North Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)
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- For more details about the 1885-1922 UK Parliament constituency and the 1929-1973 Northern Ireland Parliament division see Antrim North
North Antrim County constituency |
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North Antrim shown within Northern Ireland | |
Created: | 1885, 1950 |
MP: | Ian Paisley |
Party: | Democratic Unionist |
Type: | House of Commons |
Districts: | Ballymena, Ballymoney, Moyle |
EP constituency: | Northern Ireland |
North Antrim is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons and also an Assembly constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Contents |
[edit] Boundaries
North Antrim was re-created in 1950 when the old Antrim two MP constituency was abolished as part of the final move to single member seats. The seat has had relatively few changes over the years and currently contains exactly the districts of Ballymena, Ballymoney and Moyle.
The constituency is largely rural. Amongst the features within its boundaries are Rathlin Island and Giant's Causeway.
[edit] Proposed Boundary changes
At the time of writing the Boundary Commission has proposed alterations for the boundaries of constituencies in Northern Ireland. North Antrim currently has the largest electorate of any constituency in Northern Ireland and it is proposed to transfer the Glens, including Rathlin Island, in Moyle to East Antrim and rename that seat Antrim Coast & Glens. However this proposal has raised many questions, with some already arguing that the Glens have no natural ties to Jordanstown. The changes will be subject to a series of consultations and it remains to be seen whether these proposals will be upheld. If not then it is likely that some other changes will be performed.
[edit] History
North Antrim is an overwhelmingly unionist seat. It first existed in 1885-1922, before reverting to being part of the two member Antrim seat (as it had been before 1885). North Antrim was re-created in 1950 as a larger seat than it had been in its first incarnation. County Antrim, excluding the parts in the Belfast constituencies, was split into two divisions instead of four as previously. The 1950 North Antrim was comparable to the North and Mid Antrim divisions which had existed from 1885 to 1922.
Since 1950 the Westminster elections have been relatively uncompetitive. In 1951, it was one of the last four seats to be uncontested in a UK general election. More recently, one man has repeatedly won by a landslide. The Reverend Ian Richard Kyle Paisley was first elected as a Protestant Unionist Party candidate in the 1970 general election. The following year that party changed to the Democratic Unionist Party and Paisley has held the seat ever since. This is the longest continuous period for which the current holding party has held any Northern Irish seat. In elections at all levels, the DUP have frequently had their highest share of the vote in North Antrim and have rarely been seriously challenged.
Surprisingly perhaps, to outsiders, there has been strong evidence of a number of Catholic voters in the constituency voting for Ian Paisley despite his views, presumably because of his strong reputation for his constituency work. 30% of residents were Catholic at the 2001 UK Census. Some allowances must be made for residents aged under 18 but, in comparison, the proportion of nationalist voters in recent elections has been 23% (2001 local government), 26.6% (2001 general election), 27.6% (2003 assembly election), 26.8% (2005 local government) and 27.9% (2005 general election).
There is much speculation that Ian Paisley will step down at the next UK general election. It is widely expected that, if he does, the new DUP candidate will be his son, Ian Paisley, Jr..
According to straw polls, the constituency was alone in Northern Ireland in voting against the Belfast Agreement.
[edit] Westminster elections
[edit] Members of Parliament
- Constituency created (1885)
- 1885 — 1887: Edward Macnaghten, Conservative until 1886 then Ulster Unionist (appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and created a Law life peer as Lord Macnaghten)
- 1887 — 1892: Sir Charles Edward Lewis Bt, Ulster Unionist
- 1892 — 1895: Charles Cunningham Connor, Ulster Unionist
- 1895 — 1899: Colonel Hugh McCalmont, Ulster Unionist (resigned)
- 1899 — 1906: William Moore, Ulster Unionist
- 1906 — 1910: Robert Graham Glendinning, Independent Unionist (a Russellite Unionist)
- 1910 — 1922: Peter Kerr Kerr-Smiley, Ulster Unionist
- Constituency abolished (1922)
The Member of Parliament since the 1970 general election is the Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley. He was initially elected as a member of the Protestant Unionist Party but since 1971 has sat for the Democratic Unionist Party
North Antrim has had comparatively few MPs in its lifetime compared to other parliamentary constituencies. Sir Hugh O'Neill had sat for one of the predecessor seats of Mid Antrim between 1915 and 1922 and Antrim between 1922 until 1950, making this one of the few seats where four individuals between them represented the seat continuously over a period of ninety years.
- Constituency created (1950)
- 1950 — 1953: Sir Hugh O'Neill, Ulster Unionist
- 1953 — 1959: Phelim Robert Hugh O'Neill, Ulster Unionist
- 1959 — 1970: Henry Maitland Clark, Ulster Unionist
- 1970 — present: Ian Paisley, Protestant Unionist until 1971, then Democratic Unionist
[edit] Elections
[edit] Elections in the 2000s
General Election 2005: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic Unionist | Ian Paisley | 25,156 | 54.8 | +4.9 | |
Sinn Féin | Philip McGuigan | 7,191 | 15.7 | +5.9 | |
Ulster Unionist | Rodney McCune | 6,637 | 14.5 | -6.5 | |
Social Democratic & Labour | Sean Farren | 5,585 | 12.2 | -4.6 | |
Alliance (NI) | Jayne Dunlop | 1,357 | 3.0 | +0.4 | |
Majority | 17,965 | 39.1 | |||
Turnout | 45,926 | 61.7 | -4.4 | ||
Democratic Unionist hold | Swing |
General Election 2001: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic Unionist | Ian Paisley | 24,539 | 49.9 | +3.3 | |
Ulster Unionist | Lexie Scott | 10,315 | 21.0 | -2.7 | |
Social Democratic & Labour | Sean Farren | 8,283 | 16.8 | +1.0 | |
Sinn Féin | John Kelly | 4,822 | 9.8 | +3.5 | |
Alliance (NI) | Jayne Dunlop | 1,258 | 2.6 | -3.6 | |
Majority | 14,224 | 28.9 | |||
Turnout | 49,217 | 66.1 | +2.3 | ||
Democratic Unionist hold | Swing |
[edit] Elections in the 1990s
General Election 1997: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic Unionist | Ian Paisley | 21,495 | 46.5 | -4.4 | |
Ulster Unionist | James Leslie | 10,921 | 23.6 | +5.5 | |
Social Democratic & Labour | Sean Farren | 7,333 | 15.9 | +1.6 | |
Sinn Féin | James McGarry | 2,896 | 6.3 | +2.1 | |
Alliance (NI) | David Alderdice | 2,845 | 6.2 | -1.4 | |
NI Women's Coalition | B. Hinds | 580 | 1.3 | N/A | |
Natural Law | J. Wright | 116 | 0.3 | N/A | |
Majority | 10,574 | ||||
Turnout | 63.8 | -2.0 | |||
Democratic Unionist hold | Swing |
General Election 1992: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic Unionist | Ian Paisley | 23,152 | 50.9 | -17.8 | |
Ulster Unionist | Joe Gaston | 8,216 | 18.1 | N/A | |
Social Democratic & Labour | Sean Farren | 6,512 | 14.3 | -1.8 | |
Alliance (NI) | Gareth Williams | 3,442 | 7.6 | -4.8 | |
Conservative | Richard Sowler | 2,263 | 5.0 | N/A | |
Sinn Féin | James McGarry | 1,916 | 4.2 | -2.2 | |
Majority | 14,936 | ||||
Turnout | 65.8 | +9.5 | |||
Democratic Unionist hold | Swing |
[edit] Elections in the 1980s
General Election 1987: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic Unionist | Ian Paisley | 28,283 | 68.7 | ||
Social Democratic & Labour | Sean Farren | 5,149 | 12.5 | ||
Alliance (NI) | Gareth Williams | 5,140 | 12.4 | ||
Sinn Féin | S. Reagan | 2,633 | 6.4 | ||
Majority | 23,234 | 56.3 | |||
Turnout | 62.8 | ||||
Democratic Unionist hold | Swing |
North Antrim by-election, 1986 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic Unionist | Ian Paisley | 33,937 | 97.4 | +43.2 | |
"For the Anglo-Irish Agreement" | "Peter Barry" | 515 | 2.6 | N/A | |
Majority | 33,024 | 94.8 | |||
Turnout | 53.5 | ||||
Democratic Unionist hold | Swing | N/A |
General Election 1983: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic Unionist | Ian Paisley | 23,922 | 54.2 | ||
Ulster Unionist | R. Coulter | 10,749 | 24.3 | ||
Social Democratic & Labour | Sean Farren | 6,193 | 14.0 | ||
Sinn Féin | P. McMahon | 2,860 | 6.5 | ||
Majority | 13,173 | 29.8 | |||
Turnout | 69.8 | ||||
Democratic Unionist hold | Swing |
[edit] Elections in the 1970s
General Election 1979: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic Unionist | Ian Paisley | 33,941 | 51.7 | - 20.9 | |
Ulster Unionist | David Burchill | 15,398 | 23.4 | N/A | |
Alliance (NI) | Hugh Wilson | 7,797 | 11.9 | N/A | |
Social Democratic & Labour | Sean Farren | 4,867 | 7.4 | - 5.4 | |
Irish Independence | John Turnly | 3,689 | 5.6 | N/A | |
Majority | 18,543 | 28.2 | - 29.1 | ||
Turnout | 64.3 | + 7.0 | |||
Democratic Unionist hold | Swing |
General Election October 1974: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic Unionist | Ian Paisley | 43,186 | 72.6 | + 9.1 | |
Independent | Hugh Wilson | 8,689 | 14.6 | N/A | |
Social Democratic & Labour | Mary McAlister | 7,616 | 12.8 | - 2.7 | |
Majority | 34,497 | 58.0 | + 15.5 | ||
Turnout | 59,491 | 57.3 | - 5.8 | ||
Democratic Unionist hold | Swing |
General Election February 1974: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic Unionist | Ian Paisley | 41,282 | 63.5 | + 22.2 | |
Pro-Assembly Unionist | Thomas Utley | 13,651 | 21.0 | N/A | |
Social Democratic & Labour | Mary McAlister | 10,056 | 15.5 | N/A | |
Majority | 27,631 | 42.5 | + 37.9 | ||
Turnout | 64,989 | 63.1 | - 10.2 | ||
Democratic Unionist hold | Swing |
General Election 1970: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Protestant Unionist | Ian Paisley | 24,130 | 41.2 | N/A | |
Ulster Unionist | Henry Maitland Clark | 21,451 | 36.6 | - 41.5 | |
Labour (NI) | Patrick McHugh | 6,476 | 11.0 | N/A | |
National Democrats | Alasdair McDonnell | 4,312 | 7.4 | N/A | |
Liberal | Richard Moore | 2,269 | 3.9 | - 18.0 | |
Majority | 2,679 | 4.6 | - 51.6 | ||
Turnout | 58,638 | 73.4 | + 16.7 | ||
Protestant Unionist gain from Ulster Unionist | Swing |
[edit] Elections in the 1960s
General Election 1966: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Ulster Unionist | Henry Maitland Clark | 31,927 | 78.1 | - 12.0 | |
Liberal | Richard Moore | 8,941 | 21.9 | N/A | |
Majority | 22,986 | 56.2 | - 24.1 | ||
Turnout | 40,868 | 56.7 | - 6.4 | ||
Ulster Unionist hold | Swing |
General Election 1964: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Ulster Unionist | Henry Maitland Clark | 40,372 | 90.1 | - 4.8 | |
Independent Republican | John Caughey | 4,424 | 9.9 | N/A | |
Majority | 35,948 | 80.3 | - 9.6 | ||
Turnout | 44,796 | 63.3 | - 1.6 | ||
Ulster Unionist hold | Swing |
[edit] Elections in the 1950s
General Election 1959: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Ulster Unionist | Henry Maitland Clark | 42,807 | 94.9 | + 8.9 | |
Sinn Féin | John Dougan | 2,280 | 5.1 | - 8.9 | |
Majority | 40,527 | 89.9 | + 17.9 | ||
Turnout | 45,087 | 64.5 | - 7.7 | ||
Ulster Unionist hold | Swing |
General Election 1955: North Antrim | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Ulster Unionist | Phelim Robert Hugh O'Neill | 41,763 | 86.0 | N/A | |
Sinn Féin | John Dougan | 6,809 | 14.0 | N/A | |
Majority | 34,954 | 72.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 48,572 | 72.2 | N/A | ||
Ulster Unionist hold | Swing | N/A |
- In the 1950 and 1951 UK general elections, Sir Hugh O'Neill was elected unopposed. In the North Antrim by-election, 1953, Phelim Robert Hugh O'Neill (his son) was elected unopposed.
[edit] Assemblies and Forum elections
The six MLAs for the constituency elected in the 2003 election are:
- Robert Coulter Ulster Unionist Party
- Sean Farren Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Philip McGuigan Sinn Fein
- Ian Paisley Democratic Unionist Party
- Ian Paisley, Jr. Democratic Unionist Party
- Mervyn Storey Democratic Unionist Party
In the 1998 election the six MLAs elected were:
- Robert Coulter Ulster Unionist Party
- Sean Farren Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Gardiner Kane Democratic Unionist Party
- James Leslie Ulster Unionist Party
- Ian Paisley Democratic Unionist Party
- Ian Paisley, Jr. Democratic Unionist Party
- Gardiner Kane resigned from the Democratic Unionist Party and contested the 2003 election as an independent Unionist.
In the 1996 election to the Northern Ireland Peace Forum, 5 Forum members were elected from North Antrim. They were as follows:
- Robert Coulter Ulster Unionist Party
- Sean Farren Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Joe Gaston Ulster Unionist Party
- Ian Paisley Democratic Unionist Party
- Ian Paisley, Jr. Democratic Unionist Party
In 1982 elections were held for an Assembly for Northern Ireland to hold the Secretary of State to account, in the hope that this would be the first step towards restoring devolution. North Antrim elected 8 members as follows:
- Jim Allister Democratic Unionist Party
- Roy Beggs Ulster Unionist Party
- Cecil Cousley Democratic Unionist Party
- Sean Farren Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Joe Gaston Ulster Unionist Party
- Jack McKee Democratic Unionist Party
- Séan Neeson Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
- Ian Paisley Democratic Unionist Party
In 1975 elections were held to a Constitutional Convention which sought (unsuccessfully) to generate a consensus on the future of the province. The seven members elected from North Antrim were:
- David Allen Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party
- Ken McFaul Democratic Unionist Party
- Ian Paisley Democratic Unionist Party
- Clifford Smyth Democratic Unionist Party
- John Turnley Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Hugh Wilson Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
- William Wright Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party
In 1973 elections were held to the Assembly set up under the Sunningdale Agreement. The seven members elected from North Antrim were:
- John Baxter Ulster Unionist Party (pro Sunningdale Agreement)
- James Craig Democratic Unionist Party
- William Craig Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party
- John O'Hagen Social Democratic and Labour Party
- David McCarthy Ulster Unionist Party (pro Sunningdale Agreement)
- Ian Paisley Democratic Unionist Party
- Hugh Wilson Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
- David McCarthy was killed in a car crash. The subsequent by-election on June 20, 1974 was won by Clifford Smyth of the Democratic Unionist Party
[edit] Sources
- Guardian Unlimited Politics (Election results from 1992 to the present)
- http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/ (Election results from 1951 to the present)
- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page (Complete list of MPs)
- F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950 - 1970
[edit] See also
Constituencies in Northern Ireland | |
---|---|
DUP |
Belfast East | Belfast North | East Antrim | East Londonderry | Lagan Valley | North Antrim | South Antrim | Strangford | Upper Bann |
Sinn Féin |
Belfast West | Fermanagh and South Tyrone | Mid Ulster | Newry and Armagh | West Tyrone |
SDLP | |
UUP | |
Northern Ireland European constituency: DUP (1) | Sinn Féin (1) | UUP (1) |