The DUP leader Gavin Robinson wins East Belfast and gives a victory speech on Friday July 5 2024. Video by Ben Lowry
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00:00Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, 19,894
00:211-9-8-9-4
00:24John Ross, TUV, No Sea Border, 1918, 1-9-1-8
00:32Brian Smith, Green Party, Northern Ireland, 1077, 1-0-7-7
00:40Ryan Warren, Ulster Unionist Party, 1818, 1-8-1-8
00:47Gavin Robinson, East Bangorese, 1918, 1-9-1-8
01:17Brian Smith, East Bangorese, 1918, 1-9-1-8
01:47Sammy Douglas, Election Agents, 1918, 1-9-1-8
02:18I thank him and my mum, and to Lindsay, to Ruben, the youngest member of our campaign team,
02:28to Marilyn Tugud, the oldest member of the campaign team.
02:37For weeks and weeks and weeks people have put themselves out
02:42to make sure East Belfast has the representation that we've achieved this evening.
02:47So I thank you.
02:49But in saying that, this campaign has been an enjoyable one,
02:52not just because of how we have engaged ourselves,
02:55but as to how we've all engaged ourselves during that process.
02:59And so to John Ross, and to Ryan Warren, and to Ryan North,
03:04and to Brian Smith, and to Seamus de Fuita,
03:08I want to thank you all for campaigning as well as you have.
03:13To Naomi, fourth time in a row I want to say we have to stop meeting like this.
03:21We have to stop meeting like this.
03:23But genuinely everybody who puts themselves forward for election
03:28does so because they believe in their constituency and their community.
03:32They want to stand up for their neighbours, their loved ones and their friends.
03:36And I believe, though I stand here this evening,
03:39each and every one of us who stood in this election
03:41believes in the very best for East Belfast.
03:44So thank you to all of you as well.
03:47There will be much to say about this election in the hours and the days to come.
03:55None of us, neither me nor my colleagues,
03:59chose the circumstances in which we stood in this election.
04:05But none of us have lost hope in what it is we stand for.
04:09And that is to confidently and to proudly stand up for Northern Ireland
04:13within our United Kingdom.
04:15To never lose sight,
04:17even though there are those who would rather keep unionism on their knees,
04:21that we should stand up proudly and confidently
04:25for this place within our country.
04:30And today the news will be one dominated by the costs of divisions within unionism.
04:36It's not a news story.
04:39We saw it in the Assembly election.
04:41We saw the cost and consequence of divisions within unionism two years ago.
04:46And yet again we see it today.
04:49But we should never do so.
04:51If Northern Ireland is but one example of how unionists cooperating and working together
04:57can return victory, then I think it is something we should look to positively.
05:03In Lagan Valley, and I congratulate Saoirse without question,
05:07there is still hope.
05:10And there is work to be built upon.
05:13And something I know our colleagues will do with great lust.
05:16So I'm very proud of Johnny Buckley.
05:19And I'm very proud of all of our colleagues.
05:22Thank you.
05:29Irrespective of what the headlines say in a few small hours,
05:33we will go forward today and tomorrow and in the weeks and months to come
05:38to highlight and champion the positives about Northern Ireland,
05:41to build our place within the United Kingdom,
05:44to never shy away from the challenges,
05:46but to work night and day for the solutions that we know our people,
05:51all of our people, every community in Northern Ireland will benefit from.
05:55But in the meantime, thank you so much for your support.
05:58I recognise and I know that within East Belfast there is support built up,
06:02not just from traditional DUP voters,
06:05but from people right across the constituency who recognise the sense and the worth
06:09and the representation we provide,
06:12the hope that we offer for the future of Northern Ireland for the United Kingdom
06:16and our determination for the future.
06:19Thank you.