Elisha McCallion celebrating her success as the new Foyle MP with party MEP Martina Anderson
SINN Fein is holding a victory rally this afternoon for new Foyle MP Elisha McCallion.
The new MP will address supporters at Free Derry Corner at 3 pm.
It follows her surprise victory in the General Election earlier today when she won the local seat from the SDLP’s Mark Durkan.
Elisha McCallion topped the poll with 18,256 votes.
Outgoing MP Mark Durkan – who held a 6,100 majority from the 2015 election – received 18,087 votes.
The DUP’s Gary Middleton came third on 7,398 votes.
Following her win in the early hours of this morning, Mrs McCallion, who is also an MLA for Foyle, dedicated her success to the late deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness who died in March.
She said that Mr McGuinness had guided her and the Sinn Fein team throughout the campaign.
The defeat for the SDLP was a devastating blow, with all three of its MPs losing their seats.
Mark Durkan, a former party leader said he took full blame for the defeat and thanked the people of Derry for giving him the chance to serve.
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