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Election fever has hit Northern Ireland!!

This page gives an overview of the election and its significance, in the form of an FAQ. If you want a more academic discussion of the election, try Nicholas Whyte's Northern Ireland elections page.

• The Results and analysis
• What kind of election is this?
• What was the result last time?
• Why is the share of seats so different from the share of votes?
• How have the votes changed over the years?
• Why is this election significant?
• Clickable constituency map with details.
• Details of the candidates.

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What Kind of Election is this?

People in Northern Ireland have the ability to elect candidates to 4 levels of government:

1. Local councils, of which there are 26 in Northern Ireland. These manage local issues such as refuse collection, parks, planning permission etc. Each council has a number of elected members.
2. The Northern Ireland Assembly, established under the Good Friday Agreement, which has 108 members. This is responsible for regional issues such as education, environment, business and health.
3. Westminster, otherwise known as the United Kingdom Parliament, for which Northern Ireland elects 18  members. This handles national issues such as foreign affairs, the military, taxation and other national policies.
4. The European Parliament, for which Northern Ireland elects 3 members.

The election due to be held on June 7th 2001 is a Westminster election (number 3 above). The whole United Kingdom is electing a new government and as part of that Northern Ireland must elect its 18 members. This election has nothing to do with the new Northern Ireland Assembly. The local council elections are taking place at the same time, for convenience although these generally do not get the same media coverage.

Northern Ireland is divided into 18 constituencies, also known as seats (see below for map). Each constituency can elect only one representative. Each voter places a cross beside one candidate, and it is the candidate with the highest number of votes who wins the seat.

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What was the Result Last Time?

The last Westminster election was held in 1997. They must take place every 5 years, but the government usually calls one before the full 5 years in order to choose a time when they are strong in the opinion polls. The largest party in the UK is the Labour Party, so it was they who called the election. However, Labour do not field candiates in Northern Ireland which is why they do not appear below.

The results of the 1997 Westminster election in Northern Ireland were as follows:

Of the above, the total number of votes for Nationalist parties was 317,765.
The total number of votes for Unionist parties was 389,538.

In a by-election in 2000, the DUP took one seat from the UUP. (A by-election is where a Member of Parliament dies between elections and there has to be an election in that one constituency to select a new MP for the rest of the time of the Parliament.) This is why commentators will talk about the DUP having 3 seats and the UUP 9, even though that was not the result of the last election.

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Why does the share of seats not reflect the share of votes?

You may notice from the above table, that the UUP has over 3 times as many seats as the SDLP, despite having only a few more votes. There are several reasons for this.

1. The first past the post system means that only one candidate can win a seat. Northern Ireland has a Unionist majority, so in many seats which reflect this, the Unionist candidate will win in each one. There are quite a lot of seats like this, and also seats with a large Unionist majority. Thus Unionists tend to secure the greater number of seats.
2. The 'split vote', which is a feature of Northern Ireland elections. For example, West Tyrone is 63% Nationalist, and 34% Unionist. However in the last election the two Nationalist candidates were so evenly matched that they got 31% and 32% each, meaning that the Unionist candidate won the seat with 34%. To overcome this problem, all parties negotiate 'electoral pacts' before elections to try to take advantage of split votes by fielding a single candidate between them.

Whether or not the electoral system is unfair is a matter of debate, although few in Northern Ireland from either side have actually said such a thing. The makeup is better reflected in the Assembly elections in which each constituency elects 6 members. If each seat elected 6 members to Westminster, the Parliament would contain over 4,000 members which would be both unnecessary and unworkable.

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How have the votes changed over the years?

The chart below shows the share of the vote achieved by each of the main parties since 1993. Note that the DUP almost always does much better in the European Elections, so in a sense the European elections are less representative than the rest. Nevertheless, the visible trends are towards increasing DUP support at the expense of the UUP and a more general rise in support for the Nationalist parties. There is also a narrowing of the gap between the SDLP and Sinn Féin. Support for the neutral Alliance Party has fallen off significantly since the Good Friday Agreement.

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Why is this Election Significant?

Although most people don't want it to be, this election is in many ways a referrendum on the Good Friday Agreement. It is the first general election since the Agreement was signed in 1998, and it is thought that many people will vote according to their opinion of the Agreement after 3 years of both successful and failed implementation.

Since the last election, Unionism has split into two camps, the anti-Agreement camp and the pro-Agreement camp. The DUP is wholly anti-Agreement. The UUP is officially pro-Agreement but it has a significant anti-Agreement wing and some of its candidates are anti-Agreement. There are some electoral pacts between the two parties, but the two are likely to stand against each other in most places. This may lead to split votes. The DUP are convinced that they are going to overtake the UUP as the largest Unionist party, although not all analysts agree.

The SDLP and Sinn Féin have failed to come to any agreements on electoral pacts, so they will be opposing each other in many constituencies. This, again, may lead to split votes. Sinn Féin is hoping to crush the SDLP electorally, so the SDLP are fighting hard, particularly in selected seats such as West Tyrone which is likely to be a Nationalist battle.

The neutral Alliance Party, whose support has fallen in recent years, has withdrawn its candidate in some constituencies and encouraged its members to vote for a pro-Agreement party, sometimes the UUP and sometimes the SDLP.

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Details of the Constituencies

The map shows the electoral constituencies in Northern Ireland. They all have roughly the same population - the larger constituencies are more rural and the smaller ones more urban. Click on a constituency to see a brief description of its makeup and voting patterns, or scroll on down manually.

A brief description of each constituency follows. For a list of candidates in each seat, see below.

1. Antrim East - A reasonably urban constituency taking in Larne, Carrickfergus and a small part of Newtownabbey, all of which are strongly Protestant and unshakably Unionist. The current MP is Roy Beggs, of the UUP. The 1997 results were 63% Unionist, 7% Nationalist, with the neutral Alliance party getting a huge 20%. 7 candidates are standing this time, including all 4 main parties.
2. Antrim North - The seat of DUP leader Ian Paisley. North Antrim is largeuly rural, but includes the large town of Ballymena and also Ballymoney and Ballycastle. It is typified by the fundamental Protestantism that is very strong in county Antrim. The seat is a Unionist stronghold. The 1997 results were 71% Unionist and 22% Nationalist. 5 candidates are standing this time, including all 4 main parties.
3. Antrim South - Taken by the DUP's William McCrea from the UUP in the 2000 by-election. Antrim South takes in the towns of Antrim and most of Newtownabbey. It is strongly Unionist and in the 1997 election the results were 66% Unionist and 22% Nationalist, with the neutral Alliance Party getting 12%. 6 candidates are standing this time, including all 4 main parties.
4. Belfast East - Almost exclusively Protestant and entirely urban, east Belfast is a DUP stronghold, with the current MP being Peter Robinson. In the 1997 election, the results were 67% Unionist, 4% Nationalist with the neutral Alliance Party getting its highest vote of 24%. 10 candidates are standing this time, the largest number in any constituency. This includes all 4 main parties.
5. Belfast North - Entirely urban, north Belfast is split evenly between Nationalist and Unionist voters. Currently held by the UUP's Cecil Walker, the result could go in any direction. At the 1997 election, the results were 52% Unionist and 40% Nationalist. 6 candidates are standing this time, including all 4 main parties.
6. Belfast South - Easily the most affluent part of Belfast, this urban constituency has a significant Nationalist minority. The current MP is the UUP's Rev Martin Smyth. At the 1997 election, the results were 50% Unionist, 29% Nationalist and 13% for the neutral Alliance party. 8 candidates are standing this time. The DUP has chosen not to field a candidate.
7. Belfast West - The constituency of Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams. Almost exclusively Catholic, this urban constituency is unshakably Nationalist. At the 1997 election, the results were 95% Nationalist and 3% Unionist. This will be a fight between the SDLP and Sinn Féin. 6 candidates are standing this time, including all 4 main parties.
8. North Down - One of the wealthiest constituencies in Northern Ireland (it is home to the UK's 4th largest marina), North Down contains the largely Protestant towns of Bangor and Holywood. Held by the UK Unionist Robert McCartney, it is unshakably Unionist but the current MP could still be unseated by the UUP or DUP. The 1997 results were 66% Unionist, 4% Nationalist and 21% to the neutral Alliance party. 6 candidates are standing this time. The DUP and Sinn Féin have chosen not to field candidates.
9. South Down - A largely rural constituency,including the towns of Newry and Downpatrick, its current MP is the SDLP's Eddy McGrady. It is strongly Nationalist. At the 1997 election, the results were 63% Nationalist and 33% Unionist. 5 candidates are standing this time, including all 4 main parties.
10. Fermanagh and South Tyrone - Evenly split between Unionists and Nationalists, F&ST is a very rural constituency taking in the towns of Enniskillen and Dungannon. It is held by the UUP's Ken Maginnis but it is not a Unionist stronghold by any means. At the 1997 election, the results were 51% Unionist and 46% Nationalist. Only 3 candidates are standing this time, the joint lowest number for any seat along with West Tyrone. These are the UUP, Sinn Féin and the SDLP.
11. Foyle - A largely urban constituency taking in Londonderry city and its hinterlands, Foyle is home to SDLP leader John Hume. With a strong Catholic majority, Foyle is a Nationalist stronghold. At the 1997 election, the results were 77% Nationalist and 22% Unionist. 5 candidates are standing this time, including all 4 main parties.
12. Lagan Valley - A largely urban constituency taking in the large town of Lisburn. It is strongly Protestant and unshakably Unionist. The current MP is the UUP's Jeffrey Donaldson. At the 1997 election, the results were 69% Unionist, 11% Nationalist with 17% for the neutral Alliance Party. 5 candidates are standing this time, including all 4 main parties.
13. East Londonderry - A rural constituency that nevertheless includes the large town of Coleraine and Limavady. It is moderately Unionist, and its current MP is the UUP's William Ross. At the 1997 election, the results were 62% Unionist and 31% Nationalist. 5 candidates are standing this time, including all 4 main parties.
14. Mid Ulster - A rural constituency that was Unionist until boundary changes in 1995 made it largely Nationalist.  Its current MP is Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness. At the 1997 election, the results were 62% Nationalist   and 36% Unionist. 4 candidates are standing this time. The UUP has chosen not to field a candidate.
15. Newry and Armagh - A largely Nationalist rural constituency that includes the town of Armagh. This constituency is held by the SDLP's Seamus Mallon. At the 1997 election, the results were 64% Nationalist and 34% Unionist. 5 candidates are standing this time, including all 4 main parties.
16. Strangford - A largely Unionist constituency that takes in the Ards peninsula and the mainly Protestant town of Newtownards. The current MP is the UUP's John Taylor. At the 1997 election, the results were 74% Unionist, 8% Nationalist with 13% for the neutral Alliance party. 6 candidates are standing this time, including all 4 main parties.
17. West Tyrone - Created in 1995, West Tyrone is largely Nationalist but is held by the UUP's William Thompson due to the Nationalist vote being split between the SDLP and Sinn Féin in 1997. It is a rural constituency taking in the towns of Omagh and Strabane. The 1997 results were 35% Unionist and 63% Nationalist. Only 3 candidates are standing this time, the joint lowest number for any seat along with Fermanagh & South Tyrone. These are the UUP, Sinn Féin and the SDLP.
18. Upper Bann - The home of UUP leader David Trimble, this constituency includes the towns of Portadown and Lurgan, the former made famous by events at Drumcree. It has a significant Nationalist minority. The 1997 results were 55% Unionist and 36% Nationalist. 5 candidates are standing this time, including all 4 main parties.

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The Candidates

Exactly 100 candidates are standing for the 18 available seats.
For details of the parties, see our Glossary of Political Parties.

1. Antrim East

   Beggs, Roy	UUP
   Graffin, Janette	Sinn Féin
   Greer, Alan	Conservative
   Mason, Robert	(Independent)
   Mathews, John	Alliance Party
   O'Conservativenor, Danny	SDLP
   Wilson, Sammy	DUP

2. Antrim North

   Dunlop, Jayne	Alliance Party
   Farren, Sean	SDLP
   Kelly, John	Sinn Féin
   Paisley, Rev Ian	DUP
   Scott, Lexie	UUP

3. Antrim South

   Boyd, Norman	NIUP
   Burnside, David	UUP
   Ford, David	Alliance Party
   McCrea, Rev Willie	DUP
   McKee, Sean	SDLP
   Meehan, Martin	Sinn Féin

4. Belfast East

   Alderdice, David	Alliance Party
   Bell, Joe	Worker's Party
   Bushell, John	(Independent)
   Dick, Terry	Conservative
   Ervine, David	PUP
   Farren, Ciara	SDLP
   George, Rainbow	Vote for Yourself Party
   Lemon, Tim	UUP
   O'Donnell, Joe	Sinn Féin
   Robinson, Peter	DUP

5. Belfast North

   Delaney, Marcella	Worker's Party
   Dodds, Nigel	DUP
   George, Rainbow	Vote for Yourself Party
   Kelly, Gerry	Sinn Féin
   Maginness, Alban	SDLP
   Walker, Cecil	UUP

6. Belfast South

   George, Rainbow	Vote for Yourself Party
   Lunn, Paddy	Worker's Party
   Maskey, Alex	Sinn Féin
   McDonnell, Alasdair	SDLP
   McWilliams, Monica	NI Women's Coalition
   Purvis, Dawn	PUP
   Rice, Geraldine	Alliance Party
   Smyth, Rev Martin	UUP

7. Belfast West

   Adams, Gerry	Sinn Féin
   Attwood, Alex	SDLP
   George, Rainbow	Vote for Yourself Party
   Lowry, John	Worker's Party
   McGimpsey, Chris	UUP
   Smyth, Eric	DUP

8. North Down

   Carter, Chris	(Independent)
   Farrell, Marietta	SDLP
   Farry, Stephen	Alliance Party
   Hermon, Sylvia	UUP
   McCartney, Robert	UKUP
   Robertson, Julian	Conservative

9. South Down

   Campbell, Betty	Alliance Party
   McGrady, Eddie	SDLP
   Murphy, Mick	Sinn Féin
   Nesbitt, Dermot	UUP
   Wells, Jim	DUP

10. Fermanagh and South Tyrone

    Cooper, James	UUP
    Gallagher, Tommy	SDLP
    Gildernew, Michelle	Sinn Féin

11. Foyle

    Cavanagh, Colm	Alliance Party
    Davidson, Andrew	UUP
    Hay, William	DUP
    Hume, John	SDLP
    McLaughlin, Mitchel	Sinn Féin

12. Lagan Valley

    Butler, Paul	Sinn Féin
    Close, Seamus	Alliance Party
    Donaldson, Jeffrey	UUP
    Lewsley, Patricia	SDLP
    Poots, Edwin	DUP

13. East Londonderry

    Boyle, Yvonne	Alliance Party
    Brolly, Francie	Sinn Féin
    Campbell, Gregory	DUP
    Dallat, John	SDLP
    Ross, William	UUP

14. Mid Ulster

    Donnelly, Francie	Worker's Party
    Haughey, Eilis	SDLP
    McCrea, Ian	DUP
    McGuinness, Martin	Sinn Féin

15. Newry and Armagh

    Berry, Paul	DUP
    Frazer, William	(Independent)
    Mallon, Seamus	SDLP
    McRoberts, Sylvia	UUP
    Murphy, Conor	Sinn Féin

16. Strangford

    Johnson, Liam	Sinn Féin
    McCarthy, Danny	SDLP
    McCarthy, Kieran	Alliance Party
    McNarry, David	UUP
    Robinson, Iris	DUP
    Wilson, Cedric	NIUP

17. West Tyrone

    Doherty, Pat	Sinn Féin
    Rodgers, Brid	SDLP
    Thompson, William	UUP

18. Upper Bann

    French, Tom	Worker's Party
    Kelly, Dolores	SDLP
    O'Hagan, Dara	Sinn Féin
    Simpson, Dr David	DUP
    Trimble, David	UUP

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The Results

The results will appear here after the election. The counts will take place on the night of 7 - 8 June 2001 and the outcome should be known by the end of the day.

The 18 new Members of Parliament are: