Strong for Northern Ireland” at the rally.

January 8, 2012:

No public events were held, because DUP Leader Arlene Foster attended church in Enniskillen.

January 9, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster held a press conference in Enniskillen to publicly announce the DUP’s proportional list candidates. At the press conference, Foster stressed the historic nature of the list, as it was comprised equally of men and women. Foster told the press “We’re going to bring Northern Ireland’s political landscape into the 21st Century, even if Westminster is still a old boy’s club for most.”

2012 Democratic Unionist Party Proportional List Candidates

1. Arlene Foster, MLA
2. Nigel Dodds, MP
3. Ian Paisley, Jr., MP
4. Jeffrey Donaldson, MP
5. Pam Lewis, MLA
6. Gregory Campbell, MP
7. Councillor Norah Beare
8. Paul Girvan, MLA
9. Michelle McIlveen, MLA
10. Councillor Aileen Graham
11. Ms. Emma Little-Pengelly
12. Peter Weir, MLA
13. David Simpson, MP
14. Sammy Wilson, MP
15. Councillor Margaret Tinsley
16. Diane Dodds, MEP
17. Alastair Ross, MLA
18. Councillor Louise Templeton

January 10, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster spent the morning leading a group of volunteers around Belfast, knocking on doors and meeting votes.

In the afternoon, Foster toured Belfast International Airport. While there, Foster touted that the DUP Manifesto “recognizes the great asset the BIA is, and pledges to give it the funding it needs to rival Heathrow and bring a great wealth of commerce and leisure travel to Northern Ireland.”

She spent the evening meeting with DUP volunteers in Belfast and making telephone calls.

January 11, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster appeared on Daybreak to make the DUP pitch. She defended the DUP Manifesto pledge to hold a referendum on the European Union saying “We voted to join the European Community in 1973, why shouldn’t we get a vote on whether or not to leave it now? This is a democratic government - the people get a say in how we run the country. Let’s give them the opportunity to give us their input on this critically important issue.” When asked if the DUP would support leaving the EU, Foster said “We’ve been a Eurosceptic party since our founding. Yes.”

Later on, she knocked on doors in Newtownabbey and met with the County Antrim DUP leadership.

January 12, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster gave a speech in Altmore, County Tyrone in the morning. She used the speech to attack Sinn Fein and their policy of abstentionism, arguing “What is the sense in voting for someone as your representative who won’t go on, take the seat, say the oath, and actually represent you? That’s like hiring a plumber who says he won’t show up, won’t find the leak, and won’t replace the pipe!” She stressed that the DUP was the only party that “can seriously work to improve the condition in Northern Ireland.”

She spent the rest of the day in meetings related to the Northern Irish Executive.

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January 12 - January 19


First Minister Arlene Foster at the BBC Leaders Debate

January 12, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster gave a speech in Altmore, County Tyrone in the morning. She used the speech to attack Sinn Fein and their policy of abstentionism, arguing “What is the sense in voting for someone as your representative who won’t go on, take the seat, say the oath, and actually represent you? That’s like hiring a plumber who says he won’t show up, won’t find the leak, and won’t replace the pipe!” She stressed that the DUP was the only party that “can seriously work to improve the condition in Northern Ireland.”

She spent the rest of the day in meetings related to the Northern Irish Executive.

January 13, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster toured the Thomas Ferguson’s Irish Linen factory in Banbridge, County Down. Following her tour, she met with employees and held a roundtable discussion with management on “how the DUP can make business better”.

After the roundtable discussion, Foster knocked on doors in Banbridge for a few hours, before driving to Bangor to meet with DUP volunteers and make phone calls from the local DUP headquarters.

January 14, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster held several meetings related to her role as First Minister of Northern Ireland in the morning and afternoon.

In the evening, she delivered a speech in Omagh about “putting Northern Ireland first”. In the speech, she pledged to “not just prop up some Westminster government”, if the election results would put her in a position to do so, “but extract deep, meaningful promises to ensure the needs of Northern Ireland are met”. Among those needs were several DUP Manifesto positions, including renovations to Belfast International Airport, expanded broadband internet connections, increased and bettered ferry services, and extended health care services.

January 15, 2012:

No public events were held, because DUP Leader Arlene Foster attended church in Enniskillen.

January 16, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster knocked on doors in her MLA constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone for most of the day. She then spent several hours making fundraising phone calls from her home in Enniskillen.

January 17, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster met with voters at a cafe in Derry, County Londonderry during the morning rush. She paused for many pictures and took several minutes with each voter in an effort to make a deep, lasting connection.

She appeared on BBC Radio Foyle in the afternoon and announced she would be participating in the BBC Leaders Debate. She explained her decision by saying that “Just as English MPs can vote on laws that affect Northern Ireland, Northern Irish MPs can vote on laws that affect England. I want the English, and the Scotts, and the Welsh, to know who the DUP are and to know what we stand for.” When asked if she would attend the second debate, Foster replied “We’ll see when the time comes.”

January 18, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster knocked on doors in the village of Brookeborough, County Fermanagh in the morning, before driving to Belfast to knock on doors there.

She spent the afternoon meeting with senior DUP officials at DUP headquarters in Belfast, developing election strategy, reviewing the past week, and preparing for the BBC Leaders Debate.

In the evening, the DUP held a rally in Victoria Park to send Foster off to London for the debate and to energize the party’s base. Ian Paisley, Jr., Nigel Dodds, and Pam Lewis each spoke to crowd before Emma Little-Pengelly introduced Foster. Foster gave a fiery and passionate speech making the case for the DUP as “the only party capable to doing the work of the Northern Irish electorate”. She also touted the DUP Manifesto as a “forward looking Manifesto for the 21st Century, not a backwards Manifesto for the battles of the 20th Century!” She then spent several minutes moving through the crowd and meeting with party loyalists and supporters.

January 19, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster held an interview with the Belfast Telegraph to begin the day. In the interview, she defended the DUP Manifesto position of holding a referendum on the status of the United Kingdom within the European Union. She told the reporter “If people vote to keep it the same or the people vote to leave, it doesn’t matter to me. We just need to have a vote on it and let the people from all over the nation weigh in on it. Our last vote on the EU was in 1975. I was five years old at the time. It’s time to let the younger generations weigh in on something so monumental.”

She then flew to London to participate in the BBC Leaders Debate. Before the debate she spent several hours meeting with voters in the pubs nears the BBC studios. Even though most of them wouldn’t be voting in Northern Ireland, Foster felt it was important to “show the people of the nation that the DUP aren’t the villains the media make us out to be”.

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First Minister Arlene Foster speaking inside of Stormont on January 24

January 20, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster flew into Belfast International Airport in the early morning hours, slept for a few hours, then held a town hall-style meeting with voters at the Belfast Royal Academy. At the town hall, she looked to built upon her success at the BBC Leaders Debate and spoke about “the great opportunity that we have to secure the Unionist future of Northern Ireland” by elected DUP MPs. She told the crowd “If we get 10 DUP MPs, we can control the fate of the Government” with the new proportional representation likely to create a hung parliament.

After the town hall meeting, Foster drove to Antrim, where she toured the Antrim railway station with Ian Paisley, Jr., MP and several community leaders. She then gave a brief speech on the DUP’s manifesto for infrastructure improvements and launched “DUP Infrastructure Week”, where senior DUP leadership would be spending the week discussing the future of infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

January 21, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster spent the morning door knocking in Poyntzpass with DUP volunteers.

In the afternoon, she visited with construction workers on the A24 in Clough, County Down as part of the DUP’s Infrastructure Week. While there, she discussed the proposed by-pass for the A24, saying that the DUP would be able to secure funding from Westminster for the project because “unlike Sinn Fein, the DUP actually show up to the jobs we were elected to do”.

Foster spent the evening in her MLA Constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone making telephone calls from the local DUP headquarters.

January 22, 2012:

No public events were held, because DUP Leader Arlene Foster attended church in Enniskillen.

January 23, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster started the day in Portrush, County Antrim, speaking to dock workers at Portrush Harbor as part of the DUP’s Infrastructure Week. She used the visit as an opportunity to explain the DUP’s manifesto pledge of increased and improved ferry services between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. She explained that the services would “provide the spark of commercial and leisure tourism that will kick the Northern Irish economy into” high gear.

In the afternoon Foster toured Portrush Primary School and met with parents, using the opportunity to discuss the DUP’s education policies. She told the group that the DUP “believes in the importance of grammar schools and will work to protect grammar schools” as part of “the Northern Irish way”. After the meeting, she spent a few hours knocking on doors in the area.

January 24, 2012:

The day was devoted to work for the Northern Irish Executive and the Northern Irish Legislative Assembly.

January 25, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster spent the day in Strabane, County Tyrone. She started the day meeting with Derry and Strabane District Councillors and discussing local issues and how the Executive in Stormont can help.

In the afternoon she door knocked in Strabane with DUP volunteers before meeting with construction workers on the A5. Foster spoke to the construction workers on the A5 as part of the DUP’s Infrastructure Week. She made it a point to comment on Taioseach Enda Kenny’s 2011 decision not to contribute £400 million to the proposed work on the A5, using the fact to attack Sinn Fein, saying “No Northern Irish government can rely on a foreign government - which the government in Dublin is - for basic infrastructure on our roads. That’s what a Sinn Fein government would do.”

In the evening, the DUP held a rally in Grange Park in Omagh, County Tyrone. Although Thomas Buchanan MLA opened up the rally, it was really a highlight of the DUP’s female faces. All nine of the DUP’s female candidates spoke at the rally, with Dianne Dodds, MEP and Ms. Emma Little-Pengelly playing the most important roles. Foster herself played a minor role at the rally, speaking briefly at the end to attack Sinn Fein, saying “The parties of the left - Sinn Fein and the SDLP - try to make themselves out to be the parties of equality. Well, look at their list of candidates. Are half of their candidates women? Is there leader a woman? Did they nominate a woman for deputy First Minister? I don’t think so!”

January 26, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster visited the City of Derry Airport as a part of the DUP’s Infrastructure Week. After taking a tour of the facilities, including taking a couple of promotional photos in the cockpit of a Ryanair Derry-to-Stansted flight, she met with workers, passengers, and management. During the visit, she told voters that the DUP’s manifesto pledge to secure increase funding for Belfast International Airport “won’t be limited to Belfast - all Northern Irish airports will see an increase in funding to make Northern Ireland a hub for commerce and leisure.”

During her drive to Belfast, Foster stopped her car on the M22 and met with construction workers along the road. While not an official part of the DUP’s Infrastructure Week agenda, Foster used many of her Infrastructure Week talking points at the impromptu visit.

In Belfast, Foster held an interview with reporters from the Sunday Independent. In the interview, she paid tribute to Veronica Guerin and said “the issue of drugs and organized crime is not one that stops when one crosses from the South into the North. The leaders of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, myself and the Taoiseach, must set aside our differences and our history in order to secure the safety of our citizens.”

She also spoke to the Belfast News Letter about the DUP’s relationship with the Westminster parties, saying “We’re going to work very hard to get the very best deal for the Northern Irish people. If no party in Westminster can promise us - and deliver - increased funding for our infrastructure, expanded health services in Northern Ireland, and an end to the bedroom tax, we’ll walk away from the negotiations and allow the government to fail. We’re not in the business of propping up the Tories, or Labour, or the Liberal Democrats, we’re in the business of fighting for Northern Ireland.” When asked to give a prediction of how the elections will turn out nationally, Foster said “With the proportional system, I honestly don’t know. I think the Tories will do well, I think the LibDems will do well. UKIP and the Greens may win a handful of seats, but I don’t think they can break out wide.”

In the evening, Foster and senior DUP officials held a strategy meeting for their Northern Irish Legislative Assembly group.

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January 27 - February 2


First Minister Arlene Foster at the second BBC Leaders Debate on February 1

January 27, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster went door knocking in Belfast in the morning with a group of DUP volunteers.

In the afternoon, she and Ian Paisley, Jr. MP led a different group of DUP volunteers door knocking in Antrim.

Foster spent the evening meeting with Paisley, Jr. and senior DUP officials about election strategy in Antrim.

January 28, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster spent the morning door knocking in Derry with a group of DUP volunteers.

In the early evening, Foster delivered a major speech on relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union in Omagh. She continued her calls for a “national, binding referendum on the future of the relationship between” the UK and EU. She countered a comment made by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams at the first BBC Leaders Debate, saying “[Adams] says we’d only make up 3% of the electorate in such a referendum. But it is not an ‘Us versus Them’ fight. We are all brothers and sisters, patriots and Britons. If the country as a whole votes to leave the European Union, we will all leave.”

When asked by a member of the press if a deal could be worked out where the rest of the UK leaves the EU but Northern Ireland, because of its border with the Republic of Ireland, remains, Foster was vehemently opposed, saying “We are one nation. There is no scenario where one of the constituent states remains in the EU while the other three leave. That’s just not possible.”

January 29, 2012:

No public events were held, because DUP Leader Arlene Foster attended church in Enniskillen.

January 30, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster spent most of the day in meetings related to the Northern Irish Executive at her home in Enniskillen.

In the evening, she made phone calls across Northern Ireland in support of the DUP.

January 31, 2012:

Speaking to Sky News on Sunrise, DUP Leader Arlene Foster confirmed her attendance at the second BBC Leaders debate. She did do a bit of politicking, saying “After my first performance, the bar is going to be set so high that it may look like I’ve fallen short. I’m going to go in and give the best argument for the DUP and make the case that we’re the only party that can actually fight for the needs of Northern Ireland.”

Later on in the day, Foster toured the Armagh Observatory in Armagh with Freda Donnelly, Mayor of Armagh and William Irwin, MLA. Afterwards, the trio met with voters at St. Catherine’s College, Armagh.

In the evening, Foster and senior DUP officials held a rally at the Craigavon Civic Center in Craigavon as a send off for Foster before the BBC Leaders Debate. Nigel Dodds, MP and Diane Dodds, MEP opened the rally, throwing their support behind Foster’s call for an EU referendum. Emma Little-Pengelly, who has been a rising star in Foster’s DUP, was given a key speaking slot and introduced Foster.

Foster gave a fiery speech, both attacking her political rivals and bolstering her own party. Talking about Sinn Fein, Foster said “The idea that their abstentionism is actually better for Northern Ireland than taking their seats, speaking in debate, and voting on motions is just ridiculous. It is never easier to enact change by looking on from afar than by sitting in the room, at the table.” Talking about the DUP, Foster taught their record in Stormont and the strength of their manifesto, saying “The DUP is the only party with a positive, forward looking vision centered around Northern Ireland. The UUP are no more than the Northern Ireland branch of the Tories and look more to London than to Belfast; the TUV and Sinn Fein both want to rehash the battles of the last century, instead of working towards a better and brighter future. We in the DUP recognize that the time for fighting is over - it is time to move forward and come together!”

February 1, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster flew to London to participate in the BBC Leaders Debate.

February 2, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster spent most the day in London and Westminster, meeting with the 8 current DUP MPs as well as government ministers in her role as First Minister of the Northern Irish Executive.

She returned to Northern Ireland through the Belfast International Airport. While at the airport, she gave an impromptu speech about the DUP’s proposed “re-investment” in Northern Ireland’s infrastructure and the airport.

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February 3 - February 9


First Minister Arlene Foster with a group of DUP volunteers

February 3, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster began the final week of campaigning with a rally in Bleary at Bleary Primary School. Foster promised “a strong and steady commitment to the needs of Northern Ireland” if the DUP is given “an undeniable mandate” from the Northern Irish people. She pledged that the DUP would hold “any government - Tory, Labour, or LibDem - to task” on devolution and rights for Northern Ireland.

After the rally, Foster led a group of DUP volunteers door knocking in Bleary and Craigavon.

February 4, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster held a press conference in Bangor to launch the DUP Party Political Broadcast. She called the ad “a bright vision for the future of Northern Ireland”.

After the press conference, Foster led a group of DUP volunteers door knocking in Bangor and Comber.

February 5, 2012:

No public events were held, because DUP Leader Arlene Foster attended church in Enniskillen.

February 6, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster spent the morning holding a fundraising breakfast in Newtownabbey.

She then led a group of DUP volunteers door knocking in Newtownabbey.

In the afternoon, Foster appeared on UTV and discussed her thoughts on the election. She said “I am very confident we will be the largest party in Northern Ireland by a healthy margin. The Unionists message - our message, specifically - is really resonating with the voters as they come to realize that when I say we’ll stand up for Northern Ireland I mean it. We won’t be the pushovers and lapdogs that Sinn Fein make us out to be.”

She also made a shock statement when she told the reporter “I think we could be in a position, not this year, but probably the next election, to win a few seats nationally, probably in England. The preservation of the Union is such an important issue for voters from Belfast to Norwich, from Glasgow to Portsmouth, that we could see a rise in DUP voters in England, Wales, or Scotland, especially under the new proportional system. If Labour, and the Tories, and UKIP can contest Northern Ireland, why can’t we contest England, Wales, or Scotland?”

In the evening, she held a supper with senior DUP officials and volunteers in Newtownabbey, thanking them for their hard work and reminding them “the fight isn’t over”.

February 7, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster began the day with a group of DUP volunteers door knocking in Ballyclare.

She then drove to Lisburn, touring the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue headquarters in the city with Jeffrey Donaldson, the MP for the area. The pair also toured the Lisburn railway station and touted the DUP’s “aggressive” agenda on infrastructure.

Foster, Donaldson, and a group of DUP volunteers went door knocking around North Lisburn and Lisburn in the afternoon.

In the evening, Foster and a group of DUP volunteers went door knocking in Ballyskeagh. Foster also met with members of Lisburn Distillery F.C., and toured New Grosvenor Stadium.

February 8, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster began the day in Derry, holding a breakfast with Over 60s DUP volunteers to kick off the DUP’s Final 48 Barnstorming Tour. Over 60s DUP volunteers across Northern Ireland would spend the day making phone calls, informing likely DUP volunteers where to vote.

Foster then held a rally at the DUP headquarters in Derry with DUP volunteers, rallying them for “the most difficult but most rewarding 48 hours of” their lives. She stressed the importance of “turning our every voter, securing every vote, and strengthening the DUP message at every turn.” She then sent the groups out across County Londonderry, door knocking and engaging with voters.

Foster drove around County Londonderry and door knocked with various groups at various points in the day, knocking in Derry, Coleraine, Portstewart, Culmore, and Ballykally.

In the evening, Foster held the final DUP rally of the election at Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Foster began by thanking each and every person who “knocked a door, handed a leaflet, wrote a letter to the editor, or spoke about the election to their neighbor”. She stressed the importance of actually turning out to vote, saying “We can’t win - we can’t send the strong Unionist force to Westminster - if people don’t go out and vote. It’s fine to say you like the DUP and you want to see us fight for you, but it’s all a wash if you don’t vote.”

She also took time to reinforce the DUP’s manifesto promises, saying “The last vote on the European Union took place when I was only 5 years old. It’s simply time to give the British people the opportunity to decide if they want to renew our relationship with the EU.” She also said “only the DUP can actually fight for you in London. You can vote for Sinn Fein, sure, but you’re not going to get anything out of it, because they don’t take their seats, they don’t show up. They always make a big fuss about how they don’t like the current relationship between Belfast and London. That’s all they do - make a big fuss! You can’t fix a problem by sitting on the sidelines and yelling about it, you actually have to get up, dig your hands in, and get to work!”

February 9, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster began the day at her home in Enniskillen, voting at her local polling place with her husband, Brian, shortly after the polling place opened.

She then met with senior DUP leaders at the County Fermanagh DUP headquarters and reviewed the party’s Get Out The Vote strategy for the day.

Foster spent the afternoon in Belfast, meeting with voters across the city. She also drove a DUP van across the city for a few hours, helping Over 60s voters get the polls.

Foster spent several hours in the late afternoon and early evening at Stormont in meetings related to her role of First Minister of Northern Ireland.

She spent the evening watching election returns on UTV from the DUP headquarters in Dublin with senior DUP officials, including Party Chairman Lord Morrow, DUP Westminster Leader Nigel Dodds, DUP MEP Diane Dodds, Ian Paisley, Jr., MP, and Ms. Emma Little-Pengelley.

Once the outcome of the election, at least in respect to Northern Ireland, became clear, Foster returned to her home in Enniskillen.

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The 2012 Democratic Unionist Party Party Political Broadcast

The broadcast opens with rolling shots of various scenes in Northern Ireland, beginning with waves lapping the coast in Antrim, to the majestic Slieve Donard and the Mourne Mountains, to the great Enniskillen Castle, to the awe-inspiring St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. As each person speaks, the shot fades to them, with their name and occupation below them. When they finish talking, it fades back to the landmarks.

Jim, a grammar school teacher: I’m Jim from Kilkeel and I’m voting for the DUP on February the 9th because we need real commitment to grammar schools and our children’s early education, not just more empty promises.

Judy, a dairy farmer: I’m Judy from Holywood and I’m voting for the DUP on February the 9th because I want a say on the EU, not just most regulations from unelected bureaucrats.

Mary and Daniel, pensioners: We’re Mary and Daniel from Belfast and we’re voting for the DUP on February the 9th because we need the triple lock on our pensions and the senior bus cards, not just more slogans.

Kevin, a lorry drive: I’m Kevin from Ulster and I’m voting for the DUP on February the 9th because our roads, bridges, airports, and docks need major investment, not just more vague commitments.

As each of the following speakers speaks, the shots fades to video of them at their work, either in Stormont, Westminster, or in their community.

Norah Beare, Banbridge District Councillor: Since 2008, I’ve been the Chairman of the Banbridge District Council. At a local level, the DUP have been hard at work to make government more efficient, more responsive, and more transparent. Since the 2011 Legislative Assembly elections, the DUP-led Executive in Stormont has been developing its programme for the further reorganization of local government to better suit the needs of Northern Ireland. With a strong vote on February the 9th, our mandate in Stormont will only increase.

Ian Paisley, Jr., MP: Since 2010, I’ve been the MP for North Antrim in the House of Commons, working for the needs of Northern Ireland. During that time, we’ve secured increased powers for the devolved legislature in Stormont, stood up against the national parties when they tried to put their personal party politics before the country, and defended the rights of Northern Ireland. With a strong vote on February the 9th, our power to fight for you will only increase.

Diane Dodds, MEP: Since 2009, I've represented Northern Ireland in Brussels and Strasbourg. Even though Northern Ireland has three MEPs, most of the work we hear about the European Union doing is from the many unelected bureaucrats in the European Commission. That's why the DUP is calling for a referendum to give the people the chance to have their voices heard on our relationship with the EU.

Arlene Foster, MLA, First Minister of Northern Ireland: I agree with Jim, we need a strong commitment to our schools. That’s why I made it clear at the BBC Leaders debate that the DUP will stand up for our fine grammar schools.

I agree with Judy too; we should have a say on the EU regulations that affect every aspect of our lives, from our local dairy farms to our new building projects to the type of bananas we can buy at the market. That’s why the DUP has made it a central plank of our manifesto to secure a referendum on the future of the UK-EU relationship.

Mary and Daniel are right; our Over 60s rely so heavily on their pensions and their bus passes to get around and live a good life, we can’t think about taking them away. That’s why I’ve been so adamant that the triple lock must be maintained and our bus passes protected.

And Kevin, you couldn’t be more spot on. Our roads, bridges, airports, and docks are long overdue for major reinvestment and renovation. That’s why the DUP will work tirelessly to secure new funding for renovations to all of Northern Ireland’s infrastructure: from the Belfast and Derry airports, to Portrush Harbor, to the A5 and M22.

That’s why I’m asking for you to vote for the DUP on February the 9th, for better education, a more responsive government, a secure future, and strong infrastructure. Only the DUP can stand up for Northern Ireland in Westminster and fight for a stronger Northern Ireland and a better Britain.

As Foster finished talking, the shot fades to the DUP logo with the words “On 9th February, vote DUP for a stronger Northern Ireland and a better Britain”.

Cost: 10 CP

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Nigel Dodds, MP, DUP Westminster Leader, on BBC after the exit poll

"Well, this Exit Poll really doesn't tell us anything about the DUP or the results in Northern Ireland. Our internal polling has shown us coming out very well ahead of Sinn Fein and the Nationalists, so we're feeling cautiously optimistic about the results.

What this Exit Poll does show, however, is the strength of the Unionist cause. The SNP hasn't done as well as they should have, it doesn't like like Plaid Cymru has done well. The Unionist Parties - remember, the proper name of the Tories is the Conservative and Unionist Party - are looking set for a very good night.

The success of the Unionist Parties across the country is why the DUP is looking into running a national campaign in the next election. We're confident that we could easily win at least 5% of the Unionist vote in some of the areas that voted Tory tonight, the South West, the South East, and the North West, for example. While we may not win as many seats as we could have under the old system in Northern Ireland, we think that the proportional system has really opened a door to expanding the Unionist cause across the country."

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Ian Paisley, Jr., MP, on BBC after the Welsh results

"You had Nigel Dodds on early in the program, and I think what he said is ringing true across the country. The SNP failed terribly, based off of where they started in the polls and the results they had in the Holyrood elections of last year, in a real defeat for the separatist, Nationalist cause. 17% of the vote, when they got 45% just last year, is a disaster for the SNP and the Nationalists. I imagine Alex Salmond is wringing his hands while someone like Angus Roberts is sharpening his knives.

Look at Wales as well. Plaid Cymru, while they did better than 2010, still fell far short of where they could have been. This new electoral system was designed to support more parties, and to boost local interests. If there was any serious support for Welsh independence and the Welsh Nationalist cause, they could have been in third or even second place. But it simply isn't there. Voters recognize that we are a great Union of nations, united by a common heritage, a common culture, and common future, and we're seeing it tonight.

The Conservative and Unionist Party looks set to be the largest party, Theresa May, probably going to try and form a Government. UKIP, too, is having a great night. UKIP is a Unionist party. Look at what they're doing tonight, Paul Nuttall and all that. They're seeing massive, unprecedented success for their party and their message.

In every corner of this country the Unionists are the ones coming out ahead. The Government, when we're all said and done tonight, will certainly be a Government built on strengthening, protecting, and continuing the Union. And they'll have to be if they want the DUP's support."

[DKrol]

Diane Dodds, MEP on BBC after the South West results

"I know a lot of people on your programme tonight, David, have spoken about the rise of the Unionist cause and the DUP's plan to expand to a UK-wide basis for the next election, but I think that there's something going on here that's maybe more interesting. The surge of the UKIP vote is very telling because it's showing something that the DUP have been talking about all election - the people need to have a say on the EU. UKIP and the DUP are the only parties that have made a referendum on the EU a central point of our campaigns. We're also both set to have good nights electorally, although our's may seem less impressive because we're only fighting for 18 seats, because our messages are resonating with the voters - less tax, less reliance on unelected EU bureaucrats, greater freedom for the British people, a stronger Union for all nations.

Clearly, based off of UKIP's results across England and based off of what we're seeing at the DUP HQ with regards to our races, Euroscepticism is not dead, there is a significant amount of public support for it, and it's time to have a referendum on the matter. That's what UKIP's been saying and it's what the DUP has been saying. Who ever gets to form a Government after this, and I think it'll be Ms. May, but Mr. Clegg could get it done in a pinch, will have to give the people what they want and schedule a referendum within a year, two at most."