North Down

map map map map map map map map map map map map map map map map map map map map map map map map map results graph
Map and diagram by Conal Kelly

This constituency takes in the south-eastern coastal strip of Belfast Lough, including the whole of North Down District Council and Donaghadee in Ards District Council. The member of parliament is Lady Sylvia Hermon (UUP); in the 2001 election she defeated the UKUP leader, Bob McCartney, who himself had first won the seat in a 1995 by-election caused by the death of Sir James Kilfedder, the leader of the Ulster Popular Unionist Party, who had represented North Down since the 1970s. The UUP hold two Assembly seats here, as do the DUP, with the other two occupied by the Greens and the Alliance Party (the Greens gained McCartney's seat in 2007, the DUP gained seats from the UUP and Women's Coalition in 2003). The constituency was greatly reduced in size in 1983 and again altered in 1995. See 1983-1995 North Down results, 1973-82 North Down results and 1950-1970 North Down results. The boundary commission has left North Down unchanged.

See also the detailed guide from 2007by "Sammy Morse".

North Down's population in the 2001 census was 85,992 (16th of the 18 constituencies).

Results


DUP UKUP UUP Cons Oth U Alliance NIWC Green Oth SDLP SF
2007a
34% 6% 24% 3% 4% 10%
9% 4% 4% 1%
2005w 35%
50% 3%
8%

1% 3% 1%
2005lg 34% 2% 23% 1% 2% 15% 2% 8% 10% 2%
2003a 23% 12% 32% 2% 5% 9% 4% 2% 10% 5% 1%
2001w
36% 56% 2%



1% 3% 1%
2001lg* 14% 9% 27% 2% 4% 17%

22%

1998a 7% 22% 33% 1% 8% 14% 5%
4% 5%
1997lg 11% 9% 25% 7% 5% 21%

22%

1997w
35% 31% 5%
21% 3%
0% 4%
1996f 18% 21% 26% 1% 8% 17% 1% 1% 2% 5% 1%

* A small part of the constituency did not vote in the 2001 local government election (see below).

2010 Westminster election

The only successful UUP candidate in 2005, Lady Sylvia Hermon, has declared that she will not be a candidate for the joint UUP and Conservative ticket in the coming election. If she decides to contest the election as an independent, she must have a fairly good chance, depending slightly on which of the smaller parties decides to support her whether formally or informally. Otherwise, the DUP look the strongest of the other parties; but appearances in North Down can often be deceptive.

2007 Assembly Election (7 March, six seats)

Full details of each count are available from the Electoral Office (in PowerPoint format) here.
*Alex Easton (DUP) 4946 (16.1%)
*Peter Weir (DUP) 3376 (11.0%)
Stephen Farry (Alliance) 3131 (10.2%)
*Leslie Cree (UUP) 2937 (9.6%)
Brian Wilson (Green) 2839 (9.2%)
*Alan McFarland (UUP) 2245 (7.3%)
Alan Graham (DUP) 2147 (7.0%)
Marion Smith (UUP) 2098 (6.8%)
*Robert McCartney (UKUP) 1806 (5.9%)
Brian Rowan (Independent) 1194 (3.9%)
Alan Chambers (Independent Unionist) 1129 (3.7%)
William Logan (SDLP) 1115 (3.6%)
James Leslie (Conservative) 864 (2.8%)
Deaglan Page (SF) 390 (1.3%)
Elaine Martin (PUP) 367 (1.2%)
Christopher Carter (Independent) 123 (0.4%)

*Elected in 2003 from North Down
DUP 10,469 (34.1%, +10.6%) 2 seats
UUP 7,280 (23.7%, -8.4%) 2 seats
Alliance 3,131 (10.2%, +1.6%) 1 seat
Green 2,839 (9.2%, +6.9%) 1 seat (+1)
UKUP 1,806 (5.9%, -5.7%) (-1)
Rowan 1,194 (3.9%)
Chambers 1,129 (3.7%, +0.2%)
SDLP 1,115 (3.6%, -1.3%)
Conservative 864 (2.8%, +1.2%)
SF 390 (1.3%, +0.4%)
PUP 367 (1.2%, +0.2%))
Carter 123 (0.4%, +0.05%)

Electorate 57,525 
Votes cast 30,930 (53.8%); spoilt votes 223 (0.7%) 
Valid votes 30,707; quota 4,387

An impressive gain for the Green Party, eliminating Robert McCartney's UKUP from the political scene after twelve years. Graham (DUP) was 731 votes behind McFarland (UUP) on the final count, with undistributed surpluses of 300 from the UUP, 185 from the Green Party and 79 from Alliance, all of which had originated with Smith of the UUP and would therefore have increased the margin. Smith was the UUP's only female candidate in this entire election.

2005 Westminster election (5 May, 1 seat)

*Lady Sylvia Hermon (UUP) 16,268 (50.4% -5.6%)
@Peter Weir (DUP) 11,324 (35.1%)
David Alderdice (Alliance) 2,451 (7.6%)
Liam Logan (SDLP) 1,009 (3.1% -0.3%)
Julian Robertson (Conservative) 822 (2.5% +0.3%)
Chris Carter (Independent) 211 (0.7%)
Janet McCrory (Sinn Fein) 205 (0.6% -0.2%)

* outgoing MP.
@ Member of the Assembly.

A big relief for the UUP who would otherwise have been left with no Westminster seats - but Lady Hermon clearly owes her victory to Alliance tactical votes. These results, projected to a six-seat STV election, would give the UUP three and the DUP two, with the last probably going to Alliance.

2005 Local Government Election

The constituency comprises the whole of North Down Council and 3 of the 6 wards of the Ards East DEA of Ards Council (Donaghadee North, Donaghadee South and Millisle). Votes cast in 2005 were:

DUP 11,034 (34.3%)
UUP 7,343.5 (22.8%)
Alliance 4,958 (15.4%)
Independent 3,180 (9.9%)
Green 2,639 (8.2%)
Women's Coalition 738 (2.3%)
UKUP 734 (2.3%)
PUP 651 (2.0%)
SDLP 526 (1.6%)
Conservative 353 (1.1%)

If these votes were cast in a six-seat STV election, the DUP would have two seats and the UUP and Alliance one each; the last two would be most likely to go to the UUP and the Green Party.

2003 Assembly election (26 November; six seats)

Also available: details of each count with analysis of surplus transfers.
Leslie Cree (UUP) 3900 (12.6%)
*Peter Weir (DUP) 3675 (11.9%)
Alex Easton (DUP) 3570 (11.6%)
*Alan McFarland (UUP) 3421 (11.1%)
*Robert McCartney (UKUP) 3374 (10.9%)
Diana Peacocke (UUP) 2566 (8.3%)
*Eileen Bell (Alliance) 1951 (6.3%)
Liam Logan (SDLP) 1519 (4.9%)
Brian Wilson (Ind) 1350 (4.4%)
*Jane Morrice (NIWC) 1181 (3.8%)
Alan Chambers (Ind) 1077 (3.5%)
John Barry (Green) 730 (2.4%)
Stephen Farry (Alliance) 704 (2.3%)
Julian Robertson (Cons) 491 (1.6%)
Alan Field (Ind) 428 (1.4%)
David Rose (PUP) 316 (1.0%)
Maria George (SF) 264 (0.9%)
Tom Sheridan (UKUP) 209 (0.7%)
Chris Carter (Ind) 109 (0.4%)
UUP 9,887 (32.1%, -0.5%) 2 seats
DUP 7,245 (23.5%, +16.6%) 2 seats
UKUP 3,583 (11.6%, -10.8%) 1 seat Best result for UKUP in Northern Ireland
Inds 2,964 (9.6%, +6.0%)
Alliance 2,655 (8.6%, -5.8%) 1 seat
SDLP 1,519 (4.9%, -0.6%)
NIWC 1,181 (3.8%, -1.0%)
Green 730 (2.4%) Best result for Greens in Northern Ireland
Cons 491 (1.6%, +0.7%) Best result for Conservatives in Northern Ireland
PUP 316 (1.0%, -2.7%)
SF 264 (0.9%)

Electorate 57,422 
Votes cast 31,316 (54.5%); spoilt votes 481 (1.5%) 
Valid votes 30,835; quota 4,406


The DUP made two gains here, one from the UUP (almost inevitable with Peter Weir's defection) and the other from the NIWC. Eileen Bell benefited from transfers from the Greens, NIWC, SDLP, and independent Brian Wilson; the final margin between the DUP's Easton and the UUP's Peacocke was 421 votes.

North Down had lost 10.96% of its electorate in the great electoral register shake-out, varying from 8.84% in the Harbour ward of North Down to 7.50% in the Donaghadee North ward of Ards. 11 constituencies lost fewer voters, 6 lost more.

2001 Westminster Election (7 June; 1 seat)

Lady Sylvia Hermon (UUP) 20,833 (56.0%)
*@Robert McCartney (UKUP) 13,509 (36.3%)
Marietta Farrell (SDLP) 1,275 (3.4%)
Julian Robertson (Cons) 815 (2.2%) Best result in Northern Ireland
Chris Carter (Ind) 444 (1.2%)
Eamon McConvey (Sinn Fein) 313 (0.8%)

Electorate: 63,212; votes cast: 37,377 (59.1%); spoilt votes: 188 (0.5%)
Valid votes: 37,189; UUP majority 7,324

* outgoing MP
@ member of the Assembly

 This eagerly anticipated gain for the UUP was facilitated by the decision of Alliance candidate Stephen Farry to withdraw from the race in order to help defeat McCartney. If this had been a six-seat Assembly election, the UUP would have won four and UKUP two.
I received the news that McCartney had lost in a small radio studio packed with guests of varying political hues, all of whom were delighted. Danny Morrison commented that he had never thought the day would come that he would be cheering on the wife of the former Chief Constable of the RUC.

2001 Local Government Election (7 June)

The constituency comprises all 25 wards in North Down and 3 of the 23 wards in Ards (3 of the 6 wards in the Ards East DEA). However in 2001 only six candidates were nominated in Ards East, and they were declared elected without a vote. The first preference votes cast in the North Down District in 2001 were as follows:

UUP 8883 (27%)
Alliance 5718 (18%)
DUP 4631 (14%)
UKUP 3034 (9%) Best equivalent result in Northern Ireland
PUP 1167 (4%)
NIWC 1166 (4%) Best equivalent result in Northern Ireland
Conservatives 551 (2%) Best equivalent result in Northern Ireland
NIUP 188 (1%)
Independents 7159 (22%)

Including notional votes from Ards East would boost the UUP and DUP fractionally and diminish the votes for the others a little less. The UUP should win two seats in an STV election, and Alliance and the DUP one each. The last two are anybody's.

1998 Assembly Election (25 June; six seats)

Also available: details of each count with analysis of surplus transfers.
 
*Robert McCartney (UKU) 8,188
#Sir John Gorman (UUP) 4,719 
*Alan McFarland (UUP) 4,653 
#Eileen Bell (Alliance) 3,669 
*Peter Weir (UUP) 2,775 
Marietta Farrell (SDLP) 2,048 
Jane Morrice (NIWC) 1,808 
Gavin Walker (Alliance) 1,699 
Alan Graham (DUP) 1,558 
Alan Chambers (Ulster Ind) 1,382 
Stewart Currie (PUP) 1,376 
Brian Wilson (Ind) 1,327 
*St Clair McAlister (DUP) 1,013 
Leonard Fee (C) 337 
Tom Lindsay (UDP) 265 
Vanessa Baird-Gunning (Lab) 212 
Elizabeth Roche (UKU) 173 
Christopher Carter (Ulster's Independent Voice) 72 
Andrea Gribben (NLP) 39
UUP 12,147 (32.55%) 3 seats
     Best result for UUP in Northern Ireland
UKU 8,361 (22.41%) 1 seat
Alliance 5,368 (14.39%) 1 seat
DUP 2,571 (6.89%) 
SDLP 2,048 (5.49%) 
NIWC 1,808 (4.85%) 1 seat
Ulster Ind 1,382 (3.70%) 
PUP 1,376 (3.69%) 
Ind 1,327 (3.56%) 
C 337 (0.90%) 
UDP 265 (0.71%) 
Lab 212 (0.57%) 
UIV 72 (0.19%) 
NLP 39 (0.10%) 

Electorate: 62,942 
Votes cast: 37,874 (60.2%); spoilt votes: 561 (1.5%) 
Valid votes 37,313; quota: 5,331

* elected in 1996 Forum/talks election from North Down
# elected in 1996 Forum/talks election as a 'top-up' candidate.

The poor performance of the DUP, as well as the success of the Women's Coalition and the UUP's third seat, were all major surprises here in perhaps the most volatile constituency in Northern Ireland. The SDLP's good performance was not enough to prevent them being eliminated; their transfers pulled Jane Morrice of the Women's Coalition ahead of the DUP. The last seat went to Peter Weir of the UUP, who finished with 4,751 votes to Alan Graham's 4,443 (Sir John Gorman's undistributed surplus of 15 votes would have slightly widened the gap.)

1997 Local Government Election

Ulster Unionist Party 5,273.6 (25%)
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland 4,460 (21%) Best equivalent result for Alliance in Northern Ireland
Democratic Unionist Party 2,228.8 (11%)
United Kingdom Unionist Party 1,865.6 (9%)
Conservative Party 1,372 (7%)
Progressive Unionist Party 871 (4%)
Ulster Democratic Party 131 (1%)
Others 4,633 (22%)
Total valid 20,835 (33.19% of electorate)

1997 Westminster Election (one seat)

*ƒRobert McCartney (United Kingdom Unionist Party) 12,817 (35%)
ƒAlan McFarland (Ulster Unionist Party) 11,368 (31%)
ƒSir Oliver Napier (Alliance Party of Northern Ireland) 7,554 (21%)
Leonard Fee (Conservative Party) 1,810 (5%)
Marietta Farrell (Social Democratic and Labour Party) 1,602 (4%)
Jane Morrice (Northern Ireland Women's Coalition) 1,240 (3%)
Tom Mullins (Natural Law Party) 108 (0.30%)
Robert Mooney (Northern Ireland Party) 57 (0.16%)
Turnout 36,556 (58.02%)

ƒ member of the Forum

1996 Forum Election (five seats)

Also available: full list of 1996 candidates

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) 9,270 (26%) 2 seats (Peter Weir, Alan McFarland elected)
United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP) 7,579 (21%) 1 seat (Robert McCartney elected)
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) 6,699 (18%) 1 seat (St Clair McAlister elected)
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) 6,186 (17%) 1 seat (Sir Oliver Napier elected)
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) 1,798 (5%)
Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) 1,694 (5%)
Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) 651 (2%)
Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (NIWC) 496 (1%)
Conservative Party (Con) 444 (1%)
Independent Chambers 334 (1%)
Green Party 283 (1%)
Sinn Féin (SF) 275 (1%)
Labour (Lab) 171 (0.47%)
Independent Democratic Unionist Party 97 (0.27%)
Democratic Left (DL) 95 (0.26%)
Workers Party (WP) 60 (0.17%)
Ulster Independence Movement (UIM) 49 (0.14%)
Ulster's Independent Voice (UIV) 49 (0.14%)
Natural Law Party (NLP) 15 (0.04%)

Electorate: 62,810; votes cast: 36,271 (57.7%); spoilt votes: 26 (0.0%); valid votes: 36,245 

Napier had been elected to the 1973 Assembly, the 1975 Convention and the 1982 Assembly from East Belfast; McCartney was elected in 1982 for North Down.


See also: Full 2003 results from North Down | Full 1998 results from North Down | The Boundary Commission's Provisional Recommendations | Boundary Commission 2003 | Jim Riley's analysis of votes and seats in the 1998 Assembly election | The constituencies

Other sites based at ARK: ORB (Online Research Bank) | CAIN (Conflict Archive on the INternet) | Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey

Your comments, please! Send an email to me at nicholas.whyte@gmail.com.
 
This page has been developed with the support of a project grant from the New Initiatives Fund of the Electoral Commission. However, any views expressed on this page or, in particular, other pages of this website are those of the author and not necessarily shared by The Electoral Commission.

Nicholas Whyte, 3 June 1998; last updated 7 October 2007.



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