Lady Sylvia Hermon and Jim Shannon returned in North Down and Strangford

By PA reporter

NORTH DOWN

Independent Unionist Lady Sylvia Hermon retained her seat in North Down and launched a broadside at Theresa May with a warning that her days are numbered.

The one-time shoo-in for the constituency said she was angry and disappointed after her election campaign turned into a re-run of the Brexit debate and a manifestation of fears over a border poll.

"I feel extremely angry and disappointed indeed that Theresa May called this election and look how we have ended up in Northern Ireland or could well possibly end up," she said.

"I think it's appalling.

"I think she's gone."

Lady Hermon was visibly emotional over the huge swing to the Democratic Unionists in her own constituency which shattered her massive 9,000 plus majority from the 2015 election.

She won the seat by only 1,208 votes from the DUP's Alex Easton.

Lady Hermon used her victory speech to urge Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster and Sinn Fein leader Michelle O'Neill to reach a compromise on getting the Stormont Assembly back up and running.

She claimed Mrs May was ill-advised by insiders in No 10 into calling an "unnecessary election".

She added: "There was also the other factor ... this anxiety about a border poll, that every vote that is not a vote for the DUP will count against the unionist community.

"That is absolute nonsense and rubbish but I heard that repeatedly on the doorsteps."

STRANGFORD

Democratic Unionist Jim Shannon has celebrated his phenomenal majority in Strangford by saying it was time to consider all unionists standing under the one banner.

With a margin of victory of close to 20,000 votes, the former soldier said: "I think the people of Strangford would like to see one unionist party.

"Maybe it's just time that we looked towards how we could make that happen.

"Where unionism could be served better by one party representing them all.

"That'd be a bigger threat to those who want to destroy the union, but I think it encourages our people. I think that's something I'd like to see develop."

One of Mr Shannon's nearest rivals, former Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt, secured just 4,419 votes in the Strangford constituency.

"It's mission impossible to try and close a five-figure gap in one campaign," he said.

Mr Nesbitt appeared to scotch Mr Shannon's suggestion of unifying unionist parties, adding: "I was happy to put my name forward in this constituency because it's important that Ulster Unionists have an Ulster Unionist to vote for."

And on the DUP's strong performance overall, he added: "It is what every local party in Northern Ireland hopes for, that they hold the balance of power and therefore have some degree of clout.