Next Northern Ireland Assembly election
Encyclopedia
The 2011 election to the Northern Ireland Assembly
took place on Thursday, 5 May, following the dissolution of the Northern Ireland Assembly at midnight on 24 March 2011. It was the fourth election to take place since the devolved assembly was established in 1998.
It was held on the same day as elections for Northern Ireland's 26 local councils
, the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly
elections, a number of local elections in England and the United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum. As in the past, the 2011 election to the Assembly was conducted using the single transferable vote
(STV) system of proportional representation
. The 108 seats were contested in 18 constituencies by 218 candidates
, including 15 independents and the nominees of 14 separate political parties.
1,210,009 individuals were registered to vote in the 2011 Assembly election (representing an increase of 9.2% compared to the 2007 Assembly election). Turnout in the 2011 Assembly election was 54.5%, a decline of almost eight percentage points from the previous Assembly election and down over 15 percentage points from the first election to the Assembly in 1998.
As in the 2007 election, the Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP) and Sinn Féin
(SF) remained the two largest parties in the Assembly, with the DUP winning 38 and Sinn Féin winning 29 of the Assembly's 108 seats. The Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP) won 16 seats, the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP) 14 and the Alliance
8, while one seat each was won by the Green Party, Traditional Unionist Voice
(TUV) and an independent
candidate.
Following the results of the election, Peter Robinson
of the DUP
and Martin McGuinness
of Sinn Féin
were nominated and subsequently re-elected as First Minister and deputy First Minister
on 12 May 2011.
Sinn Féin
and the Democratic Unionist Party
both continued to make gains, although the DUP vote share was slightly down. The election was a disaster for the Ulster Unionist Party
, who came behind the Social Democratic and Labour Party
in terms of first preference vote, although the UUP won more seats. The Ulster Unionist vote collapsed in Belfast, where it was eclipsed by the Alliance Party's, and in a number of other constituencies considered safe such as North Down. The election was also poor for the SDLP, which lost two seats.
The Alliance Party performed well, gaining a second seat in East Belfast
(which a former Progressive Unionist Party
member lost and the PUP failed to regain), while increasing the Alliance vote share significantly. Traditional Unionist Voice
secured a single seat in North Antrim; its vote share was down from the May 2010 elections to the UK Parliament. The Green Party held their sole seat in North Down while the People before Profit Alliance
narrowly failed to take the final seat in the Foyle constituency
. The only member elected as an independent in 2007 (in West Tyrone
) retired, leaving a single independent in the new Assembly (after three independents first elected on other tickets had retired or lost re-election), compared to five at the end of the previous one.
(SF, Mid-Ulster), or else another Sinn Féin member, would assume the Speakership in 2014, thereby returning the DUP caucus to its full strength while reducing Sinn Féin's by one.
Ten seats on the Northern Ireland Executive
were filled by the new Assembly on 16 May according to party strength under the d'Hondt method
of proportional representation
. In additional, separate, votes (on 12 and 16 May), the Assembly as a whole re-elected party leaders David Ford
(Alliance), Peter Robinson
(DUP) and Martin McGuinness
(Sinn Féin) to their seats on the Executive as, respectively, Minister of Justice, First Minister and deputy First Minister
. Thus the Executive's total membership, as in the past, is 13.
Party affiliation of the six Assembly members returned by each constituency. The first column indicates the party of the Member of the United Kingdom House of Commons (MP) returned by the corresponding parliamentary constituency in the general election of 6 May 2010 (under the "first past the post" method).
[The constituencies are arranged here in rough geographical order around Lough Neagh
from Antrim to Londonderry. To see them in alphabetical order, click the small square icon after "Constituency"; to restore this geographical order, refresh or reload the page.]
Three fifths, or 8,606 (60%), of the 14,338 first preferences cast for the seven minor parties went to these four candidates.
Of the 15 independent candidates, running in 9 separate constituencies, the 8 who won more than 1,000 first-preference votes (and over 2.5% of the first-preference total) were:
A majority (8,395 or 54%) of the 15,535 first-preference votes cast for independents went to the first four of these candidates, three of whom had been elected by other parties in 2007. David McClarty was the only successful independent candidate.
(lower house of the Irish parliament) on 25 February 2011 (as a TD). [Three retired or retiring members are Privy Counsellors of the United Kingdom
(PC).]
The numbers indicate the percentage of votes each member received in the first round of counting under the Single Transferable Vote
in the 2011 election, and the round which decided his or her election or defeat.
In some constituencies (Foyle, West Tyrone and Fermanagh & South Tyrone), it is not possible to couple a single outgoing member by party with a single successor. The pairs of outgoing and incoming members in those seats are presented in arbitrary order.
, originally elected from East Londonderry
as an Ulster Unionist, although not re-nominated by the UUP in 2011, stood successfully for re-election as an independent. This reduced the UUP's strength from 2007, while keeping independent strength in the Assembly at one (as Kieran Deeny
, the retiring independent member, was not succeeded in West Tyrone by another independent). McClarty decided not to re-join the UUP after his re-election.
and Wales, but unlike those for the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland
) does not remain impartial during the election period. The sitting Speaker, in this instance William Hay (DUP
, Foyle
), must revert to his or her party colours and campaign for a seat on its manifesto. Once re-elected as an MLA (as Hay was), he or she becomes eligible for re-election as Speaker to resume unbiased authority over the Assembly. The regional media reported that Sinn Féin
's Francie Molloy
, an outgoing Deputy Speaker, had hoped to win election as Speaker when the 2011 Assembly first met; in the event, following inter-party negotiations, Hay was re-elected and Molloy was nominated by his party for, and elected to, a newly created position of Principal Deputy Speaker with a presumed right of succession.
(EU) and Commonwealth
citizens aged 18 or over on election day were entitled to vote. The deadline for voters to register to vote in the 5 May elections was midnight on 14 April 2011. All voters had to present one piece of photographic identification in order to cast a vote at the polling station: accepted forms of ID were an Electoral Identity Card
, a photographic Northern Ireland or Great Britain driving licence
, a European Union member state passport, a Translink
60+ SmartPass, a Translink Senior SmartPass, a Translink Blind Person’s SmartPass or a Translink War Disabled SmartPass. Voters who didn't have an accepted type of photographic ID had until 22 April 2011 to apply for an Electoral Identity Card
from the Electoral Office
. A judicial review
brought by candidates in the simultaneous local government elections, challenging the non-acceptance of EU national identity cards as a proof of identity, failed on 4 May 2011.
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...
took place on Thursday, 5 May, following the dissolution of the Northern Ireland Assembly at midnight on 24 March 2011. It was the fourth election to take place since the devolved assembly was established in 1998.
It was held on the same day as elections for Northern Ireland's 26 local councils
Local government in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is divided into 26 districts for local government purposes. In Northern Ireland local councils do not carry out the same range of functions as those in the rest of the United Kingdom, for example they have no responsibility for education, for road building or for housing...
, the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly
National Assembly for Wales election, 2011
The National Assembly for Wales election 2011 was the most recent election for the National Assembly. The poll was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 and decided the incumbency for all the assembly's seats...
elections, a number of local elections in England and the United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum. As in the past, the 2011 election to the Assembly was conducted using the single transferable vote
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
(STV) system of proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
. The 108 seats were contested in 18 constituencies by 218 candidates
Candidates nominated to run for the 2011 election of the Northern Ireland Assembly
This is a complete list of candidates nominated to run for the 2011 election of the Northern Ireland Assembly. 14 parties fielded a total of 218 candidates across Northern Ireland's 18, six-member constituencies. Of the 218 candidates fielded, 38 were women....
, including 15 independents and the nominees of 14 separate political parties.
1,210,009 individuals were registered to vote in the 2011 Assembly election (representing an increase of 9.2% compared to the 2007 Assembly election). Turnout in the 2011 Assembly election was 54.5%, a decline of almost eight percentage points from the previous Assembly election and down over 15 percentage points from the first election to the Assembly in 1998.
As in the 2007 election, the Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party
The 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...
(DUP) and Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn 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...
(SF) remained the two largest parties in the Assembly, with the DUP winning 38 and Sinn Féin winning 29 of the Assembly's 108 seats. The Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The 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...
(UUP) won 16 seats, the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The 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...
(SDLP) 14 and the Alliance
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The 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....
8, while one seat each was won by the Green Party, Traditional Unionist Voice
Traditional Unionist Voice
Traditional Unionist Voice is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland founded on 7 December 2007, as an anti-St Andrews Agreement splinter group from the Democratic Unionist Party . Its first and current leader is Jim Allister who, until 2009, sat as an independent Member of the European...
(TUV) and an 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...
candidate.
Following the results of the election, Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson (politician)
Peter David Robinson is the current First Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party...
of the DUP
Democratic Unionist Party
The 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...
and Martin McGuinness
Martin McGuinness
James Martin Pacelli McGuinness is an Irish Sinn Féin politician and the current deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. McGuinness was also the Sinn Féin candidate for the Irish presidential election, 2011. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland....
of Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn 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...
were nominated and subsequently re-elected as First Minister and deputy First Minister
First Minister and deputy First Minister
The First Minister and the Deputy First Minister , sometimes abbreviated to FM/DFM, are positions in the Northern Ireland...
on 12 May 2011.
Overview
The election was the first since the devolution of policing and justice powers to the assembly. In contrast to previous elections, it was relatively uncontroversial. The turnout was one of the lowest ever in a Northern Ireland election.Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn 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...
and the Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party
The 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...
both continued to make gains, although the DUP vote share was slightly down. The election was a disaster for the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The 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...
, who came behind the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The 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...
in terms of first preference vote, although the UUP won more seats. The Ulster Unionist vote collapsed in Belfast, where it was eclipsed by the Alliance Party's, and in a number of other constituencies considered safe such as North Down. The election was also poor for the SDLP, which lost two seats.
The Alliance Party performed well, gaining a second seat in East Belfast
Belfast East (Assembly constituency)
Belfast East 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...
(which a former Progressive Unionist Party
Progressive Unionist Party
The Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979...
member lost and the PUP failed to regain), while increasing the Alliance vote share significantly. Traditional Unionist Voice
Traditional Unionist Voice
Traditional Unionist Voice is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland founded on 7 December 2007, as an anti-St Andrews Agreement splinter group from the Democratic Unionist Party . Its first and current leader is Jim Allister who, until 2009, sat as an independent Member of the European...
secured a single seat in North Antrim; its vote share was down from the May 2010 elections to the UK Parliament. The Green Party held their sole seat in North Down while the People before Profit Alliance
People Before Profit Alliance
The People Before Profit Alliance is an Irish political party formed in October 2005. It is active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.-Overview:It was established by the Socialist Workers Party...
narrowly failed to take the final seat in the Foyle constituency
Foyle (Assembly constituency)
Foyle is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly....
. The only member elected as an independent in 2007 (in West Tyrone
West Tyrone (Assembly constituency)
West Tyrone is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996...
) retired, leaving a single independent in the new Assembly (after three independents first elected on other tickets had retired or lost re-election), compared to five at the end of the previous one.
Contesting parties
As in the previous Assembly, the Democratic Unionist Party's voting strength was reduced by one with the re-election on 12 May of Willie Hay (DUP, Foyle) to the non-partisan office of Speaker. If a current agreement between the parties holds, then his Principal Deputy Speaker, Francie MolloyFrancie Molloy
Francie Molloy MLA is a Sinn Féin politician and a deputy speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.He first stood for Sinn Féin in Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the 1982 Assembly Elections finishing as runner-up 542 votes behind the DUP candidate with over 1400 SDLP votes non-transferable...
(SF, Mid-Ulster), or else another Sinn Féin member, would assume the Speakership in 2014, thereby returning the DUP caucus to its full strength while reducing Sinn Féin's by one.
Ten seats on the Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Executive
The Northern Ireland Executive is the executive arm of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland. It is answerable to the Assembly and was established according to the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which followed the Good Friday Agreement...
were filled by the new Assembly on 16 May according to party strength under the d'Hondt method
D'Hondt method
The d'Hondt method is a highest averages method for allocating seats in party-list proportional representation. The method described is named after Belgian mathematician Victor D'Hondt who described it in 1878...
of proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
. In additional, separate, votes (on 12 and 16 May), the Assembly as a whole re-elected party leaders David Ford
David Ford
David Ford is a politician who is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Ford has been leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland since 2001 and has been Northern Ireland Minister of Justice since April 2010.- Early life :...
(Alliance), Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson may refer to:* Peter Robinson , member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada who oversaw emigration schemes* Peter Robinson , professor at the University of Cambridge...
(DUP) and Martin McGuinness
Martin McGuinness
James Martin Pacelli McGuinness is an Irish Sinn Féin politician and the current deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. McGuinness was also the Sinn Féin candidate for the Irish presidential election, 2011. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland....
(Sinn Féin) to their seats on the Executive as, respectively, Minister of Justice, First Minister and deputy First Minister
First Minister and deputy First Minister
The First Minister and the Deputy First Minister , sometimes abbreviated to FM/DFM, are positions in the Northern Ireland...
. Thus the Executive's total membership, as in the past, is 13.
- "N/A" below means "not applicable" or "not available". (UKIP is the United Kingdom Independence PartyUnited Kingdom Independence PartyThe United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
and BNP is the British National PartyBritish National PartyThe British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
.) The parties' share of first-preference votes cast on the same day (5 May 2011) for Northern Ireland's 26 local councilsLocal government in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is divided into 26 districts for local government purposes. In Northern Ireland local councils do not carry out the same range of functions as those in the rest of the United Kingdom, for example they have no responsibility for education, for road building or for housing...
is given for comparison. Numbers as reported by Wednesday, 11 May 2011.
| Party | Leader | Candi- dates |
Seats won |
Change from 2007 |
First Preference votes |
First Pref. % |
Change from 2007 |
Council 1st pref. % |
Seats on NI Execu- tive Northern Ireland Executive The Northern Ireland Executive is the executive arm of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland. It is answerable to the Assembly and was established according to the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which followed the Good Friday Agreement... |
Change from 2010 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Robinson Peter Robinson (politician) Peter David Robinson is the current First Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party... |
44 | 38 (37) | +2 | 198,436 | 29.3% | –0.1% | 27.2% | 4 (5) | — | ||
| 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... |
40 | 29 | +1 | 178,224 | 26.3% | +0.7% | 24.8% | 3 (4) | — | ||
| Margaret Ritchie Margaret Ritchie (politician) Margaret Ritchie is an Irish politician from Northern Ireland. She was the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party from 7 February 2010 to 5 November 2011 - being replaced in this role by Alasdair McDonnell - and served as the Minister for Social Development from 8 May 2007 until her... |
28 | 14 | –2 | 94,286 | 13.9% | –1.0% | 15.0% | 1 (1) | — | ||
| Tom Elliott Tom Elliott Tom Elliott MLA is a Northern Ireland Ulster Unionist MLA and the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and former UDR member... |
29 | 16 | –2 | 87,531 | 12.9% | –1.7% | 15.2% | 1 (1) | –1 | ||
| David Ford David Ford David Ford is a politician who is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Ford has been leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland since 2001 and has been Northern Ireland Minister of Justice since April 2010.- Early life :... |
22 | 8 | +1 | 50,875 | 7.5% | +2.5% | 7.4% | 1 (2) | +1 | ||
| Jim Allister Jim Allister James Hugh "Jim" Allister, QC is a Northern Ireland Unionist politician and senior barrister. He is the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice political party, serving as MLA in the Northern Ireland Assembly, where he represents Antrim North.He was formerly a member of the Democratic Unionist... |
12 | 1 | +1 | 16,480 | 2.4% | N/A | 2.0% | - | — | ||
| Steven Agnew Steven Agnew Steven Agnew is the leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland. He was elected as an MLA to the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2011.... |
6 | 1 | — | 6,031 | 0.9% | –0.8% | 1.0% | - | — | ||
| N/A | 4 | - | 5,438 | 0.8% | +0.7% | 0.3% | |||||
| Nigel Farage Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage MEP , a position he previously held from September 2006 to November 2009. He is a current Member of the European Parliament for South East England and co-chairs the Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy group.... |
6 | - | 4,152 | 0.6% | +0.4% | 0.4% | |||||
| Brian Ervine Brian Ervine Brian Ervine is a playwright, songwriter and teacher living in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Northern Irish playwright St John Ervine was a distant relative... |
1 | 0 | –1 | 1,493 | 0.2% | –0.4% | 0.6% | - | — | ||
| Nick Griffin Nick Griffin Nicholas John "Nick" Griffin is a British politician, chairman of the British National Party and Member of the European Parliament for North West England.... |
3 | - | 1,252 | 0.2% | N/A | 0.1% | |||||
| Mick Finnegan Mick Finnegan Mick Finnegan is the President of the Workers' Party of Ireland having been elected to that position on 17 May 2008 at the party's Ard Fheis / Annual Delegate conference to replace Sean Garland who retired after ten years in the position.... |
4 | - | 1,155 | 0.2% | +0.1% | 0.1% | |||||
| N/A | 3 | - | 819 | 0.1% | +0.1% | 0.1% | |||||
| | Procapitalism | Charles Smyth | 1 | - | 29 | 0.0% | +0.0% | 0.0% | ||||
| N/A | 15 | 1 | — | 15,535 | 2.3% | –0.5% | 5.1% | - | — | ||
| TOTAL | 218 | 108 | 661,736 | 10 (13) | — |
Distribution of seats by constituency
- To see a different graphic representation of these results, visit this page of the Assembly's web site.
Party affiliation of the six Assembly members returned by each constituency. The first column indicates the party of the Member of the United Kingdom House of Commons (MP) returned by the corresponding parliamentary constituency in the general election of 6 May 2010 (under the "first past the post" method).
[The constituencies are arranged here in rough geographical order around Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh, sometimes Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Its name comes .-Geography:With an area of , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe. Located twenty miles to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty...
from Antrim to Londonderry. To see them in alphabetical order, click the small square icon after "Constituency"; to restore this geographical order, refresh or reload the page.]
| 2010 MP | Constituency | Candi- dates |
Total seats |
Green |
Sinn Féin |
SDLP |
Alli- ance |
UUP |
DUP |
TUV |
Ind. |
Seat gained by |
Seat formerly held by |
| DUP | North Antrim North Antrim (Assembly constituency) North Antrim 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... |
11 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 1 | |||||||||||||
| 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||
| TUV | SDLP | ||||||||||||
| DUP | East Antrim East Antrim (Assembly constituency) East Antrim is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly.... |
13 | 6 | ||||||||||
| |1 | |||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||
| SF | UUP | ||||||||||||
| DUP | South Antrim South Antrim (Assembly constituency) South Antrim 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... |
10 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 1 | |||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||
| DUP | SDLP | ||||||||||||
| DUP | Belfast North Belfast North (Assembly constituency) Belfast North 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... |
11 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | |||||||||||||
| DUP | UUP | ||||||||||||
| SF | Belfast West Belfast West (Assembly constituency) 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... |
14 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Belfast South Belfast South (Assembly constituency) Belfast South 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... |
14 | 6 | |||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Belfast East Belfast East (Assembly constituency) Belfast East 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... |
17 | 6 | |||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||
| Alliance | Prog U Progressive Unionist Party The Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979... (later Ind) |
||||||||||||
| North Down North Down (Assembly constituency) North Down 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... |
13 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||
| DUP | UUP (later Ind) | ||||||||||||
| DUP | Strangford Strangford (Assembly constituency) Strangford is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
11 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||
| UUP | DUP | ||||||||||||
| DUP | Lagan Valley Lagan Valley (Assembly constituency) Lagan Valley is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly.... |
11 | 6 | ||||||||||
| |1 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||
| DUP | SF | ||||||||||||
| DUP | Upper Bann Upper Bann (Assembly constituency) Upper Bann is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
12 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| South Down South Down (Assembly constituency) South Down 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... |
11 | 6 | |||||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| SF | Newry and Armagh Newry and Armagh (Assembly constituency) Newry and Armagh is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly.... |
11 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| SF | Fermanagh & South Tyrone Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Assembly constituency) Fermanagh and South Tyrone 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... |
11 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 3 | |||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| SF (2) | SF (later Ind) & SDLP | ||||||||||||
| SF | West Tyrone West Tyrone (Assembly constituency) West Tyrone is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
11 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| SDLP & UUP | Ind & DUP | ||||||||||||
| SF | Mid Ulster Mid Ulster (Assembly constituency) Mid Ulster 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... |
13 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| DUP | East Londonderry East Londonderry (Assembly constituency) East Londonderry is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
12 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | |||||||||||||
| 1 | Ind (ex-UUP) | UUP (later Ind) | |||||||||||
| Foyle Foyle (Assembly constituency) Foyle is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly.... |
12 | 6 | |||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | |||||||||||||
| 18 | 218 | 108 | 1 | 29 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 38 | 1 | 1 | |||
| +2 | –2 | +1 | |||||||||||
| +2 | +1 | –4 | |||||||||||
| 108 | 1 | 27 | 16 | 7 | 16 | 36 | |||||||
| 5 | |||||||||||||
| –1 | |||||||||||||
| –2 | |||||||||||||
| +4 | –1 Prog. U. | ||||||||||||
| 256 | 108 | 1 | 28 | 16 | 7 | 18 | 36 | ||||||
| 1 | 1 Prog. U. Progressive Unionist Party The Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979... |
||||||||||||
| 108 | |||||||||||||
| 24 | 18 | 6 | 27 | 30 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 Prog. U. Progressive Unionist Party The Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979... |
1 UK Unionist (UKUP) | |||||||||||
| 108 | |||||||||||||
| 18 | 24 | 6 | 28 | 20 | |||||||||
| 4 | 2 Prog. U. Progressive Unionist Party The Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979... |
5 UKUP, 2 NIWC Northern Ireland Women's Coalition The Northern Ireland Women's Coalition was a minor political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1996 by Catholic academic Monica McWilliams and Protestant social worker Pearl Sagar to contest the elections to the Northern Ireland Forum, the body for all-party talks which led to the... |
- Three of the four independents elected in 1998 ran as Independent UnionistIndependent UnionistSee also Independent .Independent Unionist has been a label sometimes used by candidates in elections in the United Kingdom, indicating a support for Unionism, retaining the unity of the British state....
s - NIWC = Northern Ireland Women's CoalitionNorthern Ireland Women's CoalitionThe Northern Ireland Women's Coalition was a minor political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1996 by Catholic academic Monica McWilliams and Protestant social worker Pearl Sagar to contest the elections to the Northern Ireland Forum, the body for all-party talks which led to the...
; Prog. U. = Progressive Unionist PartyProgressive Unionist PartyThe Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979...
; TUV = Traditional Unionist VoiceTraditional Unionist VoiceTraditional Unionist Voice is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland founded on 7 December 2007, as an anti-St Andrews Agreement splinter group from the Democratic Unionist Party . Its first and current leader is Jim Allister who, until 2009, sat as an independent Member of the European...
; UKUP = United Kingdom Unionist Party
Share of first-preference votes
Percentage of each constituency's first-preference votes. Highest percentage in each constituency shaded; absolute majorities underlined. The constituencies are arranged in the geographic order described for the table above; click the icon next to "Constituency" to see them in alphabetical order.- [The totals given here are the sum of all valid ballots cast in each constituency, and the percentages are based on such totals. The turnout percentages in the last column, however, are based upon all ballots cast, which also include anything from twenty to a thousand invalid ballots in each constituency. The total valid ballots' percentage of the eligible electorate can correspondingly differ by 0.1% to 2% from the turnout percentage.]
| 2010 MP |
MP's % of 2010 vote |
Constituency | Green |
Sinn Féin |
SDLP |
Alli- ance |
UUP | DUP | TUV | Oth- ers |
Ind. |
Total votes |
Eligible elector- ate |
Turn- out % |
| DUP | 46.4% | North Antrim | 15.3 | 9.1 | 4.6 | 11.7 | 47.6 | 11.7 | 40,313 | 74,760 | 54.8% | |||
| DUP | 45.9% | East Antrim | 2.3 | 8.2 | 4.6 | 15.5 | 16.9 | 46.2 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 29,023 | 61,617 | 47.8% | |
| DUP | 33.9% | South Antrim | 14.5 | 10.6 | 14.2 | 17.8 | 38.3 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 32,164 | 65,231 | 50.1% | ||
| DUP | 40.0% | Belfast North | 31.9 | 12.0 | 6.3 | 8.2 | 37.1 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 33,470 | 68,119 | 50.3% | ||
| SF | 71.1% | Belfast West | 66.1 | 13.2 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 0.4 | 34,647 | 61,520 | 57.9% | ||
| SDLP | 41.0% | Belfast South | 2.8 | 12.5 | 23.9 | 19.8 | 13.6 | 24.3 | 3.2 | 32,308 | 62,484 | 52.4% | ||
| All. | 37.2% | Belfast East | 1.8 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 26.3 | 9.7 | 44.1 | 2.2 | 6.6 | 5.4 | 32,347 | 61,263 | 53.6% |
| Ind. | 63.3% | North Down | 7.9 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 18.6 | 10.4 | 44.2 | 2.2 | 13.0 | 28,098 | 62,170 | 45.9% | |
| DUP | 45.9% | Strangford | 3.0 | 8.5 | 14.4 | 20.4 | 48.8 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 29,668 | 62,178 | 48.5% | ||
| DUP | 49.8% | Lagan Velley | 1.7 | 3.4 | 6.1 | 12.4 | 20.4 | 53.1 | 2.9 | 35,487 | 67,532 | 53.1% | ||
| DUP | 33.8% | Upper Bann | 27.2 | 11.4 | 6.5 | 24.6 | 27.1 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 42,362 | 77,905 | 55.3% | ||
| SDLP | 48.5% | South Down | 2.7 | 30.9 | 35.8 | 2.1 | 10.6 | 12.5 | 5.6 | 41,726 | 73,240 | 58.1% | ||
| SF | 42.0% | Newry & Armagh | 40.8 | 23.5 | 1.6 | 18.7 | 13.1 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 46,514 | 77,544 | 61.3% | |
| SF | 45.5% | Fermanagh & S. Tyrone | 40.3 | 9.6 | 1.8 | 19.3 | 24.4 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 47,999 | 70,985 | 69.0% | ||
| SF | 48.4% | West Tyrone | 50.2 | 8.6 | 2.2 | 10.3 | 23.1 | 5.7 | 39,303 | 62,970 | 64.0% | |||
| SF | 52.0% | Mid-Ulster | 49.2 | 14.7 | 0.9 | 10.3 | 16.7 | 4.9 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 42,738 | 66,602 | 65.3% | |
| DUP | 34.6% | East Londonderry | 21.1 | 14.9 | 5.5 | 8.4 | 36.9 | 4.5 | 8.6 | 34,722 | 65,226 | 54.1% | ||
| SDLP | 44.7% | Foyle | 34.0 | 35.3 | 0.9 | 18.4 | 8.0 | 3.4 | 38,847 | 68,663 | 56.6% | |||
| 18 | 0.9 | 26.9 | 14.2 | 7.7 | 13.2 | 30.0 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 661,736 | 1,210,009 | 55.6% | ||
| |align="left"| | –0.8 | +0.8 | –1.0 | +2.5 | –1.7 | –0.1 | +2.5 | –1.6 | –0.5 | –28,577 | +102,105 | –7.2% | ||
| 1.7 | 26.2 | 15.2 | 5.2 | 14.9 | 30.1 | — | 3.8 | 2.8 | 690,313 | 1,107,904 | 62.9% | |||
| 0.4 | 23.5 | 17.0 | 3.7 | 22.7 | 25.7 | — | 5.6 | 2.8 | 692,026 | 1,097,526 | 63.1% | |||
| 0.1 | 17.6 | 22.0 | 6.5 | 21.3 | 18.1 | — | 10.9 | 3.5 | 823,565 | 1,178,556 | 69.9% |
- Independent UnionistIndependent UnionistSee also Independent .Independent Unionist has been a label sometimes used by candidates in elections in the United Kingdom, indicating a support for Unionism, retaining the unity of the British state....
vote in 1998 (2.8%) included in the Independent column (not "others"). TUV = Traditional Unionist VoiceTraditional Unionist VoiceTraditional Unionist Voice is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland founded on 7 December 2007, as an anti-St Andrews Agreement splinter group from the Democratic Unionist Party . Its first and current leader is Jim Allister who, until 2009, sat as an independent Member of the European...
.
Votes cast for minor parties and independents
Out of the 22 candidates from the seven parties which won no seats in 2011, the four candidates who won more than 1,000 first-preference votes (and more than 4% of the total first preferences) in their respective constituencies were:- Eamonn McCannEamonn McCannEamonn McCann is an Irish journalist, author and political activist.-Life:McCann was born and has lived most of his life in Derry. He was educated at St. Columb's College in the city. He is prominently featured in the documentary film The Boys of St...
of the People Before Profit AlliancePeople Before Profit AllianceThe People Before Profit Alliance is an Irish political party formed in October 2005. It is active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.-Overview:It was established by the Socialist Workers Party...
in Foyle: 3,120 (8.0%), - Henry Reilly of the UK Independence Party in South Down: 2,332 (5.6%),
- Gerry CarrollGerry CarrollGerry Carroll is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Edenderry and was a member of the Offaly senior inter-county team from 1977 until 1986.-References:...
of People Before Profit in Belfast West: 1,661 (4.8%), and - Brian ErvineBrian ErvineBrian Ervine is a playwright, songwriter and teacher living in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Northern Irish playwright St John Ervine was a distant relative...
of the Progressive Unionist PartyProgressive Unionist PartyThe Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979...
in Belfast East: 1,493 (4.6%)
Three fifths, or 8,606 (60%), of the 14,338 first preferences cast for the seven minor parties went to these four candidates.
Of the 15 independent candidates, running in 9 separate constituencies, the 8 who won more than 1,000 first-preference votes (and over 2.5% of the first-preference total) were:
- David McClartyDavid McClartyCouncillor David McClarty, MLA is an Independent Unionist politician from Northern Ireland.He is from Coleraine and was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution and Magee College...
, MLAMembers of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2007This is a list of the 108 members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2007. All members elected at the assembly elections, held on 7 March 2007 are listed.-Results:11121315152571727932122232616268182810431323337...
, formerly Ulster Unionist, re-elected in East Londonderry: 3,003 (8.6%), - Alan McFarlandAlan McFarlandMajor Robert Alan McFarland, MLA was an Independent Unionist politician and MLA for North Down in Northern Ireland. He lost his Assembly seat in the 2011 election....
, MLA, formerly Ulster Unionist, defeated in North Down: 1,879 (6.7%), - Alan Chambers, also losing in North Down: 1,765 (6.3%),
- Dawn PurvisDawn PurvisDawn Purvis was an Independent Unionist member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. She was previously the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party until she resigned in 2010. She lost her seat in the Assembly in the 2011 election.-Biography:...
, MLA, formerly Progressive Unionist, defeated in Belfast East (see above): 1,702 (5.3%), - Paul McFadden in Foyle: 1,280 (3.3%),
- Raymond McCord in Belfast North: 1,176 (3.5%),
- Paddy McGowanPaddy McGowanJohn Patrick McGowan, known as Paddy McGowan, is a politician in Northern Ireland.McGowan worked in the fire service before joining the Social Democratic and Labour Party ....
in West Tyrone: 1,145 (2.9%), and - Eugene McMenaminEugene McMenaminEugene McMenamin is an Irish politician standing as an independent in the forthcoming Assembly elections in 2011, formerly from the Social Democratic and Labour Party ....
, also in West Tyrone: 1,096 (2.8%)
A majority (8,395 or 54%) of the 15,535 first-preference votes cast for independents went to the first four of these candidates, three of whom had been elected by other parties in 2007. David McClarty was the only successful independent candidate.
Seats changing hands
- The Alliance gained a seat in Belfast East (from Dawn PurvisDawn PurvisDawn Purvis was an Independent Unionist member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. She was previously the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party until she resigned in 2010. She lost her seat in the Assembly in the 2011 election.-Biography:...
, an independent elected as a Progressive Unionist). Net gain +1. - The Democratic Unionist Party gained seats from the UUP in Belfast North and North Down, but lost one to the UUP in Strangford. The DUP also gained seats in the Lagan Valley (from SF) and South Antrim (from SDLP), but lost a seat in West Tyrone (to UUP or SDLP). Net gain +2.
- The Green Party kept its only seat (in North Down). No change.
- An independent elected in 2007 from West Tyrone did not run again in 2011 (seat won by SDLP or DUP). An Ulster Unionist elected in 2007 from East Londonderry, who was not re-nominated by his party, won election in 2011 as an independent. (After his re-election, he decided to remain an independent outside the UUP.) Three other independents elected in 2007 by different parties were not returned in 2011: a former Ulster Unionist in North Down (to DUP), a former Progressive Unionist in Belfast East (to Alliance), and a former Sinn Féin member in Fermanagh & South Tyrone (regained by SF). No net change from 2007; net change from the outgoing Assembly:
- The Progressive Unionist PartyProgressive Unionist PartyThe Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979...
elected a single member in 2007 from East Belfast who resigned from the party in 2010 (and whose seat was gained by the Alliance in 2011). The PUP failed to elect its only candidate in 2011. Net change from 2007 –1; no net change from the outgoing Assembly. - Sinn Féin gained seats in East Antrim (from UUP) and Fermanagh & South Tyrone (from SDLP), but lost one in the Lagan Valley (to DUP). It also regained a second seat in Fermanagh & South Tyrone that had been held by an independent originally elected as Sinn Féin. Net gain +2 from the outgoing Assembly and +1 from 2007.
- The Social Democratic & Labour Party gained a seat from West Tyrone (from Ind. or DUP) but lost seats in Fermanagh & South Tyrone (to SF), North Antrim (to Traditional Unionist Voice) and South Antrim (to DUP). Net loss –2.
- Traditional Unionist VoiceTraditional Unionist VoiceTraditional Unionist Voice is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland founded on 7 December 2007, as an anti-St Andrews Agreement splinter group from the Democratic Unionist Party . Its first and current leader is Jim Allister who, until 2009, sat as an independent Member of the European...
won its first and only seat, in North Antrim (from the SDLP). Net gain +1. - The Ulster Unionist Party gained seats in Strangford (from DUP) and West Tyrone (from DUP or Ind.), but lost seats in Belfast North (to DUP) and East Antrim (to SF). Another two members elected as Ulster Unionists in North Down and East Londonderry left the UUP before the 2011 election. Net loss from 2007: –2. (No net change from the outgoing Assembly.)
Turnover in members since 2007
Thirty-one members of the previous Assembly during all of part of its term (2007-2011) did not offer themselves for re-election in May 2011. Another eight who did seek re-election were unsuccessful.Members who left during the previous Assembly's term
Several of the 14 members who retired early from the Northern Ireland Assembly did so either after being elected or re-elected to the British House of Commons on 6 May 2010 (as MPs), or else in anticipation of being elected to the Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
(lower house of the Irish parliament) on 25 February 2011 (as a TD). [Three retired or retiring members are Privy Counsellors of the United Kingdom
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(PC).]
| Name | Title in 2011 |
Party | Assembly constituency |
Left Assembly | Successor | Successor returned? |
| [deceased] | DUP | East Antrim East Antrim (Assembly constituency) East Antrim is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly.... |
yes | |||
| UUP | South Antrim South Antrim (Assembly constituency) South Antrim 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... |
yes | ||||
| Sinn Féin | East Londonderry East Londonderry (Assembly constituency) East Londonderry is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
did not run (SF hold) | ||||
| DUP | Strangford Strangford (Assembly constituency) Strangford is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
yes | ||||
| SDLP | Belfast South Belfast South (Assembly constituency) Belfast South 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... |
Conall McDevitt Conall McDevitt Conall McDevitt became National Secretary of Labour Youth in 1993 and Vice President of ECOSY in 1994... |
yes | |||
| MP, PC Privy Council of the United Kingdom Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom... |
DUP | Lagan Valley Lagan Valley (Assembly constituency) Lagan Valley is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly.... |
yes | |||
| MP | DUP | North Antrim North Antrim (Assembly constituency) North Antrim 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... |
yes | |||
| MP | DUP | Upper Bann Upper Bann (Assembly constituency) Upper Bann is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
yes | |||
| MP | DUP | South Antrim South Antrim (Assembly constituency) South Antrim 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... |
yes | |||
| MP | Alliance | Belfast East Belfast East (Assembly constituency) Belfast East 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... |
yes | |||
| MP | DUP | Strangford Strangford (Assembly constituency) Strangford is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
did not run (UUP gain) | |||
| MP, PC | DUP | Belfast North Belfast North (Assembly constituency) Belfast North 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... |
yes | |||
| MP | SDLP | Foyle Foyle (Assembly constituency) Foyle is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly.... |
not elected (SDLP hold) | |||
| TD Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal... |
Sinn Féin | Belfast West | yes |
Changes in membership at the election
These are the 25 changes in membership that occurred between the third Assembly's dissolution in March 2011 and the fourth Assembly's election in May. Seventeen sitting members did not present themselves for re-election and another eight were defeated at the polls. One re-elected member had been elected with a different affiliation in 2007.The numbers indicate the percentage of votes each member received in the first round of counting under the Single Transferable Vote
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
in the 2011 election, and the round which decided his or her election or defeat.
In some constituencies (Foyle, West Tyrone and Fermanagh & South Tyrone), it is not possible to couple a single outgoing member by party with a single successor. The pairs of outgoing and incoming members in those seats are presented in arbitrary order.
Changes in membership without a change in party
Most of these changes occurred due to a member's retirement, although one defeated member of the SDLP, in Foyle, was succeeded by another member of the SDLP.| Outgoing member(s) | Party | 1st pref. |
Round |
Constituency | New member(s) | Party | 1st pref. |
Round |
| (retiring) | Ulster Unionist | — | — | Mid Ulster West Tyrone (Assembly constituency) West Tyrone is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
UUP | 10.3% | 6 | |
| (retiring) | SDLP | — | — | South Down South Down (Assembly constituency) South Down 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... |
SDLP | 9.0% | 9 | |
[replaced Mark Durkan Mark Durkan Mark Durkan is an Irish nationalist politician in Northern Ireland who was leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party from 2001 to 2010.-Early life:... , MP] Mary Bradley Mary Bradley Mary Bradley is a politician from Northern Ireland.In 1985, she was elected to Derry City Council, representing the Social Democratic and Labour Party , and from 1991-92 she served as the Mayor of Derry... (retiring) |
SDLP | 6.8% — |
4 — |
Foyle Foyle (Assembly constituency) Foyle is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly.... |
Colum Eastwood Colum Eastwood Colum Eastwood is a Social Democratic and Labour Party politician in Northern Ireland who was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011.... |
SDLP | 12.8% 7.6% |
4 7 |
| (retiring) Baron Browne of Belmont |
Democratic Unionist | — | — | Belfast East Belfast East (Assembly constituency) Belfast East 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... |
DUP | 8.3% | 11 | |
| (retiring) | Ulster Unionist | — | — | North Antrim North Antrim (Assembly constituency) North Antrim 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... |
UUP | 6.2% | 9 | |
| (retiring) Lord Empey |
Ulster Unionist | — | — | Belfast East Belfast East (Assembly constituency) Belfast East 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... |
UUP | 6.8% | 11 | |
| (retiring) [replaced Francie Brolly] |
Sinn Féin (suspended) | — | — | East Londonderry East Londonderry (Assembly constituency) East Londonderry is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
Sinn Féin | 13.5% | 6 | |
| (retiring) | Sinn Féin | — | — | West Tyrone West Tyrone (Assembly constituency) West Tyrone is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
Sinn Féin | 12.9% | 4 | |
| (retiring) | Alliance | — | — | East Antrim East Antrim (Assembly constituency) East Antrim is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly.... |
Alliance | 10.0% | 9 | |
| , PC (retiring) Lord Bannside |
Democratic Unionist | — | — | North Antrim North Antrim (Assembly constituency) North Antrim 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... |
DUP | 8.1% | 8 | |
| (retiring) | Ulster Unionist | — | — | Upper Bann Upper Bann (Assembly constituency) Upper Bann is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
UUP | 7.9% | 7 | |
| (retiring) | Green Party in N. Ireland | — | — | North Down North Down (Assembly constituency) North Down 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... |
Green | 7.9% | 11 |
Seats changing hands between the parties
Note that the party changes in Lagan Valley, Strangford and East Antrim cancelled each other out.| Outgoing member(s) | Party | 1st pref |
Round |
Constituency |
New member(s) |
Party | 1st pref |
Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kieran Deeny Kieran Deeny Kieran Deeny is a medical doctor turned politician from Northern Ireland. Deeny was a Designated Other Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for West Tyrone from 2003–11, having run on a single issue ticket of retaining the Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh.Born in Downpatrick, Deeny was educated... (retiring) |
Democratic Unionist Independent |
0 — |
West Tyrone West Tyrone (Assembly constituency) West Tyrone is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
Joe Byrne Joe Byrne (politician) Joe Byrne is a Nationalist politician in Northern Ireland, representing West Tyrone between 1998 and 2003 and since 2011 in the Northern Ireland Assembly.-Political biography:... |
UUP SDLP |
5 | ||
| SDLP | 0 | South Antrim South Antrim (Assembly constituency) South Antrim 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... |
DUP | 4 | ||||
| Ulster Unionist | 7 | Belfast North Belfast North (Assembly constituency) Belfast North 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... |
DUP | 6 | ||||
Gerry McHugh Gerry McHugh Gerry McHugh MLA is a nationalist politician in Northern Ireland. He represented Sinn Féin on Fermanagh District Council from 1993 to 2007 and has sat as an independent since then. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996, then to the Northern Ireland Assembly at the 1998 election as a... (retiring) |
SDLP Ind. (elected as SF) |
Fermanagh & South Tyrone Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Assembly constituency) Fermanagh and South Tyrone 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... |
Phil Flanagan Phil Flanagan Phil Flanagan is a Sinn Féin politician in Northern Ireland who was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2011. Flanagan also served as a councillor on Fermanagh District Council since his co-option in 2009 and after being re-elected in May 2011. He resigned from his council seat in... |
Sinn Féin | 6 | |||
| Ind. (elected as UUP) | 7 | East Londonderry East Londonderry (Assembly constituency) East Londonderry is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
Independent | 7 | ||||
| Ind. (elected as UUP) | 9 | North Down North Down (Assembly constituency) North Down 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... |
DUP | 2 | ||||
| SDLP | 9 | North Antrim North Antrim (Assembly constituency) North Antrim 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... |
Trad. U. Voice Traditional Unionist Voice Traditional Unionist Voice is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland founded on 7 December 2007, as an anti-St Andrews Agreement splinter group from the Democratic Unionist Party . Its first and current leader is Jim Allister who, until 2009, sat as an independent Member of the European... |
9 | ||||
| Ind. (elected as Prog. U. Progressive Unionist Party The Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979... ) |
11 | Belfast East Belfast East (Assembly constituency) Belfast East 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... |
Alliance | 7 | ||||
| (retiring) | Sinn Féin | — | — | Lagan Valley Lagan Valley (Assembly constituency) Lagan Valley is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly.... |
DUP | 7 | ||
| (retiring) [replaced Jim Shannon Jim Shannon Richard James Shannon is a unionist politician from Northern Ireland.-Early life:Shannon was educated at Ballywalter Primary School and Coleraine Academical Institution. He was in the Ulster Defence Regiment in 1973-75 and 1976–77 and was awarded the General Service Medal. He served in the Royal... ] |
Democratic Unionist | — | — | Strangford Strangford (Assembly constituency) Strangford is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996... |
UUP | 6 | ||
| (retiring) | Ulster Unionist | — | — | East Antrim East Antrim (Assembly constituency) East Antrim is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly.... |
Sinn Féin | 10 |
Member returning with a different affiliation
David McClartyDavid McClarty
Councillor David McClarty, MLA is an Independent Unionist politician from Northern Ireland.He is from Coleraine and was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution and Magee College...
, originally elected from East Londonderry
East Londonderry (Assembly constituency)
East Londonderry is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996...
as an Ulster Unionist, although not re-nominated by the UUP in 2011, stood successfully for re-election as an independent. This reduced the UUP's strength from 2007, while keeping independent strength in the Assembly at one (as Kieran Deeny
Kieran Deeny
Kieran Deeny is a medical doctor turned politician from Northern Ireland. Deeny was a Designated Other Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for West Tyrone from 2003–11, having run on a single issue ticket of retaining the Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh.Born in Downpatrick, Deeny was educated...
, the retiring independent member, was not succeeded in West Tyrone by another independent). McClarty decided not to re-join the UUP after his re-election.
Speaker
The presiding officer of the Northern Ireland's Assembly (like those for ScotlandScottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
and Wales, but unlike those for the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
) does not remain impartial during the election period. The sitting Speaker, in this instance William Hay (DUP
Democratic Unionist Party
The 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...
, Foyle
Foyle (Assembly constituency)
Foyle is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly....
), must revert to his or her party colours and campaign for a seat on its manifesto. Once re-elected as an MLA (as Hay was), he or she becomes eligible for re-election as Speaker to resume unbiased authority over the Assembly. The regional media reported that Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn 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...
's Francie Molloy
Francie Molloy
Francie Molloy MLA is a Sinn Féin politician and a deputy speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.He first stood for Sinn Féin in Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the 1982 Assembly Elections finishing as runner-up 542 votes behind the DUP candidate with over 1400 SDLP votes non-transferable...
, an outgoing Deputy Speaker, had hoped to win election as Speaker when the 2011 Assembly first met; in the event, following inter-party negotiations, Hay was re-elected and Molloy was nominated by his party for, and elected to, a newly created position of Principal Deputy Speaker with a presumed right of succession.
Party leaders in the Assembly
Eligibility and proof of identity
European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU) and Commonwealth
Commonwealth citizen
A Commonwealth citizen, which replaces the former category of British subject, is generally a person who is a national of any country within the Commonwealth of Nations....
citizens aged 18 or over on election day were entitled to vote. The deadline for voters to register to vote in the 5 May elections was midnight on 14 April 2011. All voters had to present one piece of photographic identification in order to cast a vote at the polling station: accepted forms of ID were an Electoral Identity Card
Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card
The Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card is a photographic identity card issued by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, used primarily to prove the holder's identity when voting at a polling station in Northern Ireland...
, a photographic Northern Ireland or Great Britain driving licence
Driving licence in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the driving licence is the official document which authorises its holder to operate various types of motor vehicle on public roads. In England, Scotland and Wales they are administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and in Northern Ireland by the Driver & Vehicle...
, a European Union member state passport, a Translink
Translink (Northern Ireland)
Translink is the brand name of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company , a public corporation in Northern Ireland which provides the public transport in the region. NI Railways, Ulsterbus and Metro are all part of Translink....
60+ SmartPass, a Translink Senior SmartPass, a Translink Blind Person’s SmartPass or a Translink War Disabled SmartPass. Voters who didn't have an accepted type of photographic ID had until 22 April 2011 to apply for an Electoral Identity Card
Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card
The Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card is a photographic identity card issued by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, used primarily to prove the holder's identity when voting at a polling station in Northern Ireland...
from the Electoral Office
Electoral Office for Northern Ireland
The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland is an independent, non-partisan body which assists the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland in running elections and compiling the electoral register....
. A judicial review
Judicial review
Judicial review is the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary. Specific courts with judicial review power must annul the acts of the state when it finds them incompatible with a higher authority...
brought by candidates in the simultaneous local government elections, challenging the non-acceptance of EU national identity cards as a proof of identity, failed on 4 May 2011.
Speed of counting of votes
In the days following the 2011 Assembly election concerns were raised by politicians and others about the time it took for ballots to be verified and counted. The first result came in at 7:00 p.m. on Friday 6 May, nine hours after counting began and 21 hours after polls closed. The announcement of the final results for some constituencies came two days after the polls closed. In contrast, the first result for elections held in Scotland on the same day as the Assembly election came in at 12:54 a.m., just under three hours after counting began, and the final result came in at 5:21 p.m. on the same day (Friday 6 May). In response to the criticisms about the speed of counting, Northern Ireland's Chief Electoral Officer, Graham Shields, defended the process, saying that it was "about accuracy, not about speed", adding that "This is a complicated process and people have to accept that. We will take as long as it takes to get it right."See also
- Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007The 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...
- Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2007Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2007This is a list of the 108 members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2007. All members elected at the assembly elections, held on 7 March 2007 are listed.-Results:11121315152571727932122232616268182810431323337...
- Candidates nominated to run for the 2011 election of the Northern Ireland AssemblyCandidates nominated to run for the 2011 election of the Northern Ireland AssemblyThis is a complete list of candidates nominated to run for the 2011 election of the Northern Ireland Assembly. 14 parties fielded a total of 218 candidates across Northern Ireland's 18, six-member constituencies. Of the 218 candidates fielded, 38 were women....
- Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2011Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2011This is a list of the 108 members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2011. All members elected at the assembly elections, held on 5 May 2011 are listed. Eighty-three of the MLAs elected in 2011 had been members for all or part of the Assembly's previous term...
- Irish general election, 2011
- Northern Ireland local government elections, 2011
- National Assembly for Wales election, 2011National Assembly for Wales election, 2011The National Assembly for Wales election 2011 was the most recent election for the National Assembly. The poll was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 and decided the incumbency for all the assembly's seats...
- Scottish Parliament general election, 2011
- United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum, 2011
Official sites
News reports
- "A view from around the 18 Assembly constituencies", The Belfast TelegraphThe Belfast TelegraphThe Belfast Telegraph is a daily evening newspaper published in Belfast, Northern Ireland by Independent News & Media.It was first published as the Belfast Evening Telegraph on 1 September 1870 by brothers William and George Baird...
, Saturday, 7 May 2011 (retrieved 11 May 2011)