Entering the countdown at the Titanic Exhibition Center on Friday morning, there was a whisper of card disorder in the North Belfast constituency.
it was only through the doors that rumors spread that SDLP deputy leader and acting infrastructure minister Nicolas Malone would lose his seat.
These rumors would signal a startling election for the Colum Eastwood party, with SDLP votes falling in several areas as nationalism rallied around the prospect of Sinn Fein’s first minister.
The Alliance’s rise has also hurt the SDLP, which will have to replace Ms. Malone as infrastructure minister until a new executive director is formed.
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Nicolas Malone of the SDLP
Nicolas Malone of the SDLP
Indeed, early on Friday, it seemed that Mrs. Malone herself knew that the inscription was on the wall. She made an extremely brief appearance at the counting center before leaving the building immediately, and a career in politics, at least for now.
Sources say Ms. Malone privately admitted that this will not be her day early. In the end, it was quite close between Ms. Malone and Nuala McAllister of the Alliance, but Ms. McAllister crossed the border on Saturday night.
In a tweet on Saturday, Ms. Malone said goodbye to frontline politics and said it was a “privilege” to serve in North Belfast.
“I want to thank every single person who came out to vote for me during that time,” she said as she shared a photo of her with her children. “It’s time for a new chapter and a lot, a lot of time with these three.”
It has been a privilege to serve the people of North Belfast as an advisor and then an MLA for the last 12 years. I want to thank every single person who came out to vote for me during this time. It’s time for a new chapter and a lot, a lot of time with these three. pic.twitter.com/DqaFJN8kS1
– @NicholaMallon May 7, 2022
Ms. Malone joined the defeat of SDLP veterans Pat Cathney and Dolores Kelly, and even those elected to the party could not help but mention how great a blow the results were for them.
New Belfast MLA freshman Matthew O’Toole summed up what happened when he delivered his victory speech on Saturday morning as the results continued to move.
“Six long weeks have passed and it has been a difficult day for the people in our party, but I think the people of South Belfast have once again supported progressive social democratic policies, so I am glad they brought me back,” he said.
This is a difficult day (for SDLP), I don’t think anyone should underestimate this, this is a difficult day for our party. Our party has a really proud history, we have amazing activists, we have people who are proud of our contribution to this island. .
“We are still hunting, the census is still happening, but I think the day is difficult and there are people who will not return to Stormont, for whom I am very sad.
“I think it was clear that there was a movement in nationalism towards Sinn Fein as a result of focusing on the role of prime minister, and I think there was also some progress within the progressive middle position in the Alliance and that created a challenge for us.”
It is difficult to see where Colum Eastwood’s party is going, as the Alliance seems to have become a new force along with the DUP and Sinn Fein.
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