MORE than the sun caused a perspiration problem at Banbridge yesterday, as the MP for Newry and Armagh, Mr Seamus Mallon's team sweated out the eight-hour count.
It was a tight race and, despite the party's loses elsewhere, the SDLP deputy leader was in high spirits. "It was a tough, tough battle and one of the longest campaigns that I have ever been involved in. I knew it was going to be close.
"It was a knife-edge election and it was at this count until the very end. Despite the Sinn Fein vote, I was able to hold the seat. I was able to add a majority of almost 5,000 and that is no mean achievement in circumstances where you are battling with the vote, not just against the unionists but against Sinn Fein as well," said Mr Mallon.
He was sad and disappointed at the defeat of his colleague, Dr Joe Hendron, in West Belfast. "The cards were stacked against him when the constituency was redrawn. I have no doubt Joe will contribute greatly to the resolution of our problems despite this loss.
He said the SDLP in West Tyrone, where it came second in the poll, would have another day. "It is a shame that someone from outside of West Tyrone should have come in and run in the way that he did and made sure that a unionist was elected instead of the local man, Joe Byrne."
Describing as a "worrying factor" the swing to Sinn Fein, Mr Mallon said: "Elections are about the choice of the electorate. The reality is that everyone has to look very, very clearly at the implications of their vote and where it might ultimately lead.
"I would hope that all votes cast in this election would lead to an end to violence and to the creation of peace. But people should realise that by voting for Sinn Fein they could be giving a blank cheque to the IRA and for continuing violence," said Mr Mallon.
To those who voted for Mr Gerry Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness, Mr Mallon said: "I would say I hope they realise the implications of that vote because the implications are enormous and could be enormous for the well-being of people in the North of Ireland."
He described the situation in Mid Ulster, where many voters opted tactically for Sinn Fein, as "unique". Mr Mallon said: "You had the McCrea factor there and that McCrea factor was going to work on that situation irrespective of party or policy and that is exactly what happened."
He said he had no doubt what the electorate was saying throughout Northern Ireland: "Number one, peace. Number two, a political resolution quickly so that we can all get on with the business of creating a new life here for everybody."
Obviously delighted at Labour's landslide victory, he said: "I have waited years to see the demise of the Conservative Party in the way that it has died the death in this election. I look forward to five years of imagination, of drive and old commitment to solve the problem.
"The scene is now right to set about solving the problems in the North of Ireland. They have a huge majority. They are not dependent on any grouping in parliament. They now can go and solve this problem if they have the will to do so and I believe they have."
Asked if he believed the Labour government would bring Sinn Fein into the talks, Mr Mallon said: "That would be a matter for Mo Mowlam. I know her very well. I spoke to her two nights ago. The reality is that Sinn Fein have it in their own hands. They can either persuade those within their own organisation, the republican movement, to stop violence, in which case then they would be in discussions and negotiations. If they don't or can't then they will have made the decision."
The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, had little problem getting re-elected in the staunchly loyalist constituency of Upper Bann, but the SDLP's Mrs Brid Rodgers polled well. Mr Trimble was "delighted" at gaining an extra MP in West Tyrone, saying he was only sorry they did not get more.
Referring to the Labour victory, he said he had a good relationship with Mr Tony Blair. "I don't anticipate any problems there."
He said: "They have got a commitment in their manifesto to decentralisation and devolution and ending the centralising tendencies of the Conservatives. Now if they want to carry that manifesto and that approach forward in Northern Ireland in a realistic way then they know that we are ready to help them."
Northern Ireland's youngest MP, the Ulster Unionist Mr Jeffrey Donaldson (34), was elected by a massive majority of over 17,000 in one of the safest seats in the North, Lagan Valley, formerly occupied by the Ulster Unionist MP, Lord Molyneaux.
The SDLP's South Down MP, Mr Eddie McGrady, was re-elected with a comfortable majority yesterday at the same count in Dromore, Co Down.