At the 1966 general election, Forrest had achieved only a slim majority over former Sinn Féin MP Tom Mitchell, standing as an Independent Republican.

Among its leaders was radical student Bernadette Devlin, who stood against prominent unionist James Chichester-Clark for the South Londonderry seat at the 1969 Northern Ireland general election in February.

[1] After six public meetings between the candidates there were three contenders: Kevin Agnew, a Maghera-based solicitor and member of Sinn Féin, Austin Currie of the Nationalist Party, and Bernadette Devlin of People's Democracy.

In a brief address to electors, she stated "if elected, I will endeavour, with God's help, to strive for a more peaceful and prosperous society where all people can live in harmony and work together for the common good of all."

Devlin held the seat at the 1970 general election, at which time the Unity movement acquired another MP, Frank McManus, in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.