Conservatives hail victory in Northern Ireland

The Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson, has welcomed the election of Jim Nicholson as an MEP for the Conservatives and Unionists in Northern Ireland.

Owen said: "This is an important step in our efforts to establish normal UK politics in Northern Ireland. Jim stood on a national manifesto, will sit as a Conservative and Unionist MEP and will be a leading member of our new influential Group."

And he added, "We topped the poll in Wales and polled strongly in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Twenty-six Conservative and Unionist MEPs will now represent all corners of the UK in the European Parliament. We look forward with confidence to the General Election. We believe that people in Northern Ireland will relish the chance to vote out this Labour Government and their allies."