Belfast West (Assembly constituency)
Encyclopedia
Belfast West is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly
.
The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland
-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973. It usually shares boundaries with the Belfast West UK Parliament constituency
, however the boundaries of the two constituencies were slightly different from 1983 to 1986 as the Assembly boundaries had not caught up with Parliamentary boundary changes and from 1996 to 1997 when members of the Northern Ireland Forum
had been elected from the newly drawn Parliamentary constituencies but the 51st Parliament of the United Kingdom
, elected in 1992 under the 1983–95 constituency boundaries, was still in session.
Members were then elected from the constituency to the 1975 Constitutional Convention
, the 1982 Assembly
, the 1996 Forum
and then to the current Assembly from 1998.
For further details of the history and boundaries of the constituency, see Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)
.
Alex Attwood was the previous Social Development minister and has since became the Minister for the Environment.
The six MLAs for the constituency elected in the 2007 election
are:
Changes
The six MLAs for the constituency elected in the 2003 election
were:
Changes
In the 1998 election
the six MLAs elected were:
In the 1996 election to the Northern Ireland Peace Forum, 5 Forum members were elected from North Belfast. They were as follows:
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. West Belfast elected 4 members as follows:
In 1975 elections were held to a Constitutional Convention which sought (unsuccessfully) to generate a consensus on the future of the province. The six members elected from West Belfast were:
In 1973 elections were held to the Assembly set up under the Sunningdale Agreement
. The six members elected from West Belfast were:
Note: All Republican Sinn Féin
candidates appeared as Independent
on the ballot paper
Note: David Kerr sought election as an Ulster Third Way
candidate, and appeared as such on the ballot paper.
Note: Mary Cahillane was a Pro-Agreement Socialist
, Jean Coulter
and Edith Goligher were all UUUC
endorsed candidates.
, Hugh Smyth
, Jean Coulter
and William Spence used the label "West Belfast Loyalist Coalition" simultaneously whilst standing under different party affiliations.
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
.
The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973. It usually shares boundaries with the Belfast West UK Parliament constituency
Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast West is a parliamentary constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Boundaries:The seat was restored in 1922 when as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
, however the boundaries of the two constituencies were slightly different from 1983 to 1986 as the Assembly boundaries had not caught up with Parliamentary boundary changes and from 1996 to 1997 when members of the Northern Ireland Forum
Northern Ireland Forum
The Northern Ireland Forum was a body set up in 1996 as part of a process of negotiations that eventually led to the Belfast Agreement in 1998....
had been elected from the newly drawn Parliamentary constituencies but the 51st Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, elected in 1992 under the 1983–95 constituency boundaries, was still in session.
Members were then elected from the constituency to the 1975 Constitutional Convention
Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention was an elected body set up in 1975 by the UK Labour government of Harold Wilson as an attempt to deal with constitutional issues surrounding the status of Northern Ireland....
, the 1982 Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly, 1982
The Northern Ireland Assembly established in 1982 represented an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to restore the devolution to Northern Ireland which had been suspended 10 years previously. The Assembly was abolished in 1986.-Origins:...
, the 1996 Forum
Northern Ireland Forum
The Northern Ireland Forum was a body set up in 1996 as part of a process of negotiations that eventually led to the Belfast Agreement in 1998....
and then to the current Assembly from 1998.
For further details of the history and boundaries of the constituency, see Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast West is a parliamentary constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Boundaries:The seat was restored in 1922 when as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
.
Members
The six MLAs for the constituency elected in the Northern Ireland Assembly Election 2011 are:- Alex AttwoodAlex AttwoodAlex Attwood, MLA is an Irish politician, currently serving in the Northern Ireland Executive, and is the Social Democratic and Labour Party MLA for Belfast West....
– Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Paul MaskeyPaul MaskeyPaul John Maskey is an Irish republican politician in Northern Ireland who is a member of Sinn Féin. He has been a Sinn Féin member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast West since 2007, and was elected in June 2011 as Member of Parliament for the Westminster constituency of Belfast West,...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Fra McCannFra McCannFra McCann is an Irish politician. McCann became active in the Irish republican movement and during the 1970s was jailed on a number of occasions...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Jennifer McCannJennifer McCannJennifer McCann MLA is an Irish republican politician in Northern Ireland, who was elected in 2007 to the Northern Ireland Assembly as a Sinn Féin member for Belfast West....
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Sue RamseySue RamseySue Ramsey MLA is an Irish Republican politician.After growing up in Belfast, Ramsey studied catering. She represented the Poleglass and Twinbrook areas on Lisburn Borough Council from 1997 to 2005....
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Pat Sheehan – Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
Alex Attwood was the previous Social Development minister and has since became the Minister for the Environment.
The six MLAs for the constituency elected in the 2007 election
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007
The third elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly were held on 7 March 2007 when 108 new members were elected. The election saw endorsement of the St Andrews Agreement and the two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin, along with the Alliance Party, increase their...
are:
- Gerry AdamsGerry AdamsGerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Alex AttwoodAlex AttwoodAlex Attwood, MLA is an Irish politician, currently serving in the Northern Ireland Executive, and is the Social Democratic and Labour Party MLA for Belfast West....
– Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Paul MaskeyPaul MaskeyPaul John Maskey is an Irish republican politician in Northern Ireland who is a member of Sinn Féin. He has been a Sinn Féin member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast West since 2007, and was elected in June 2011 as Member of Parliament for the Westminster constituency of Belfast West,...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Fra McCannFra McCannFra McCann is an Irish politician. McCann became active in the Irish republican movement and during the 1970s was jailed on a number of occasions...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Jennifer McCannJennifer McCannJennifer McCann MLA is an Irish republican politician in Northern Ireland, who was elected in 2007 to the Northern Ireland Assembly as a Sinn Féin member for Belfast West....
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Sue RamseySue RamseySue Ramsey MLA is an Irish Republican politician.After growing up in Belfast, Ramsey studied catering. She represented the Poleglass and Twinbrook areas on Lisburn Borough Council from 1997 to 2005....
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
Changes
- Gerry AdamsGerry AdamsGerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
resigned from the Assembly and was replaced by Pat Sheehan (also Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
) with effect from November, 2010.
The six MLAs for the constituency elected in the 2003 election
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2003
The second elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which at the time of the elections had been suspended for just over a year, were held on Wednesday 26 November 2003. Six members were elected by Single Transferable Vote from each of Northern Ireland's eighteen Westminster Parliamentary...
were:
- Gerry AdamsGerry AdamsGerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Alex AttwoodAlex AttwoodAlex Attwood, MLA is an Irish politician, currently serving in the Northern Ireland Executive, and is the Social Democratic and Labour Party MLA for Belfast West....
– Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Bairbre de BrúnBairbre de BrúnBairbre de Brún is an Irish politician and Member of the European Parliament, representing Northern Ireland.- Political work :...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Diane DoddsDiane DoddsDiane Dodds is a Democratic Unionist Party politician from Northern Ireland, and a Member of the European Parliament for the Northern Ireland constituency.-Career:...
– Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist PartyThe Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the... - Michael FergusonMichael Ferguson (Irish politician)Michael Ferguson was an Irish Republican politician. He served as a councillor on Lisburn City Council and as an MLA for Belfast West.-Politics:...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Fra McCannFra McCannFra McCann is an Irish politician. McCann became active in the Irish republican movement and during the 1970s was jailed on a number of occasions...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
Changes
- Bairbre de BrúnBairbre de BrúnBairbre de Brún is an Irish politician and Member of the European Parliament, representing Northern Ireland.- Political work :...
resigned from the Assembly and was replaced by Sue Ramsay (also Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
) with effect from 29 November 2004. - Michael FergusonMichael Ferguson (Irish politician)Michael Ferguson was an Irish Republican politician. He served as a councillor on Lisburn City Council and as an MLA for Belfast West.-Politics:...
died on 24 September 2006.
In the 1998 election
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1998
-Seats summary:-Details:Although the SDLP won the most first preference votes, the Ulster Unionists won the most seats in the Assembly. This has been attributed to several reasons, including:...
the six MLAs elected were:
- Gerry AdamsGerry AdamsGerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Alex AttwoodAlex AttwoodAlex Attwood, MLA is an Irish politician, currently serving in the Northern Ireland Executive, and is the Social Democratic and Labour Party MLA for Belfast West....
– Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Bairbre de BrúnBairbre de BrúnBairbre de Brún is an Irish politician and Member of the European Parliament, representing Northern Ireland.- Political work :...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Joe HendronJoe HendronJoseph Gerard Hendron is a Northern Ireland politician, a member of the moderate Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party ....
– Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Alex MaskeyAlex MaskeyAlex Maskey is an Irish politician who was the first member of Sinn Féin to serve as Belfast's Lord Mayor. He is Sinn Féin's longest sitting councillor and is currently an MLA for South Belfast as well as being a councillor for the Laganbank area of Belfast.-Early life:Maskey was educated at St...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Sue RamseySue RamseySue Ramsey MLA is an Irish Republican politician.After growing up in Belfast, Ramsey studied catering. She represented the Poleglass and Twinbrook areas on Lisburn Borough Council from 1997 to 2005....
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
In the 1996 election to the Northern Ireland Peace Forum, 5 Forum members were elected from North Belfast. They were as follows:
- Gerry AdamsGerry AdamsGerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Annie ArmstrongAnnie Armstrong (politician)Annie Armstrong is a former Irish republican politician.Armstrong moved to Twinbrook, Belfast in 1974 and became a community worker in 1981. At the Northern Ireland local elections, 1993, she was elected for Sinn Féin to represent Dunmurry Cross on Lisburn City Council.At the Northern Ireland...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Joe HendronJoe HendronJoseph Gerard Hendron is a Northern Ireland politician, a member of the moderate Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party ....
– Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Alex MaskeyAlex MaskeyAlex Maskey is an Irish politician who was the first member of Sinn Féin to serve as Belfast's Lord Mayor. He is Sinn Féin's longest sitting councillor and is currently an MLA for South Belfast as well as being a councillor for the Laganbank area of Belfast.-Early life:Maskey was educated at St...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Dodie McGuinnessDodie McGuinnessDodie McGuinness is an Irish Republican politician.Born Anne Harkin, McGuinness worked at Altnagelvin Hospital before becoming involved in the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, then joining Sinn Féin in 1972. She was present at the events of Bloody Sunday.Harkin married the brother of...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
In 1982 elections were held for an Assembly for Northern Ireland to hold the Secretary of State
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
to account, in the hope that this would be the first step towards restoring devolution. West Belfast elected 4 members as follows:
- Gerry AdamsGerry AdamsGerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
– Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Will GlendinningWill GlendinningWill Glendinning is a former politician in Northern Ireland. He is now the Coordinator of Diversity Challenges an independent community organization working on community relations and cultural diversity [www.diversity-challenges.com]...
– Alliance Party of Northern IrelandAlliance Party of Northern IrelandThe Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons.... - Joe HendronJoe HendronJoseph Gerard Hendron is a Northern Ireland politician, a member of the moderate Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party ....
– Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Thomas PassmoreThomas PassmoreThomas Passmore was a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Belfast, Passmore worked as a salesman. In 1973, he became Grand Master of the City of Belfast Grand Orange Lodge. He also became Chairman of the Woodvale Unionist Association and a Justice of the Peace...
– Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
In 1975 elections were held to a Constitutional Convention which sought (unsuccessfully) to generate a consensus on the future of the province. The six members elected from West Belfast were:
- John LairdJohn Laird, Baron LairdProfessor John Dunn Laird, Baron Laird FRSA of Artigarvan is an Ulster Unionist life peer and former chairman of the cross-border Ulster-Scots Agency.-Career:...
– Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland... - Paddy DevlinPaddy DevlinPaddy Devlin was a Northern Irish social democrat and Labour activist, a former Stormont MP, a founder of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and a member of the 1974 Power Sharing Executive.-Early life:...
– Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Bob CooperBob Cooper (politician)Sir Robert George Cooper CBE, known as Bob Cooper was a politician and equal opportunities activist in Northern Ireland....
– Alliance Party of Northern IrelandAlliance Party of Northern IrelandThe Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons.... - Joe HendronJoe HendronJoseph Gerard Hendron is a Northern Ireland politician, a member of the moderate Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party ....
– Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Hugh SmythHugh SmythCllr Hugh Smyth is a former leader of the Progressive Unionist Party. He is a long-serving member of Belfast City Council and former Lord Mayor of Belfast. He is also the longest-serving member of the council, having represented the Upper Shankill areas since 1973...
– independent Unionist - Jean CoulterJean CoulterRose Jean Coulter is a former unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in the Shankhill district of Belfast, Coulter studied at the Girls' Model School before becoming a solicitor's clerk. She also became active in the Ulster Unionist Party...
– Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
In 1973 elections were held to the Assembly set up under the Sunningdale Agreement
Sunningdale Agreement
The Sunningdale Agreement was an attempt to establish a power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive and a cross-border Council of Ireland. The Agreement was signed at the Civil Service College in Sunningdale Park located in Sunningdale, Berkshire, on 9 December 1973.Unionist opposition, violence and...
. The six members elected from West Belfast were:
- John LairdJohn Laird, Baron LairdProfessor John Dunn Laird, Baron Laird FRSA of Artigarvan is an Ulster Unionist life peer and former chairman of the cross-border Ulster-Scots Agency.-Career:...
– Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
anti Sunningdale - Paddy DevlinPaddy DevlinPaddy Devlin was a Northern Irish social democrat and Labour activist, a former Stormont MP, a founder of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and a member of the 1974 Power Sharing Executive.-Early life:...
– Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Bob CooperBob Cooper (politician)Sir Robert George Cooper CBE, known as Bob Cooper was a politician and equal opportunities activist in Northern Ireland....
– Alliance Party of Northern IrelandAlliance Party of Northern IrelandThe Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons.... - Desmond GillespieDesmond GillespieDesmond Gillespie was an Irish nationalist politician.Born in Kilnaleck, County Cavan, Gillespie worked as a publican in Belfast before joining the Social Democratic and Labour Party . He stood for Belfast City Council at the 1973 local elections, but was not elected...
– Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Hugh SmythHugh SmythCllr Hugh Smyth is a former leader of the Progressive Unionist Party. He is a long-serving member of Belfast City Council and former Lord Mayor of Belfast. He is also the longest-serving member of the council, having represented the Upper Shankill areas since 1973...
– independent Unionist - Jean CoulterJean CoulterRose Jean Coulter is a former unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in the Shankhill district of Belfast, Coulter studied at the Girls' Model School before becoming a solicitor's clerk. She also became active in the Ulster Unionist Party...
– Vanguard Progressive Unionist PartyVanguard Progressive Unionist PartyThe Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party , informally known as Ulster Vanguard, was a unionist political party which existed in Northern Ireland between 1973 and 1978...
Northern Ireland Assembly
| Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2011 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | % | 1st Pref | Result | Count | |
| Paul Maskey Paul Maskey Paul John Maskey is an Irish republican politician in Northern Ireland who is a member of Sinn Féin. He has been a Sinn Féin member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast West since 2007, and was elected in June 2011 as Member of Parliament for the Westminster constituency of Belfast West,... |
15.4 | 5,343 | Elected | 1 | ||
| Jennifer McCann Jennifer McCann Jennifer McCann MLA is an Irish republican politician in Northern Ireland, who was elected in 2007 to the Northern Ireland Assembly as a Sinn Féin member for Belfast West.... |
15.1 | 5,239 | Elected | 1 | ||
| Fra McCann Fra McCann Fra McCann is an Irish politician. McCann became active in the Irish republican movement and during the 1970s was jailed on a number of occasions... |
12.9 | 4,481 | Elected | 10 | ||
| Sue Ramsey Sue Ramsey Sue Ramsey MLA is an Irish Republican politician.After growing up in Belfast, Ramsey studied catering. She represented the Poleglass and Twinbrook areas on Lisburn Borough Council from 1997 to 2005.... |
11.9 | 4,116 | Elected | 11 | ||
| Alex Attwood Alex Attwood Alex Attwood, MLA is an Irish politician, currently serving in the Northern Ireland Executive, and is the Social Democratic and Labour Party MLA for Belfast West.... |
10.9 | 3,765 | Elected | 10 | ||
| Pat Sheehan | 10.8 | 3,723 | Elected | 11 | ||
| Brian Kingston | 7.5 | 2,587 | Not Elected | 11 | ||
| Gerry Carroll | 4.8 | 1,661 | Not Elected | 9 | ||
| Bill Manwaring | 4.2 | 1,471 | Not Elected | 8 | ||
| Colin Keenan | 2.3 | 802 | Not Elected | 7 | ||
| John Lowry John Lowry For the 19th-century baseball player, see John Lowry .John Lowry is the General Secretary of the Workers' Party in Ireland. He is a native of the Lower Falls area of Belfast.... |
1.7 | 586 | Not Elected | 6 | ||
| Pat Lawlor | 1.1 | 384 | Not Elected | 5 | ||
| Dan McGuinness | 1.1 | 365 | Not Elected | 4 | ||
| Brian Pelan | 0.4 | 122 | Not Elected | 3 | ||
Note: All Republican Sinn Féin
Republican Sinn Féin
Republican Sinn Féin or RSF is an unregisteredAlthough an active movement, RSF is not registered as a political party in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. minor political party operating in Ireland. It emerged in 1986 as a result of a split in Sinn Féin...
candidates appeared as Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
on the ballot paper
Note: David Kerr sought election as an Ulster Third Way
Ulster Third Way
The Ulster Third Way is the Northern Ireland branch of the Third Way and is organised by David Kerr, who had previously campaigned as an 'independent Unionist' as well as for the British National Front.As well as sharing the Third Way's aims U3W is committed to securing independence...
candidate, and appeared as such on the ballot paper.
Note: Mary Cahillane was a Pro-Agreement Socialist
1996 Forum
Successful candidates are shown in bold.| Party | Candidate(s) | Votes | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerry Adams Gerry Adams Gerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern... Dodie McGuinness Dodie McGuinness Dodie McGuinness is an Irish Republican politician.Born Anne Harkin, McGuinness worked at Altnagelvin Hospital before becoming involved in the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, then joining Sinn Féin in 1972. She was present at the events of Bloody Sunday.Harkin married the brother of... Alex Maskey Alex Maskey Alex Maskey is an Irish politician who was the first member of Sinn Féin to serve as Belfast's Lord Mayor. He is Sinn Féin's longest sitting councillor and is currently an MLA for South Belfast as well as being a councillor for the Laganbank area of Belfast.-Early life:Maskey was educated at St... Annie Armstrong Annie Armstrong (politician) Annie Armstrong is a former Irish republican politician.Armstrong moved to Twinbrook, Belfast in 1974 and became a community worker in 1981. At the Northern Ireland local elections, 1993, she was elected for Sinn Féin to represent Dunmurry Cross on Lisburn City Council.At the Northern Ireland... Marie Moore |
22,355 | 53.4 | ||
| Joe Hendron Joe Hendron Joseph Gerard Hendron is a Northern Ireland politician, a member of the moderate Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party .... Alex Attwood Alex Attwood Alex Attwood, MLA is an Irish politician, currently serving in the Northern Ireland Executive, and is the Social Democratic and Labour Party MLA for Belfast West.... Margaret Walsh Patricia Lewsley Patricia Lewsley Patricia Lewsley is the current Commissioner for Children and Young People for Northern Ireland. She was previously a member of the Northern Irish Assembly for Lagan Valley, and a councillor in Lisburn City Council.... Mary Muldoon |
11,087 | 26.5 | ||
| Hugh Smyth Hugh Smyth Cllr Hugh Smyth is a former leader of the Progressive Unionist Party. He is a long-serving member of Belfast City Council and former Lord Mayor of Belfast. He is also the longest-serving member of the council, having represented the Upper Shankill areas since 1973... Mina Wardle |
1,982 | 4.7 | ||
| Eric Smyth Eric Smyth Eric Smyth is a unionist politician and religious minister in Northern Ireland.Smyth was first elected to Belfast City Council for the Democratic Unionist Party in 1981, representing 'Area F' which was equivalent to the modern wards of Falls, Clonard, Blackstaff and Shaftesbury... Margaret Ferris |
1,769 | 4.2 | ||
| Fred Parkinson John McDonald |
1,489 | 3.6 | ||
| John Lowry John Lowry For the 19th-century baseball player, see John Lowry .John Lowry is the General Secretary of the Workers' Party in Ireland. He is a native of the Lower Falls area of Belfast.... Jim Pollock |
984 | 2.4 | ||
| Frank McCoubrey Frank McCoubrey Frank McCoubrey is a Unionist politician and loyalist in Northern Ireland, as well as a community activist and researcher. He is a leading member of the Ulster Political Research Group and a member of Belfast City Council, representing the Court area... Delwyn Williams |
848 | 2.0 | ||
| Dan McGuinness Patricia Mallon Glyn Roberts |
340 | 0.8 | ||
| Mary Cahillane Isabel Cowan Barbara Lynn Brian McDermott Terence McDonagh |
319 | 0.8 | ||
| Vera McKee Mary Catney Ann Hall Julie Cullen |
252 | 0.6 | ||
| Jude Stephens Philip Kearney David Taylor David Taylor (Green politician) David Taylor is an environmentalist and politician in England.Taylor was a founder member of the Green Party of England and Wales. In the 1980s, he founded the Green Gatherings festival, and also organised the litter picking at the Glastonbury Festival... |
156 | 0.4 | ||
| Charles Balmer David Munster |
60 | 0.1 | ||
| Florence Baxter William Clements |
36 | 0.1 | ||
| Kenneth McClinton Clifford Peoples |
43 | 0.1 | ||
| Mary McMahon Freddie Rea |
37 | 0.1 | ||
| Michael Kennedy Vivien Martin |
30 | 0.1 | ||
| Barry Bruton Daniella Egerton |
28 | 0.1 | ||
| Bernard McGrath Susan McGrath |
26 | 0.1 | ||
| Ruth Patty Richard Stewart |
12 | 0.0 | ||
1982
| Assembly Election – 20 October 1982 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Count 1 | Count 2 | Count 3 | Count 4 | Count 5 | Count 6 | Count 7 | Count 8 | ||||||||
| Gerry Adams Gerry Adams Gerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern... |
9740 | -2618 | |||||||||||||||
| Joe Hendron Joe Hendron Joseph Gerard Hendron is a Northern Ireland politician, a member of the moderate Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party .... |
5207 | 102.30 | 5309.30 | 694.00 | 6003.30 | 2.00 | 6005.30 | 1965.00 | 7965.30 | -1113.30 | |||||||
| Thomas Passmore Thomas Passmore Thomas Passmore was a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Belfast, Passmore worked as a salesman. In 1973, he became Grand Master of the City of Belfast Grand Orange Lodge. He also became Chairman of the Woodvale Unionist Association and a Justice of the Peace... |
4505 | 0 | 4505.00 | 4.00 | 4509.00 | 619.00 | 5128.00 | 2.00 | 5130.00 | 1.86 | 5131.86 | 19.93 | 5151.79 | 13.76 | 5165.55 | ||
| William Dickson | 4394 | 2.10 | 4396.10 | 3.00 | 4399.10 | 450.30 | 4849.40 | 16.90 | 4866.40 | 2.79 | 4869.09 | 23.72 | 4892.81 | 25.79 | 4918.60 | ||
| Will Glendinning Will Glendinning Will Glendinning is a former politician in Northern Ireland. He is now the Coordinator of Diversity Challenges an independent community organization working on community relations and cultural diversity [www.diversity-challenges.com]... |
2737 | 31.50 | 2765.50 | 40.60 | 2805.10 | 42.00 | 2847.10 | 225.60 | 3072.70 | 578.46 | 3651.16 | 1074.83 | 4725.99 | 437.21 | 5163.20 | ||
| Mary McMahon | 2493 | 19.80 | 2512.80 | 54.10 | 2566.90 | 14.00 | 2580.90 | 81.90 | 2662.80 | 354.33 | 3017.13 | -3017.13 | |||||
| Cormac Boomer | 2145 | 59.40 | 2204.40 | 248.10 | 2452.50 | 2.00 | 2454.50 | -2454.50 | |||||||||
| Hugh Smyth Hugh Smyth Cllr Hugh Smyth is a former leader of the Progressive Unionist Party. He is a long-serving member of Belfast City Council and former Lord Mayor of Belfast. He is also the longest-serving member of the council, having represented the Upper Shankill areas since 1973... |
1255 | 0.30 | 1255.30 | 1.00 | 1256.3 | -1256.3 | |||||||||||
| Mary Muldoon | 1016 | 8.10 | 1024.10 | -1024.10 | |||||||||||||
| Alex Maskey Alex Maskey Alex Maskey is an Irish politician who was the first member of Sinn Féin to serve as Belfast's Lord Mayor. He is Sinn Féin's longest sitting councillor and is currently an MLA for South Belfast as well as being a councillor for the Laganbank area of Belfast.-Early life:Maskey was educated at St... |
627 | 2613.00 | 3240.00 | 86.20 | 3326.2 | 0.00 | 3326.2 | 71.40 | 3397.60 | 168.33 | 3565.93 | 258.29 | 3824.22 | -3824.22 | |||
| John McAnulty | 144 | 17.70 | 161.70 | -161.70 | |||||||||||||
| Non Transferable | N/A | 33.80 | 33.80 | 54.80 | 88.60 | 127.00 | 215.60 | 96.70 | 312.30 | 7.53 | 319.83 | 1640.36 | 1960.19 | 3347.46 | 5.307.65 | ||
1975 Constitutional Convention
Note: John LairdJohn Laird, Baron Laird
Professor John Dunn Laird, Baron Laird FRSA of Artigarvan is an Ulster Unionist life peer and former chairman of the cross-border Ulster-Scots Agency.-Career:...
, Jean Coulter
Jean Coulter
Rose Jean Coulter is a former unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in the Shankhill district of Belfast, Coulter studied at the Girls' Model School before becoming a solicitor's clerk. She also became active in the Ulster Unionist Party...
and Edith Goligher were all UUUC
United Ulster Unionist Council
The United Ulster Unionist Council was a body that sought to bring together the Unionists opposed to the Sunningdale Agreement in Northern Ireland.-Formation:The UUUC was established in January 1974...
endorsed candidates.
1973
Note: John LairdJohn Laird, Baron Laird
Professor John Dunn Laird, Baron Laird FRSA of Artigarvan is an Ulster Unionist life peer and former chairman of the cross-border Ulster-Scots Agency.-Career:...
, Hugh Smyth
Hugh Smyth
Cllr Hugh Smyth is a former leader of the Progressive Unionist Party. He is a long-serving member of Belfast City Council and former Lord Mayor of Belfast. He is also the longest-serving member of the council, having represented the Upper Shankill areas since 1973...
, Jean Coulter
Jean Coulter
Rose Jean Coulter is a former unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in the Shankhill district of Belfast, Coulter studied at the Girls' Model School before becoming a solicitor's clerk. She also became active in the Ulster Unionist Party...
and William Spence used the label "West Belfast Loyalist Coalition" simultaneously whilst standing under different party affiliations.