TUV voters in fact saved unionist seats, not cost them

Terri Jackson (‘TUV is to blame for Sinn Fein victory’ May 12, see link below) believes that “The 65,000 votes for TUV gave Sinn Fein victory”. Let us look at the facts.

Firstly, Sinn Fein did not ‘win’ the election.

It got just 27 out of 90 seats, the same as in 2017.

An analysis of the election results shows that, far from costing the DUP seats, TUV voters saved a number of DUP MLAs with transfers.

I have noted that when a TUV candidate was excluded under the STV system, his or her transfers immediately elected the following DUP candidates:

David Brooks (East Belfast), Brian Kingston (North Belfast), Alan Robinson (East Londonderry), Paul Frew (North Antrim), Pam Cameron (South Antrim), Diane Forsyth (South Down), and Jonathan Buckley (Upper Bann).

TUV transfers also got the UUP’s Tom Elliott (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) over the line.

Similar transfers helped Diane Dodds and Doug Beattie (Upper Bann) to save their seats within a couple of counts of the TUV candidate being excluded.

Without these transfers the number of unionist MLAs would have been much lower.

It would be disrespectful to the electorate to suggest that they should vote for parties who they believe have let them down or that the differences between unionist parties are not significant.

What policies would Terri Jackson’s one unionist party pursue?

There is currently no Sinn Fein first minister, and that situation will continue as long as unionist MLAs want it to.

Dr Paul Kingsley, Belfast BT4

• Letter: TUV is to blame for Sinn Féin victory

• Other commentary:

• Lord Empey: The DUP have no-one to blame but themselves for disastrous election

• Peter Robinson May 11: Ignore those who are urging DUP to just go back into Stormont

• John Cushnahan: SF hypocrisy to attack DUP leader over MP seat while boycotting Westminster

• Editorial: Any elaborate legacy system is likely to turn against the state

• Peter Robinson May 11: Ignore those who are urging DUP to just go back into Stormont

• Editorial May 11: Liz Truss hints at action on NI Protocol but unionists are right to be wary

• Ruth Dudley Edwards May 10: The nationalist vote is nowhere near enough for border poll

• Editorial May 10: If Irish language gets pledge today so must an overhaul of protocol

• Ben Lowry May 9: The TUV vote surge should have been one of the main stories of the election

• Owen Polley May 9: Unionists have an issue with sectarian SF, not with nationalism

• Henry McDonald May 9: A few facts are in order amid breathless reportage about SF

• Emma Little Pengelly May 9: There has been no increase in the nationalist vote in 25 years

• Editorial May 9: It is clear that unionists need to have option of voting for a liberal party

• Ben Lowry May 7: Unionism now faces a considerable challenge in how to go forward

• Henry McDonald May 7: Sinn Fein’s day in the sun but no new dawn for Irish unity

• Editorial May 7: Unionism more than ever needs London’s help on the protocol

• Ben Lowry May 7: Unionist overall vote stays ahead of nationalist total, albeit narrowly

• Brian John Spencer: Unionism was given no wriggle room by nationalism

• Letter: DUP would have first minister post if they hadn’t sought Stormont process change