Down (UK Parliament constituency)

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For other constituencies of the same name, see Down.
Down
County constituency
Created: 1801, 1922
Abolished: 1885, 1950
Type: House of Commons

Down is former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. It was a two member constituency and existed in two periods, 1801-1885 and 1922-1950.

Contents

[edit] Boundaries

1801-1885: The whole of County Down, excluding the Boroughs of Downpatrick and Newry.

1922-1950: The Administrative county of Down, that is the whole of County Down excluding the part in the City of Belfast.

[edit] Members of Parliament

Election Member Party Member Party
1922 David Reid Ulster Unionist John Simms Ulster Unionist
1931 Edward Vane Tempest Stewart Ulster Unionist
1939 James Little Independent Unionist
1945 Walter Smiles Ulster Unionist

[edit] Elections

[edit] Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Unionist James Little 46,732 40.4 N/A
Ulster Unionist Walter Smiles 24,148 20.9 N/A
Ulster Unionist John Blakiston Houston 22,730 19.6 N/A
Independent Unionist James Brown 22,163 19.1 N/A
Turnout 39.8
Independent Unionist gain from Ulster Unionist Swing N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A

[edit] Elections in the 1930s

At the Down by-election, 1939, James Little was elected unopposed as an independent Unionist.
General Election 1935: Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist David Reid 66,324 43.5 N/A
Ulster Unionist John Simms 58,777 46.4 N/A
Irish Republican Patrick O'Hagan 20,236 13.3 N/A
Turnout 56.7
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A
At the 1931 UK general election, David Reid and Edward Vane Tempest Stewart were elected unopposed.

[edit] Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist David Reid 54,073 36.3 -10.2
Ulster Unionist John Simms 53,943 36.2 -10.2
Liberal Robert Pollock 20,999 14.1 N/A
Liberal David Johnston 20,013 13.4 N/A
Turnout 58.5
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 1924: Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist David Reid 58,929 46.5 N/A
Ulster Unionist John Simms 58,777 46.4 N/A
Sinn Féin Michael Murney 8,941 7.1 N/A
Turnout 65.8
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A

At the 1922 and 1923 UK general elections, David Reid and John Simms were elected unopposed.

[edit] References

  • The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844-50), 2nd edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973)
  • Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922, edited by B.M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)
  • ElectionsIreland.org