Ulster Unionist candidate Tom Elliott was within 57 votes of becoming an MP for the second time in this month’s General Election.

Following a recount at close to 7am on Friday morning, Mr. Elliott finally conceded to Michelle Gildernew.

For Mr. Elliott at the beginning of the campaign it did not look like this election was going to be as close as it was.

“I suppose we thought at an earlier stage we had limited chances of success,” explained Mr. Elliott. “But as the campaign went on we thought that probably our chances were improving and getting better.

“I tried not to engage, even though I was goaded by some others, to get in any back and forwards. Other candidates were getting into rows. I tried to push forward issues that were relevant like the health service, like abortion.

“I tried to stick to the issues instead of getting in to a dogfight on any of the other matters.”

And the numbers show this approach almost paid of for the Unionist unity candidate.

The December 12 election was a poor one for Unionism with the DUP losing two seats and the UUP failing to win any seat.

Mr. Elliott feels that those within Unionism as a whole have to reassess their strategies and goals

“I think there needs to be a broader review of Unionism and how it goes forward.

“We need a more strategic approach. For the last number of years Unionism I feel have just been doing tactics, what tactic will get them a better vote in an election as opposed to looking at a long term strategy.

“That’s challenging and takes brave decisions by people to do that and maybe there’s an issue for people not directly involved in politics to take a look at that to take it forward.”

In his speech following the announcement of the result on Friday morning, Mr. Elliott thanked Nationalist voters who he said had voted for him.

During campaigning he says he had meetings with what he would describe as Nationalists who were giving him their vote.

He says it was positive to see people crossing the political and sectarian divide and was perhaps a reflection of the type of campaign he ran.

“That was reflective of the campaign I ran. I didn’t get involved in constitutional dogfights, I stuck to the issues.”

Looking to the future in politics, Mr. Elliott concedes that with a majority Conservative government the voice of Northern Ireland’s may be inhibited to some degree.

The MPs who work and operate in the palace of Westminster should be working to lobby ministers, make friends with other Westminster MPs and use their influence at question time and making speeches in the chamber to get Government Ministers to visit Northern Ireland and take a much more keener interest than some of them do,” he said.