Sunny Belfast Hi 24 °C | Lo 11°C

Northern Ireland News

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

Latest:

Search

West Belfast election results 1885-2005

Election results

[edit] Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2010: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 22,840 71.1 +2.5
SDLP Alex Attwood 5,261 16.4 +0.3
Democratic Unionist William Humphrey 2,436 7.6 -3.3
Conservatives and Unionists Bill Manwaring 1,000 3.1 +0.6
Alliance Maíre Hendron 596 1.9 +1.8
Majority 17,579 54.7
Turnout 32,133 54.0 -13.5
Sinn Féin hold Swing +1.1

[] Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 24,348 70.5 +4.4
SDLP Alex Attwood 5,033 14.6 -4.3
Democratic Unionist Diane Dodds 3,652 10.6 +4.2
Ulster Unionist Chris McGimpsey 779 2.3 -3.9
Workers' Party John Lowry 432 1.3 -0.5
Rainbow Dream Ticket Lynda Gilby 154 0.4 +0.2
Independent Liam Kennedy 147 0.4 +0.4
Majority 19,315 55.9 +8.7
Turnout 34,545 64.2 -4.5
Sinn Féin hold Swing +4.4%
General Election 2001: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 27,096 66.1 +10.2
SDLP Alex Attwood 7,754 18.9 -19.8
Democratic Unionist Eric Smyth 2,641 6.4 N/A
Ulster Unionist Chris McGimpsey 2,541 6.2 +2.8
Workers' Party John Lowry 736 1.8 +0.2
Third Way David Kerr 116 0.3 N/A
Rainbow Dream Ticket Rainbow George Weiss 98 0.2 N/A
Majority 19,342 47.2
Turnout 40,982 68.7 -5.5
Sinn Féin hold Swing

[] Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 25,662 55.9 + 13.9
SDLP Joe Hendron 17,753 38.7 - 5.5
Ulster Unionist Fred Parkinson 1,556 3.4 -8.2
Workers' Party John Lowry 721 1.6 N/A
Human Rights Liam Kennedy 102 0.2 N/A
Natural Law Mary Daly 91 0.2 N/A
Majority 7,909 17.2 + 15.5
Turnout 45,885
Sinn Féin gain from SDLP Swing

1997 Changes are compared to the 1992 notional results shown below [6].

Notional 1992 UK General Election Result: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDLP N/A 20,045 44.2 N/a
Sinn Féin N/A 19,027 42.0 N/A
Ulster Unionist N/A 5,275 11.6 N/A
Others N/A 975 2.2 N/A
Majority 1,018 2.3 N/A
General Election 1992: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDLP Joe Hendron 17,415 43.6 + 7.9
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 16,826 42.1 + 1.0
Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain 4,766 11.9 - 6.8
Workers' Party John Lowry 750 1.9 - 2.5
Natural Law Michael Kennedy 213 0.5 N/A
Majority 589 1.7 - 3.7
Turnout 34,545 73.2 + 4.1
SDLP gain from Sinn Féin Swing

[] Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 16,862 41.1 + 2.1
SDLP Joe Hendron 14,641 35.7 + 9.4
Ulster Unionist Frank Millar 7,646 18.7 + 12.9
Workers' Party Mary McMahon 1,819 4.4 - 0.1
Majority 2,221 5.4 - 7.6
Turnout 69.1 - 1.1
Sinn Féin hold Swing
General Election 1983: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 16,379 39.0 N/A
SDLP Joe Hendron 10,934 26.1 - 14.4
Independent Socialist Gerry Fitt 10,326 24.6 N/A
Ulster Unionist Thomas Passmore 2,435 5.8 - 19.0
Workers' Party Mary McMahon 1,893 4.5 - 2.4
Majority 5,445 13.0 - 11.7
Turnout 70.2 + 13.7
Sinn Féin gain from SDLP Swing

Following the 1979 election, Fitt became increasingly at odds with the SDLP and left it, continuing to sit as an independent socialist.

[] Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDLP Gerry Fitt 16,480 40.5 - 8.5
Ulster Unionist Thomas Passmore 8,245 24.8 - 11.7
Democratic Unionist William Dickson 3,716 11.2 N/A
Republican Clubs Brian Brennan 2,284 6.9 - 1.1
Alliance John Cousins 2,024 6.1 N/A
Labour (NI) Derek Peters 540 1.6 N/A
Majority 8,235 24.7 + 12.2
Turnout 56.5 - 10.7
SDLP hold Swing
General Election October 1974: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDLP Gerry Fitt 21,821 49.0 + 8.0
Democratic Unionist John McQuade 16,265 36.5 0.0
Republican Clubs Kitty O'Kane 3,547 8.0 + 1.5
Volunteer Political Party Ken Gibson 2,690 6.0 N/A
Marxist-Leninist (Ireland) Peter Kerins 203 0.5 N/A
Majority 5,556 12.5 + 8.3
Turnout 67.2 - 4.3
SDLP hold Swing
General Election February 1974: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDLP Gerry Fitt 19,554 41.0 N/A
Democratic Unionist John McQuade 17,374 36.5
Independent Republican Albert Price 5,662 11.9 N/A
Republican Clubs John Brady 3,088 6.5 N/A
Labour (NI) Billy Boyd 1,989 4.2 N/A
Majority 2,180 4.6 - 0.9
Turnout 71.5 - 13.0
SDLP gain from Republican Labour Swing

After the 1970 election Fitt left the Republican Labour Party to cofound the Social Democratic & Labour Party. The remains of Republican Labour had disintegrated by 1974.

General Election 1970: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Labour Gerry Fitt 30,649 52.8 + 0.8
Ulster Unionist Brian McRoberts 27,451 47.3 - 0.7
Majority 3,198 5.5 + 1.4
Turnout 84.5 + 9.7
Republican Labour hold Swing

[] Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Labour Gerry Fitt 26,292 52.0 + 23.7
Ulster Unionist James Kilfedder 24,281 48.0 + 6.8
Majority 2,011 4.1 - 8.7
Turnout 74.8 + 0.1
Republican Labour gain from Ulster Unionist Swing
General Election 1964: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist James Kilfedder 21,337 41.2 - 12.9
Republican Labour Harry Diamond 14,678 28.3 N/A
Labour (NI) Billy Boyd 12,579 24.3 N/A
Independent Republican Billy McMillen 3,256 6.3 N/A
Majority 6,659 12.8 - 3.8
Turnout 74.7 + 2.0
Ulster Unionist hold Swing

[] Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Patricia McLaughlin 28,898 54.1 - 4.2
Ind. Labour Group John Joseph Brennan 20,062 37.6 N/A
Sinn Féin Thomas Heenan 4,416 8.3 - 6.1
Majority 8,836 16.6 - 14.3
Turnout 72.7 - 2.0
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1955: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Patricia McLaughlin 34,191 58.3 + 8.3
Irish Labour Jack Beattie 20,062 27.4 - 22.6
Sinn Féin Eamonn Boyce 8,447 14.4 N/A
Majority 18,141 30.9 + 30.9
Turnout 74.7 - 9.4
Ulster Unionist gain from Irish Labour Swing
General Election 1951: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Labour Jack Beattie 33,174 50.0 + 3.7
Ulster Unionist Thomas Teevan 33,149 50.0 - 1.5
Majority 25 0.0 - 5.2
Turnout 84.1 + 0.5
Irish Labour gain from Ulster Unionist Swing
Belfast West by-election, 1950
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Thomas Teevan 31,796 50.8 - 0.7
Irish Labour Jack Beattie 30,833 49.2 + 2.9
Majority 913 1.5 - 4.0
Turnout 62,629
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1950: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist James Godfrey MacManaway 33,917 51.5 + 5.0
Irish Labour Jack Beattie 30,539 46.3 - 7.2
Sinn Féin Jimmy Steele 1,482 2.2 N/A
Majority 3,378 5.2 - 1.8
Turnout 83.6 + 10.5
Ulster Unionist gain from Independent Swing

[] Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Belfast West

Electorate 80,641
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Labour Jack Beattie 30,787 53.5 N/A
Ulster Unionist Knox Cunningham 26,729 46.5 - 16.1
Majority 4,058 7.0 - 18.2
Turnout 57,516 73.1 + 5.1
Independent Labour gain from Ulster Unionist Swing
Belfast West by-election, 1943
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour (NI) Jack Beattie 19,936 46.2 N/A
Ulster Unionist Knox Cunningham 14,426 33.4 - 29.2
Ind. Unionist Association William McConnell Wilton 7,551 17.5 N/A
Independent Republican H. C. Corvin 1,250 2.9 - 34.5
Majority 5,510 12.8 - 12.4
Turnout 54.8 - 13.2
Labour (NI) gain from Ulster Unionist Swing

[] Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Alexander Browne 34,060 62.6 + 4.0
Independent Republican Charles Leddy 20,313 37.4 - 4.0
Majority 13,747 25.2 + 8.0
Turnout 68.0 - 0.1
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1931: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Alexander Browne 31,113 58.6 + 0.7
Nationalist (NI) Thomas Joseph Campbell 22,006 41.4 - 0.7
Majority 9,107 17.2 + 1.4
Turnout 68.1 - 5.8
Ulster Unionist hold Swing

Note: The sitting MP, W.E.D. Allen, had joined the New Party earlier in 1931 but did not contest the seat at the general election.

[] Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist W. E. D. Allen 33,274 57.9 + 3.4
Independent Republican Frank MacDermot 24,177 42.1 N/A
Majority 9,097 15.8 + 1.7
Turnout 73.9 - 5.2
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1924: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Robert Lynn 28,435 54.5 + 1.6
Labour (NI) Harry Midgley 21,122 40.4 - 3.7
Sinn Féin Patrick Nash 2,688 5.1 N/A
Majority 7,313 14.1 + 8.3
Turnout 79.1 + 8.8
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1923: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Robert Lynn 24,975 52.9 N/A
Belfast Labour Harry Midgley 22,255 47.1 N/A
Majority 2,720 5.8 N/A
Turnout 70.3 N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1922: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Robert Lynn Unopposed N/A N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A

[] Elections in the 1910s

General Election December 1910: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary Joseph Devlin 4,543 52.7 -0.2
Liberal Unionist J. Boyd Carpenter 4,080 47.3 +1.1
Majority 463 5.4 -1.3
Turnout 8,623 93.4 -1.8
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing
General Election January 1910: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary Joseph Devlin 4,651 52.9 +3.7
Liberal Unionist J. Boyd Carpenter 4,064 46.2 -2.8
Ind. Nationalist P. J. Magee 75 0.9 N/A
Majority 587 6.7 +6.5
Turnout 8,790 95.2 +0.6
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing

[] Elections in the 1900s

General Election 1906: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary Joseph Devlin 4,138 49.2 N/A
Liberal Unionist J. R. Smiley 4,122 49.0 N/A
Ind. Liberal Unionist Alexander Carlisle 153 1.8 N/A
Majority 16 0.2 N/A
Turnout 8,413 94.6 N/A
Irish Parliamentary gain from Liberal Unionist Swing
Belfast West by-election, 1903: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist H. O. Arnold-Forster Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 1900: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist H. O. Arnold-Forster Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal Unionist hold Swing N/A

[] Elections in the 1890s

General Election 1895: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist H. O. Arnold-Forster Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 1892: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist H. O. Arnold-Forster 4,266 55.5 N/A
Irish National Federation Thomas Sexton 3,427 44.5 -6.2
Majority 839 10.9 +9.6
Turnout 7,693
Liberal Unionist gain from Irish Parliamentary Swing

[] Elections in the 1880s

General Election 1886: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary Thomas Sexton 3,832 50.7 +0.9
Conservative James Horner Haslett 3,729 49.3 -0.9
Majority 103 1.3 +0.8
Turnout 7,561
Irish Parliamentary gain from Conservative Swing
General Election 1885: Belfast West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Horner Haslett 3,778 50.2 N/A
Irish Parliamentary Thomas Sexton 3,743 49.8 N/A
Majority 35 0.5 N/A
Turnout 7,521 N/A
Conservative hold Swing

[]

  • ( )

    • Monday, 4 April 2011

    Comment Forum Explained

Most viewed in Politics

Read

Emailed

Commented

Video

The World's 10 Sexiest Women

The World's 10 Sexiest Women

NiteLife: The Roost, Granny's, Bert's

Had a big night out? Click here to send your pics

Columnist Comments

jane_graham

• Why my kids feel Olympics are not the real thing now

I did quite well in my school exams, but the only thing for which I can confidently say I stood out like a beacon among my fellow pupils was my record-breaking 100-metres dash.
readers_editor

• Think your money is legal tender? Don’t bank on it

Readers have a habit of shining spotlights on unexpected issues that throw up interesting queries. Or, on occasion, a downright can of worms.

eamon_mccann

• World must open its eyes and see Israel for what it is

Why pick on Israel when there's so much injustice in the rest of the world? The answer is to be found in the specific circumstances which gave rise to the launch of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) campaign in July 2005.
liam_clarke

• PR machine is driving Sinn Fein power push

Sinn Fein's ard fheis opens in Killarney tomorrow. Like most conferences held by successful political parties, it is a well-managed set-piece. It is a PR event and it is aimed at the voters watching on TV.
robert_mcneill

• Why bringing up our kids should be child's play... or maybe it's not

Nurse, the screens! Yup, top experts have issued new warnings about kiddies watching nothing but tellies and computers, while real life flits by unnoticed outside.

The Troubles: Northern Ireland's First Minister and Deputy First Minister

Belfast Telegraph Quizzes

Exams

Just Born: Readers' Baby Pictures

Just Born: Readers' Baby Pictures

To send Us Your Baby snaps just Click here

Just Wed: Readers' Wedding Pictures

Just Born: Readers' Wedding Pictures

To send Us Your Wedding snaps just Click here

Latest Comments

Belfast Telegraph Home Delivery