After a highly polarised campaign, Sands narrowly won the seat on 9 April 1981, with 30,493 votes to 29,046 for the Ulster Unionist Party candidate Harry West.
Nakon krajnje neizvjesne kapanje, Sands Sands dobiva mjesto 9. travnja 1981, sa 30,493 glasa napram 29,046 za Ulster Unionist Party sa kandidatom Harry Westom.