List of parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is divided into 18 parliamentary constituencies: 4 borough constituencies in Belfast and 14 county constituencies elsewhere. Section 33 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 provides that the constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly are the same as the constituencies that are used for the United Kingdom Parliament.[1] Parliamentary constituencies are not used for local government, which is instead carried out by 11 district councils; these often have different boundaries.

Constituencies edit

Each constituency returns one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons at Westminster and five Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont. Six MLAs were returned per constituency until the Assembly Members (Reduction of Numbers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 reduced the number to five, effective from the 2017 Assembly election.[2]

2019 general election edit

  Democratic Unionist  Sinn Féin  Social Democratic and Labour  Ulster Unionist  Alliance Party

Name[nb 1]Electorate[3]Majority[nb 2]Member of ParliamentUnionist %Nationalist %Other %Map
Belfast East BC66,2451,819Gavin Robinson55.10.044.9
Belfast North BC72,2251,943John Finucane43.147.19.8
Belfast South BC69,98415,401Claire Hanna27.258.414.3
Belfast West BC65,64414,672Paul Maskey13.565.720.9
East Antrim CC64,8306,706Sammy Wilson62.88.129.1
East Londonderry CC69,2469,607Gregory Campbell49.335.715.1
Fermanagh & South Tyrone CC72,84857Michelle Gildernew43.250.16.3
Foyle CC74,34617,110Colum Eastwood12.482.05.5
Lagan Valley CC75,7356,499Jeffrey Donaldson64.96.328.8
Mid Ulster CC70,4499,537Francie Molloy30.460.29.4
Newry & Armagh CC81,2269,287Mickey Brady30.061.88.3
North Antrim CC77,13412,721Ian Paisley, Jr.65.919.514.7
North Down CC67,0992,968Stephen Farry54.80.045.2
South Antrim CC71,7112,689Paul Girvan64.316.719.1
South Down CC79,1751,620Chris Hazzard21.964.113.9
Strangford CC66,9287,071Jim Shannon62.66.830.5
Upper Bann CC82,8878,210Carla Lockhart53.433.812.9
West Tyrone CC66,2597,478Órfhlaith Begley28.760.411.0
  1. ^ BC denotes borough constituency, CC denotes county constituency.
  2. ^ The majority is the number of votes the winning candidate receives more than their nearest rival.

Data from the BBC Election Website. For full official results see the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland.

Historical representation by party edit

Where a cell is marked → (with a different colour of frame to the preceding cell) it indicates that the previous MP continued to sit under a new party affiliation. Changes are dated in the header row: either a general election (four-figure year, bold, link) or by-election or change in affiliation (two-figure year, italic, link or details appear on hover).

1801 to 1832 (22 MPs) edit

Antrim edit

  Tory  Whig

Constituency18011802180607180718121416181819182022182618301831
AntrimStaplesO'Neill
MacNaghtenF. Seymour-ConwayH. H. SeymourR. Seymour-ConwayMacNaghtenG. Chichester
BelfastJ. MayS. MayMichelA. ChichesterG. ChichesterA. Chichester
CarrickfergusDalwayS. ChichesterCraigA. ChichesterG. ChichesterA. ChichesterHill
LisburnHattonF. Seymour-ConwayMooreFosterH. B. SeymourMeynell

Londonderry edit

  Tory  Whig

Constituency18010118021806071807091812141415181818202318261830183131
ColeraineW. Jones*W. JonesJ. BeresfordG. BeresfordJ. BeresfordBrydgesCopeland
Londonderry CityAlexanderHill*Ferguson
County LondonderryC. StewartA. StewartA. R. StewartT. Jones
vacantHillG. BeresfordPonsonbyDawsonBateson

* Sir George Hill, 2nd Baronet, was elected to sit as MP for both Coleraine and Londonderry City in the 1806 general election and chose to continue to sit for Londonderry City, hence the 1807 by-election, in which Walter Jones was restored to his seat.

Tyrone edit

  Tory  Whig  Independent

Constituency1801010218020318060718070918121818182025182618301831
DungannonJ. KnoxC. Hamilton*C. Hamilton*J. HamiltonCl. HamiltonScottHolfordT. Knox jnrJ. J. Knox
TyroneLowry-CorryJohn StewartT. Knox snrJohn StewartH. Lowry-Corry
James StewartT. Knox jnrW. StewartH. Stewart

* At both the 1802 and 1806 elections, George Knox was returned for both Dungannon and Dublin University and chose to sit for the university seat.

Armagh edit

  Tory  Whig

Constituency180118021806180718121516181819182018261830183131
ArmaghDuigenanWebberFosterStuartGoulburnChetwynd-TalbotBrydges
County ArmaghAcheson snrRichardsonCaulfeildAcheson jnr
CopeCaulfeildW BrownlowCaulfeildC Brownlow*
NewryMooreCorryF NeedhamFJ NeedhamKnox

* Charles Brownlow was initially elected as a Tory but at some point changed his affiliation to sit with the Whigs.

Down edit

  Tory  Whig

Constituency1801011802051806180712181215171818182021182618301831
DownR StewartMeadeHill
SavageWardR StewartFordeF Stewart
DownpatrickC RowleySC RowleyHawthorneRuthven*CrokerHawthorneAnnesleyMaxwellRuthven

* The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith suggests that after the 1806 election there was a petition, which led to Edward Southwell Ruthven (Whig) being unseated and John Wilson Croker (Tory) being declared duly elected. Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922, edited by BM Walker, does not make any reference to such a petition.

Fermanagh edit

  Tory

Constituency180118020203060618060718071812181818202318262818301831
EnniskillenHamiltonBeresfordBurroughsKingFremantleSneydBennetPochinMagenisAH Cole
FermanaghArchdall snrArchdall jnr
JW ColeGL ColeLowry-CorryWW Cole

1832 to 1885 (29 MPs) edit

Antrim edit

  Conservative  Whig  Peelite  Liberal

Constituency18321835351837384118414545184752185252531857
AntrimJ. O'NeillAlexanderE. Pakenham
G. ChichesterIrvingH. B. SeymourE. C. MacnaghtenMacartney
BelfastA. ChichesterMcCanceDunbarGibsonJ. TennentR. TennentDavison
J. TennentG. ChichesterDunbarJohnsonA. ChichesterCairns
CarrickfergusC. DobbsKirkStapleton-CottonW. Dobbs
LisburnMeynellH. B. SeymourJ. TennentSmythRichardson
Constituency185960636318656618686973187478188085
AntrimT. PakenhamG. H. SeymourH. SeymourChaineSinclair
UptonE. O'NeillE. MacNaghten
BelfastDavisonGettyJohnstonEwart
CairnsLanyonMcClureCorry
CarrickfergusTorrensDalwayGreer
LisburnRichardsonBarbourVernerWallace

Londonderry edit

  Conservative  Whig  Liberal

Constituency1832331835183718414243441847521852185757
ColeraineBeresford*CopelandLittonBoydNaasBoyd
Londonderry CityFerguson
County LondonderryJonesGreer
R. BatesonR. Bateson jnrT. BatesonClark
Constituency18596062186518687218747818808184
ColeraineBoydBruceTaylorBruce
Londonderry CityFergusonMcCormickHamiltonDowseLewis
County LondonderryDawsonSmythMcClure
HeygateLawPorterWalker

*unseated on petition

Tyrone edit

  Conservative  Peelite  Liberal

Constituency183218351837383918411847511852185718591865186873187418808081
DungannonJ. KnoxT. KnoxT. Knox jnrW. KnoxT. DicksonJ. Dickson
TyroneH. T. Lowry CorryH. W. Lowry CorryLittonT. Dickson
StewartHamiltonAlexanderHamiltonEllison-Macartney

Armagh edit

  Conservative  Whig  Peelite  Liberal

Constituency1832183518374018411847511852551857185964186567186871731874751880
ArmaghDobbinCurryRawdonMooreBondMillerBondMillerVanceBeresford
County ArmaghAchesonCaulfeildCloseStrongeClose
VernerW. Verner jnrE. VernerRichardson
NewryHillBradyEllisF. J. NeedhamHallewellKirkQuinnInnesKirkF. C. NeedhamWhitworthThomson

Down edit

  Conservative  Whig  Peelite  Liberal

Constituency183218353618371841451847511852185718591865671868187478188084
DownA. M. HillA. W. B. HillHill-TrevorA. W. Hill
StewartD. S. KerFordeCrawfordVane-Tempest-StewartR. W. Ker
DownpatrickMaxwellD. KerD. S. KerR. KerHardingeR. KerD. S. KerKeownMulholland

Fermanagh edit

  Conservative

Constituency183234183518374018414418475118525418575918591865186818741880
EnniskillenA. ColeH. ColeWhitesideJ. ColeCrichtonL. Cole
FermanaghArchdallM. ArchdaleW. Archdale
W. ColeBrookeH. ColeCrichton

1885 to 1918 (25 MPs) edit

Antrim edit

   Conservative Party   Irish Unionist   Russellite Unionist   Independent Unionist

Constituency188518868718921895991900031906Jan 1910Dec 19101315
East AntrimJ. McCalmontR. McCalmont
Mid AntrimR. O'NeillA. O'NeillH. O'Neill
North AntrimMacnaghtenLewisConnorH. McCalmontMooreGlendinningKerr-Smiley
South AntrimEllison-MacartneyCraig

Armagh edit

   Conservative Party   Irish Unionist   Irish Parliamentary Party (1885-90, 1900-22) / Irish National League (1890-1900)   Irish National Federation   Healyite Nationalist   Nationalist Party

Constituency1885861886911892189500190019060609Jan 1910Dec 19101718
Mid ArmaghMcKaneCorryBartonLonsdaleLonsdale
North ArmaghSaundersonMooreAllen
South ArmaghBlaneMcHughJ. CampbellMcKillopO'NeillDonnelly

Belfast edit

   Conservative Party   Irish Unionist   Independent Unionist   Liberal Unionist   Irish Parliamentary Party (1885-90, 1900-22) / Irish National League (1890-1900)   Irish National Federation   Nationalist Party   Labour Unionist

Constituency18851886899092189218959619000205190607Jan 1910Dec 191014Apr 17Jul 17
Belfast Eastde CobainWolffMcMordieSharman-Crawford
Belfast NorthEwartHarlandHaslettDixonClarkThompson
Belfast SouthJohnstonSloanChambersLindsay
Belfast WestHaslettSextonArnold-ForsterDevlin

Down edit

   Conservative Party   Irish Unionist   Russellite Unionist   Irish Parliamentary Party (1885-90, 1900-22) / Irish National League (1890-1900)   Irish National Federation   Nationalist Party

Constituency188518869018921895981900020519060708Jan 191010Dec 1910
East DownKerRentoulWoodCraig
North DownWaringBlakiston-HoustonCorbettMitchell-Thomson
South DownSmallMcCartanMcVeagh
West DownA. W. HillA. HillLiddellA. W. HillMacCaw
NewryJ. H. McCarthyCarvillMooney

Fermanagh edit

   Irish Unionist   Russellite Unionist   Irish Parliamentary Party (1885-90, 1900-22) / Irish National League (1890-1900)   Irish National Federation

Constituency1885188618921895981900031906Jan 1910Dec 191016
North FermanaghRedmondDaneArchdaleMitchellFetherstonhaughArchdale
South FermanaghH. CampbellMcGilliganJordanCrumley

Londonderry edit

   Conservative Party   Irish Unionist   Liberal Unionist   Liberal Party   Irish Parliamentary Party (1885-90, 1900-22) / Irish National League (1890-1900)   Irish National Federation

Constituency18851886189218959919001906Jan 1910Dec 191012131416
Londonderry CityLewisJ. McCarthyRossKnoxMooreHamiltonHoggDougherty
North LondonderryMulhollandAtkinsonBarrie
South LondonderryHealyLeaGordonHenry

Tyrone edit

   Conservative Party   Irish Unionist   Russellite Unionist   Liberal Unionist   Liberal Party   Irish Parliamentary Party (1885-90, 1900-22) / Irish National League (1890-1900)   Irish National Federation   Nationalist Party

Constituency1885188690911892189519000219060607Jan 1910Dec 1910111618
East TyroneReynoldsDooganKettleRedmondHarbison
Mid TyroneKennyMurnaghanBrunskillMcGhee
North TyroneE. HamiltonF. HamiltonHemphillDoddBarryRussell
South TyroneO'BrienRussellHornerCoote

1918 to 1922 (30 MPs) edit

   Irish Unionist   Independent Unionist   Labour Unionist   Sinn Féin

Constituency1918191921212122222222
East AntrimR McCalmontHanna
Mid AntrimH O'Neill
North AntrimKerr-Smiley
South AntrimCraig
Mid ArmaghLonsdaleArmstrong
North ArmaghAllen
South ArmaghDonnelly
Belfast PottingerDixon
Belfast DuncairnCarsonMcConnell
Belfast CromacLindsay
Belfast FallsDevlin
Belfast OrmeauMoles
Belfast ShankillMcGuffin
Belfast St Anne'sBurn
Belfast VictoriaDonald
Belfast WoodvaleLynn
Queen's UniversityWhitla
Constituency1918191921212122222222
East DownReid
North DownBrownH WilsonSimms
South DownMcVeagh
West DownD WilsonWallaceHayes
Mid DownCraigSharman-Crawford
North FermanaghArchdale
South FermanaghO'Μahony
Londonderry CityMacNeill
North LondonderryAndersonBarrieMacnaghten
South LondonderryHenryChichesterPain
Tyrone North-EastHarbison
Tyrone North-WestGriffith
South TyroneCoote
Constituency1918191921212122222222

1922 to 1950 (13 MPs) edit

  Ulster Unionist  Ulster Progressive Unionist  Independent Unionist  New Party  Northern Ireland Labour  Independent Labour  Federation of Labour  Irish Labour  Nationalist Party

Constituency19221923192429192931193134193538394043431945464849
Antrim
(Two members)
CraigMcConnellCampbellHaughton
O'Neill
ArmaghAllenHarden
Belfast EastDixonHarlandCole
Belfast NorthMcConnellSomersetNeill
Belfast SouthMolesStewartGage
Belfast WestLynnAllenBrowneBeattie
Down
(Two members)
ReidLittleMullan
SimmsVane-Tempest-StewartSmiles
Fermanagh and Tyrone
(Two members)
HarbisonPringleHarbisonHealyCunningham
HealyFallsDevlinStewartMulvey
LondonderryMacnaghtenRoss
Queen's University of BelfastWhitlaSinclairSavory

1950 to 1983 (12 MPs) edit

Periodic boundary reviews commenced in 1947.[4][5] The elections at which these were implemented are tagged with diamond suit characters, ♦.

The 1st Periodic Review boundary map can be viewed on the ARK elections website. Changes in the 2nd review were relatively minor.[6]

Unionist parties

  Ulster Unionist  Protestant Unionist (pre-1971) / Democratic Unionist (post-1971)  Vanguard Unionist / United Ulster Unionist (Mid Ulster, 1975-83)  Conservative Party  Independent Unionist  Ulster Popular Unionist

Nationalist parties

  Independent Republican  Unity  Nationalist Party  Anti H-Block (pre-1982) / Sinn Féin (post-1982)  Republican Labour  Social Democratic and Labour

Other

  Alliance  Independent  Independent Socialist  Irish Labour

Constituency1950 511951525354195557591959631964196669197070717273Feb 1974 Oct 1974757778197980818182
Antrim NH. O'NeillP. O'NeillClarkPaisley
Antrim SSavoryCunninghamMolyneaux
ArmaghHardenArmstrongMaginnisMcCusker
Belfast EMcKibbinMcMasterCraigRobinson
Belfast NHydeMillsCarsonMcQuade
Belfast SGageCampbellPounderBradfordSmyth
Belfast WTeevan3BeattieMcLaughlinKilfedderFitt
Down NSmilesFordCurrieKilfedder
Down SOrrPowell
Ferm. & S Tyr.HealyGrosvenor1HamiltonMcManusWestMaguireSandsCarron
LondonderryRossWellwoodChichester-ClarkRoss
Mid UlsterMulveyO'NeillForrest2DevlinDunlop

Notes:

  1. The constituency was won by Philip Clarke of Sinn Féin, but he was unseated on petition on the basis that his criminal conviction (for Irish Republican Army activity) made him ineligible. Instead, the seat was awarded to the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) candidate.
  2. The seat was originally won by Tom Mitchell of Sinn Féin, but Mitchell was subsequently unseated upon petition, on the grounds that his terrorist convictions made him ineligible to sit in Parliament. The seat was awarded to Charles Beattie of the UUP. However, Beattie in turn was also found ineligible to sit due to holding an office of profit under the crown, triggering a further by-election.
  3. Original winner of the 1950 election in that seat, James Godfrey MacManaway (UUP), disqualified due to being a clergyman. Teevan won the subsequent by-election

1983 to present (17, then 18 MPs) edit

3rd and 4th Review boundary maps can be viewed on the ARK elections website: 1983, 1997.

  Democratic Unionist  Sinn Féin  Social Democratic and Labour  Ulster Unionist  Alliance Party  Independent  Ulster Popular Unionist  UK Unionist Party

Constituency1983 861987901992951997 002001042005102010 11132015201718201924
Antrim EastBeggsWilson
Antrim NorthPaisleyPaisley Jr1
Antrim SouthForsytheMcCreaBurnsideMcCreaKinahanGirvan
Upper BannMcCuskerTrimbleSimpsonLockhart
Belfast EastP RobinsonLongG Robinson
Belfast NorthWalkerDoddsFinucane
Belfast SouthSmyth1McDonnellPengellyHanna
Belfast WestAdamsHendronAdamsMaskey
Down NorthKilfedderMcCartneyHermonFarry
Down SouthPowellMcGradyRitchieHazzard
Fermanagh and South TyroneMaginnisGildernewElliottGildernew
FoyleHumeDurkanMcCallionEastwood
Lagan ValleyMolyneauxDonaldson
Londonderry EastRossCampbell
Newry and ArmaghNicholsonMallonMurphyBrady
StrangfordTaylorI RobinsonShannon
West TyroneThompsonDohertyMcElduffBegley
Mid UlsterMcCreaMcGuinnessMolloy

1Paisley Jr was suspended from the DUP between July and November 2018.

Seats by political alignment (1983–present) edit

Boundary changes edit

See 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies for further details.

Map of the 18 revised constituencies.

Following the abandonment of the Sixth Periodic Review (the 2018 review), the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland formally launched the 2023 Review on 5 January 2021. In accordance with the provisions of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020, the number of constituencies allocated to Northern Ireland was unchanged, at 18.[7] Initial proposals were published on 20 October 2021 and, following two periods of public consultation, revised proposals were published on 17 November 2022. Final recommendations were published on 28 June 2023.[8]

Under the recommendations, the following constituencies for Northern Ireland would come into effect at the next general election:[9]

ConstituencyElectorate
Belfast East BC70,076
Belfast North BC71,372
Belfast South and Mid Down BC71,978
Belfast West BC71,921
East Antrim CC69,936
East Londonderry CC72,213
Fermanagh and South Tyrone CC74,643
Foyle CC69,890
Lagan Valley CC76,332
Mid Ulster CC70,094
Newry and Armagh CC74,585
North Antrim CC71,165
North Down CC70,412
South Antrim CC71,646
South Down CC71,772
Strangford CC70,070
Upper Bann CC76,969
West Tyrone CC70,614

See also edit

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ "FAQs". Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Assembly Members (Reduction of Numbers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016". Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
  4. ^ Uberoi, Elise; White, Isobel (25 February 2016). "Constituency boundary reviews and the number of MPs".
  5. ^ White, Isobel (28 July 2010). "Parliamentary constituency boundaries: the Fifth Periodical Review".
  6. ^ Whyte, Dr Nicholas. "Westminster election February 1974". www.ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Guide to the 2023 Review". Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland Publishes Final Recommendations Report of the 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies". Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Final Recommendations Report of the 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies - PDF". Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. 28 June 2023. pp. 97–114. Retrieved 30 June 2023.