South Down (UK Parliament constituency)

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For other constituencies of the same name, see South Down.
South Down
County constituency
South Down shown within Northern Ireland
Created: 1885, 1950
MP: Eddie McGrady
Party: Social Democratic and Labour
Type: House of Commons
Districts: Down, Banbridge, Newry and Mourne
EP constituency: Northern Ireland

South Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.

Contents

[edit] Boundaries

Slieve Donard
Slieve Donard

The county constituency was first created in 1885 from the southern part of Down. From the dissolution of Parliament in 1922, it was merged back into that constituency.

The seat was re-created in 1950 when the old Down two MP constituency was abolished as part of the final move to single member seats. Originally the seat consisted of most of the mid and southern parts of County Down, with the north included in North Down. Of the post 1973 districts, it contained all of Down and parts of Banbridge and Newry and Mourne.

In 1983 the seat was radically cut down as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17. Significant parts of the constituency were transferred to either Upper Bann or Newry and Armagh.

In boundary changes proposed by a review in 1995, the seat was originally to be abolished and replaced by a new Mid Down constituency. This provoked a storm of protest and following a local enquiry minor changes were made with the seat losing one small section to Lagan Valley and another to Strangford. It still consists of parts of Down, Banbridge and Newry and Mourne districts.

[edit] Proposed Boundary changes

In 2005, the Boundary Commission published provisional recommendations for modifying the boundaries of constituencies in Northern Ireland. For South Down, it originally proposed to add part of Newry from Newry and Armagh and the Loughbrickland part of Banbridge district from Upper Bann, while losing some more of Down to Strangford. These changes were challenged in a round of public consultations, with the result that revised recommendations have been made. Under the new proposals, the Newry area will remain in Newry and Armagh and Loughbrickland in Upper Bann. This means that only 4 wards around the town of Ballynahinch are to be transferred to Strangford. As revised recommendations are rarely changed it is likely that these boundaries will be the final recommendations.

[edit] History

[edit] 1885 to 1922

The constituency was a predominantly Nationalist area in 1918. The Unionists had significant but minority support. The Sinn Féin candidate polled poorly, probably due to the limited electoral pact to avoid seriously splitting the anti-unionist vote in seats the unionist candidate might have otherwise won.

[edit] The First Dáil

Sinn Féin contested the general election of 1918 on the platform that instead of taking up any seats they won in the United Kingdom Parliament, they would establish a revolutionary assembly in Dublin. In republican theory every MP elected in Ireland was a potential Deputy to this assembly. In practice only the Sinn Féin members accepted the offer.

The revolutionary First Dáil assembled on 21 January 1919 and last met on 10 May 1921. The First Dáil, according to a resolution passed on 10 May 1921, was formally dissolved on the assembling of the Second Dáil. This took place on 16 August 1921.

In 1921 Sinn Féin decided to use the UK authorised elections for the Northern Ireland House of Commons and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland as a poll for the Irish Republic's Second Dáil. This area, in republican theory, was incorporated in a potential eight-member Dáil constituency of Down.

[edit] 1950 to present

When initially created this seat had a clear unionist majority, albeit with a strong nationalist minority. However boundary changes, which have wrapped it closer around nationalist heartlands near Downpatrick and the Mournes have transformed South Down into a safe nationalist seat.

The Westminster seat was constistently held by the Ulster Unionist Party from its creation until 1987. In the October 1974 general election the former Conservative MP Enoch Powell defended the seat for the UUP, representing a coup for them as they gained the support of a high profile English politician, offering them a spokesperson to the United Kingdom as a whole.

Powell advocated a policy of integration for Northern Ireland whereby all forms of devolution would be wound up and the province governed as an integral part of the United Kingdom. As part of this he campaigned for the province to have the same ratio of MPs to population as in the rest of the United Kingdom, rather than fewer, which had previously been justified due to the existence of the devolved Stormont Parliament. Powell was successful in this but a side effect was that in his own constituency a significant block of unionist voters were removed, resulting in a nationalist majority. Powell managed to survive due to a combination of a split nationalist vote and personal popularity in the Catholic community, but in 1987 he narrowly lost to Eddie McGrady of the Social Democratic and Labour Party who has held the seat to date.

Since then the unionist vote has declined further due to boundary changes, which excluded mainly unionist Dromore and Saintfield, and a trend for many unionists to vote for McGrady at Westminster elections. This is interpreted by the SDLP as genuine cross-community support and by unionist parties as tactical voting.

Although votes for Sinn Féin have recently increased in the constituency, the SDLP is currently significantly ahead and look likely to retain the seat for the foreseeable future.

[edit] Members of Parliament

The Member of Parliament since the 1987 general election is Eddie McGrady of the Social Democratic and Labour Party. He defeated Enoch Powell of the Ulster Unionist Party who had represented the seat since October 1974.

  • In this section by-elections are indicated by an asterisk after the date.
Election Member Party
1885 constituency created
1885 John Francis Small Irish Parliamentary
1886 Michael McCartan Irish Parliamentary
1892 Irish National Federation
1900 Irish Parliamentary
1902 * Jeremiah McVeagh Irish Parliamentary
1922 constituency abolished - see Down
1950 constituency re-created
1950 Lawrence Orr Ulster Unionist
1974 Rt Hon. Enoch Powell Ulster Unionist
1987 Eddie McGrady Social Democratic and Labour

[edit] Elections

[edit] Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Democratic and Labour Eddie McGrady 21,557 44.7 -1.6
Sinn Féin Caitriona Ruane 12,417 25.8 +6.1
Democratic Unionist Jim Wells 8,815 18.3 +3.3
Ulster Unionist Dermot Nesbitt 4,775 9.9 -7.7
Alliance Julian Crozier 613 1.3 0.0
Majority 9,140 19.0
Turnout 48,177 65.4 -5.4
Social Democratic and Labour hold Swing -3.8
General Election 2001: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Democratic and Labour Eddie McGrady 24,136 46.3 -6.6
Sinn Féin Mick Murphy 10,278 19.7 +9.4
Ulster Unionist Dermot Nesbitt 9,173 17.6 -15.2
Democratic Unionist Jim Wells 7,802 15.0 0.0
Alliance Betty Campbell 685 1.3 -2.1
Majority 13,858 26.6
Turnout 52,074 70.8 0.0
Social Democratic and Labour hold Swing

[edit] Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Democratic and Labour Eddie McGrady 26,181 52.9
Ulster Unionist Dermot Nesbitt 16,248 32.8
Sinn Féin Mick Murphy 5,127 10.4
Alliance Julian Crozier 1,711 3.5
Natural Law Rosaleen McKeon 219 0.4
Majority 9,933
Turnout 70.8
Social Democratic and Labour hold Swing
General Election 1992: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Democratic and Labour Eddie McGrady 31,523 51.2
Ulster Unionist Drew Nelson 25,181 40.9
Sinn Féin Sean Fitzpatrick 1,843 3.0
Alliance Michael Healey 1,542 2.5
Conservative Stephanie McKenzie-Hill 1,488 2.4
Majority 6,342
Turnout 80.9
Social Democratic and Labour hold Swing

[edit] Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Democratic and Labour Eddie McGrady 26,579 47.0
Ulster Unionist Enoch Powell 25,848 45.7
Sinn Féin Geraldine Ritchie 2,363 4.2
Alliance Siobhan Laird 1,069 1.9
Workers' Party Desmond O'Hagan 675 1.2
Majority 731 1.3
Turnout 79.4
Social Democratic and Labour gain from Ulster Unionist Swing
South Down by-election, 1986
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Enoch Powell 24,963
Social Democratic and Labour Eddie McGrady 23,121
Sinn Féin Hugh McDowell 2,963
Workers' Party Sean Magee 522
Majority 1,842
Turnout
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1983: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Enoch Powell 20,693 40.3
Social Democratic and Labour Eddie McGrady 20,145 39.3
Sinn Féin Patrick Fitzsimmons 4,074 7.9
Democratic Unionist Cecil Harvey 3,743 7.3
Alliance Patrick Forde 1,823 3.6
Workers' Party Margaret Magee 851 1.7
Majority 548 1.1
Turnout 77.7
Ulster Unionist hold Swing

[edit] Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Enoch Powell 32,254 50.0
Social Democratic and Labour Eddie McGrady 24,033 37.3
Alliance Patrick Forde 4,407 6.8
Irish Independence John Markey 1,853 2.9
Republican Clubs Desmond O'Hagan 1,682 2.6
Inter-Dependence Party Francis Rice 216 0.3
Reform Peter Courtney 31 0.1
Majority 8,221 12.8
Turnout 72.0
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election October 1974: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Enoch Powell 33,614 50.8
Social Democratic and Labour Sean Holywood 30,047 45.4
Republican Clubs Gerard O'Hanlon 2,327 3.5
Marxist-Leninist (Ireland) David Vipond 152 0.2
Majority 3,567 5.4
Turnout 72.4
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election February 1974: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Lawrence Orr 31,088 52.1
Social Democratic and Labour Sean Holywood 25,486 42.8
Republican Clubs Hugh Golding 3,046 5.1
Majority 5,602 9.4
Turnout 65.0
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1970: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Lawrence Orr 34,894 54.3
Unity Hugh Golding 21,676 33.7
Liberal John Quinn 7,747 12.1
Majority 13,218 20.6
Turnout 74.0
Ulster Unionist hold Swing

[edit] Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Lawrence Orr 32,876 64.0
Liberal John Quinn 9,586 18.7
Independent Republican George Mussen 8,917 17.4
Majority 23,290 45.3
Turnout 65.8
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1964: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Lawrence Orr 32,922 59.0
Independent Republican George Mussen 11,031 19.8
Labour (NI) Samuel Thompson 6,260 11.2
Liberal Hamilton Gooding 5,610 10.1
Majority 21,891 39.2
Turnout 72.1
Ulster Unionist hold Swing

[edit] Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Lawrence Orr 36,875 85.4
Sinn Féin Kevin O'Rourke 6,298 14.6
Majority 30,577 70.8
Turnout 55.6
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1955: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Lawrence Orr 37,921 65.9
Sinn Féin Kevin O'Rourke 19,624 34.1
Majority 18,297 31.8
Turnout 73.9
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1951: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Lawrence Orr 37,789 58.4
Independent Republican Gerald Annesley 26,976 41.6
Majority 10,813 16.7
Turnout 82.0
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1950: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Lawrence Orr 38,508 63.5
Irish Labour John MacGougan 22,176 36.5
Majority 16,332 26.9
Turnout 76.7
Ulster Unionist hold Swing

[edit] Elections in the 1910s

General Election 14 December 1918: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary Jeremiah MacVeagh 8,756 N/A
Irish Unionist John Alexander Weir Johnston 5,573 N/A
Independent Alexander Fisher 436 N/A
Sinn Féin Eamon de Valera 33 N/A
Majority N/A
Turnout 18,708 N/A
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing N/A

[edit] Elections in the 1900s

General Election 1906: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary Jeremiah MacVeagh 3,910 N/A
Irish Unionist P. K. Smiley N/A
Majority N/A
Turnout N/A
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing N/A
At the 1900 UK general election, Michael McCartan was elected unopposed.

[edit] Elections in the 1890s

General Election 1895: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Anti-Parnellite Nationalist Michael McCartan 4,057
Liberal Unionist T. Rowan 3,378
Majority 679
Turnout
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing
General Election 1892: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Anti-Parnellite Nationalist Michael McCartan 4,207
Liberal Unionist J. W. Craig 3,636
Parnellite Nationalist E. Magenis 42
Majority
Turnout
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing

[edit] Elections in the 1880s

General Election 1886: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary Michael McCartan 4,786
Conservative R. S. Corbett 3,816
Majority
Turnout
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing
General Election 1885: South Down
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary John Francis Small 4,995
Conservative W. H. Kisbey 3,743
Majority
Turnout
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing

[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)
  • Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922, edited by B.M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)
  • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume II 1886-1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (The Harvester Press 1978)
  • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume III 1919-1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (The Harvester Press 1979)
  • F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950 - 1970
  • The Liberal Year Book For 1917, Liberal Publication Department
  • The Constitutional Year Book For 1912, Conservative Central Office
  • The Constitutional Year Book For 1894, Conservative Central Office

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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