Mid Ulster


Map and graph by Conal Kelly

This constituency is the western shore of Lough Neagh. It takes in a large part of Mid Ulster District Council. The member of parliament has been Cathal Mallaghan (SF) since 2024; he replaced Francie Molloy (SF) who had previously replaced Martin McGuinness (SF) in 2013. The latter had held the seat since its drastic reshaping in 1997; the previous MP was William McCrea (DUP). Sinn Féin hold three out of five Assembly seats here, with the DUP and SDLP holding the other two. See the 1983-92 results from Mid Ulster, Fermanagh and South Tyrone and East Londonderry).

This was one boundary change that I called completely incorrectly. I had expected that Mid Ulster would stretch north towards Dungiven, as had been the case in the previous quashed proposals. But in fact it takes a chunk of Coalisland from Femanagh and South Tyrone, which losing a large but sparsely populated chunk to West Tyrone.

It didn’t make a lot of difference.

2024 Westminster election

Cathal Mallaghan (SF) 24,085 (53.0%, +7.3%)
Keith Buchanan (DUP) 9,162 (20.2%, -3.6%)
Denise Johnston (SDLP) 3,722 (8.2%, -5.7%)
Glenn Moore (TUV) 2,978 (6.6%)
Jay Basra (UUP) 2,269 (5.0%, -2.5%)
Padraic Farrell (Alliance) 2,001 (4.4%, -3.2%)
Alixandra Halliday (Aontú) 1,047 (2.3%)
John Kelly (Ind) 181 (0.4%)

Electorate 74,000; turnout 45,691 (61.7%) 45,445 246

Consolidation from SF (which was the story of the night in their seats generally). In a five-seat Assembly election these votes would give SF three seats, the DUP one and probably the TUV one - Unionists are closer to a second quota than Nationalists.

2019 Westminster notional result on new boundaries:

SF 20,371 (45.7%)
DUP 10,566 (23.7%)
SDLP 6,193 (13.9%)
Alliance 3,395 (7.6%)
UUP 3,316 (7.4%)
Ind 690 (1.5%)

See spreadsheets from the 2011 Assembly election, the 2010 Westminster election, the 2007 Assembly election, the 2005 Westminster election, the 2003 Assembly election, the 2001 Westminster election, the 1998 Assembly election, the 1997 Westminster election and the 1996 Forum/talks election. See also the detailed guide from 2007 by "Sammy Morse".

		DUP	UUP	Alliance	Ind	SDLP	SF
2019 actual		10,936	2,611	3,526	690	6,384	20,473
		24.5%	5.9%	7.9%	1.5%	14.3%	45.9%
From Mid Ulster	To Mid Ulster	10,566	2,523	3,284	690	6,031	19,342
From Mid Ulster	To West Tyrone	-234	-56	-198		-273	877
From Mid Ulster	To Fermanagh and South Tyrone	-136	-32	-44		-79	255
From Fermanagh and South Tyrone	To Mid Ulster		793	111		162	1,031
2019 notional		10,566	3,316	3,395	690	6,193	20,372
		23.7%	7.4%	7.6%	1.5%	13.9%	45.7%
		-0.8%	1.6%	-0.3%	0.0%	-0.4%	-0.1%

Results of recent elections

	DUP	UUP	Oth U	Alliance	Oth	SDLP	SF
2024w	20.2%	5.0%	6.6%	4.4%	2.7%	8.2%	53.0%
2022a	16.5%	4.2%	7.4%	4.1%	5.1%	10.0%	52.7%
2019w	24.5%	5.9%		7.9%	1.5%	14.3	45.9%
2019lg	19.3%	12.7%	0.5%	0.7%	6.1%	15.0%	45.6%
2017w	26.9%	6.5%		2.3%		9.8%	54.5%
2017a	19.3%	9.1%	2.5%	2.0%	1.4%	12.9%	52.8%
2016a	18.1%	11.9%	5.2%	1.2%	1.7%	15.2%	46.7%
2015w	13.4%	15.4%	7.0%	1.9%	1.2%	12.4%	48.7%
2014lg	16.2%	16.7%	5.8%	0.3%	3.4%	16.4%	41.2%
2013wb			34.4%	1.3%		17.4%	46.9%
2011a	16.7%	10.3%	4.9%	0.9%	3.4%	14.7%	49.2%
2011lg	15.1%	12.7%	5.2%	0.2%	4.3%	16.7%	45.7%
2010w	14.4%	11.0%	7.3%	1.0%		14.3%	52.0%
2007a	19.5%	10.8%	2.7%	0.5%	1.4%	17.5%	47.6%
2005w	23.5%	10.7%			0.8%	17.4%	47.6%
2005lg	19.4%	10.3%			7.2%	17.4%	46.1%

NB that the figures for elections before 2010 are projections.

2022 Assembly election (five seats)

@Michelle O'Neill (SF) 10,845 (21.0%)
@Keith Buchanan (DUP) 8,521 (16.5%)
@Emma Sheerin (SF) 8,215 (15.9%)
@Linda Dillon (SF) 8,199 (15.9%)
@Patsy McGlone (SDLP) 5,144 (10.0%)
Glenn Moore (TUV) 3,818 (7.4%)
Meta Graham (UUP) 2,191 (4.2%)
Claire Hackett (Alliance) 2,138 (4.1%)
Alixandra Halliday (Aontú) 1,305 (2.5%)
Patrick Haughey (Ind) 877 (1.7%)
Sophia McFeely (PBP) 179 (0.3%)
Stefan Taylor (Green) 137 (0.3%)
Hugh Scullion (WP) 107 (0.2%)
Conor Rafferty (Resume) 13 (0.03%)

@ member of the Assembly when it was dissolved.

SF 27,259 (52.7%, -0.1%) 3 seats
DUP 8,521 (16.5%, -2.8%) 1 seat
SDLP 5,144 (10.0%, -2.9%) 1 seat
TUV 3,818 (7.4%, +4.9%)
UUP 2,191 (4.2%, -4.9%)
Alliance 2,138 (4.1%, +2.1%)
Aontú 1,305 (2.5%)
Ind 877 (1.7%)
PBP 179 (0.3%)
Green 137 (0.3%, -0.2%)
WP 107 (0.2%, -0.2%)
Resume 13 (0.03%)

Electorate: 75,168
Votes cast: 52,274 (69.5%, -2.9%), spoilt votes 585 (1.1%)
Valid votes: 51,689, quota 8,615

No change in seat allocations in Mid Ulster. Effective vote management saw all three SF candidates returned, including prospective First Minister, Michelle O'Neill. The SDLP took the last seat by a 3,446 margin over the TUV, with undistributed surpluses from other parties of 100.80 (SF) and 80.60 (DUP) which would on balance marginally increase the gap. Resume candidate, Conor Rafferty, gained the unfortunate mantle of fewest first preference votes of the election with just 13. Mid Ulster had the highest turnout of the election with 69.5%.

2019 Westminster election

*Francie Molloy (SF) 20,473 (45.9%, -8.6%)
@Keith Buchanan (DUP) 10,936 (24.5%, -2.4%)
Denise Johnston (SDLP) 6,384 (14.3%, +4.5%)
Mel Boyle (Alliance) 3,526 (7.9%, +5.6%)
Neil Richardson (UUP) 2,611 (5.9%, -0.6%)
Conor Rafferty (Ind) 690 (1.5%, +1.5%)

* outgoing MP.
@ member of the Assembly.

Electorate: 70,449; Total Poll: 44,968 (63.8%); Invalid Votes: 348 (0.8%); Valid Votes: 44,620

Comfortable victory for the incumbent with SF losing slightly more votes to SDLP than Alliance, but Alliance also picking up from Unionists. In a five-seat Assembly election, these votes would give SF three seats and one each for the DUP and SDLP.

2019 local government election

From the 2011 census, the Mid Ulster constituency includes:

The entire Mid Ulster DEA of Carntogher
The entire Mid Ulster DEA of Cookstown
The entire Mid Ulster DEA of Magherfelt
The entire Mid Ulster DEA of Moyola
The entire Mid Ulster DEA of Torrent
7% of the Mid Ulster DEA of Clogher Valley.

With some adjustment for voter community background, I project the 2019 results as:

SF 19,303 (45.6%)
DUP 8,186 (19.3%)
SDLP 6,344 (15.0%)
UUP 5,395 (12.7%)
Inds 1,663 (3.9%)
Aontú 946 (2.0%)
Alliance 298 (0.7%)
TUV 230 (0.5%)
WP 95 (0.2%)

If cast in a five-seat Assembly election, these votes would give SF two seats, and the DUP one, with the last two between the SDLP, the UUP and the third SF candidate, probably in that order.

2017 Westminster election

*Francie Molloy (SF) 25,455 (54.5%, +5.8%)
@Keith Buchanan (DUP) 12,565 (26.9%, +13.5%)
Malachy Quinn (SDLP) 4,563 (9.8%, -2.6%)
Mark Glasgow (UUP) 3,017 (6.5%, -8.9%)
Fay Watson (Alliance) 1,094 (2.3%, +0.4%)

* outgoing MP.
@ member of the Assembly.

Electorate: 68,485; Total Poll: 46,975; Invalid Votes: 278 (0.6%); Valid Votes: 46,697

Convincing result for Molloy; notable also the big shift of Unionist support to the DUP. In a five-seat Assembly election, these votes would give SF three seats and the DUP two.

2017 Assembly election (five seats)

@Michelle O'Neill (SF) 10,258 (20.6%)
@Keith Buchanan (DUP) 9,568 (19.3%)
@Ian Milne (SF) 8,143 (16.4%)
@Linda Dillon (SF) 7,806 (15.7%)
@Patsy McGlone (SDLP) 6,419 (12.9%)
@Sandra Overend (UUP) 4,516 (9.1%)
Hannah Loughrin (TUV) 1,244 (2.5%)
Fay Watson (Alliance) 1,017 (2.0%)
Hugh McCloy (Ind) 247 (0.5%)
Stefan Taylor (Green) 243 (0.5%)
Hugh Scullion (WP) 217 (0.4%)

@ member of the Assembly when it was dissolved.

SF 26,207 (52.8%, +6.1%) 3 seats
DUP 9,568 (19.3%, +1.2%) 1 seat
SDLP 6,419 (12.9%, -2.3%) 1 seat
UUP 4,516 (9.1%, -2.8%) 0 seats (-1)
TUV 1,244 (2.5%, -2.1%)
Alliance 1,017 (2.0%, +0.8%)
Ind 247 (0.5%)
Green 243 (0.5%, -0.4%)
WP 217 (0.4%, -0.4%)

Electorate: 69,396
Votes cast: 50,228 (72.4%, +13.6%), spoilt votes 550 (1.1%)
Valid votes: 49,678, quota 8,280

On the numbers from previous elections, it looked like there could still be two Unionist seats here even with an overall reduction to five. But in fact it wasn't even close, Sandra Overend of the UUP finishing 1,189 votes behind Patsy McGlone of the SDLP, with 273 SF surplus votes undistributed which would have widened the gap. Notable also that the DUP, who got fewer votes than the UUP in the 2015 Westminster election, got more than twice as many here.

2016 Brexit referendum

Total electorate: 68,927
Turnout: 42,431 (61.6%), 14/18.
Invalid votes: 20 (0.05%)
Votes to REMAIN: 25,612 (60.4%);
Votes to LEAVE: 16,799 (39.6%).
Seventh highest REMAIN vote share in Northern Ireland.

2016 Assembly election (six seats)

@Ian Milne (Sinn Féin) 7,035 (17.3%)
@Patsy McGlone (SDLP) 6,209 (15.2%)
@Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin) 6,147 (15.1%)
Linda Dillon (Sinn Féin) 5,833 (14.3%)
@Sandra Overend (UUP) 4,862 (11.9%)
@Ian McCrea (DUP) 3,765 (9.2%)
Keith Buchanan (DUP) 3,628 (8.9%)
Hanna Loughrin (TUV) 1,877 (4.6%)
Hugh Scullion (Workers' Party) 316 (0.8%)
Néidín Hendron (Alliance) 471 (1.2%)
Stefan Taylor (Green) 349 (0.9%)
Alan Day (UKIP) 256 (0.6%)

@ member of the Assembly when it was dissolved.

Sinn Féin 19,015 (46.7%, -2.5%) 3 seats
DUP 7,393 (18.1%, +1.4%) 1 seat
SDLP 6,209 (15.2%, +0.5%) 1 seat
UUP 4,862 (11.9%, +1.6%) 1 seat
TUV 1,877 (4.6%, -0.3%)
Alliance 471 (1.2%, +0.3%)
Green 349 (0.9%)
Workers' Party 316 (0.8%)
UKIP 256 (0.6%)

Electorate: 70,430
Votes cast: 41,381 (58.8%); spoilt votes: 633 (1.8%)
Valid votes: 40,748; quota 5,822

This usually boring constituency provided some excitement as it was not clear which of the two DUP candidates would win the party's seat. Although the incumbent Ian McCrea started 137 votes in front of his running mate Keith Buchanan, Buchanan finished 160.62 votes ahead.

2015 Westminster election

*Francie Molloy (SF) 19,935 (48.7%, -3.3%)
Sandra Overend (UUP) 6,318 (15.4%, +4.4%)
Ian McCrea (DUP) 5,465 (13.4%, -1.0%)
Malachy Quinn (SDLP) 5,055 (12.4%, -1.9%)
Gareth Ferguson (TUV) 1,892 (4.6%, -2.7%)
Alan Day (UKIP) 863 (2.1%)
Eric Bullick (Alliance) 778 (1.9%, +0.9%)
Hugh Scullion (WP) 496 (1.2%)
Lucille Nicholson (Conservative) 120 (0.3%)
Electorate: 67,832; Total Poll: 41,317; Invalid Votes: 395 (1.0%); Valid Votes: 40,922

One of the least unexpected results in Northern Ireland, though the UUP have overtaken the DUP for the first time since the 1997 local elections.

If cast in a six-seat Assembly election, these votes would give SF three seats, and the UUP, DUP and SDLP one each.

2014 local government election

From the 2011 census, the Mid Ulster constituency includes:

The entire Mid Ulster DEA of Carntogher
The entire Mid Ulster DEA of Cookstown
The entire Mid Ulster DEA of Magherfelt
The entire Mid Ulster DEA of Moyola
The entire Mid Ulster DEA of Torrent
7% of the Mid Ulster DEA of Clogher Valley.

With some adjustment for voter community background, I project the 2014 results as:

SF 14841 (41%)
UUP 6003 (17%)
SDLP 5897 (16%)
DUP 5842 (16%)
TUV 1884 (5%)
Inds 1231 (3%)
UKIP 195 (1%)
Alliance 117 (0.3%)

If cast in a six-seat Assembly election, these votes would give SF three seats, and the UUP, SDLP and DUP one each.

2013 Westminster by-election (one seat)

@Francie Molloy (SF) 17,462 (46.9%, -5.1%)
Nigel Lutton (Independent) 12,781 (34.4%)
@Patsy McGlone (SDLP) 6,478 (17.4%, +3.1%)
Eric Bullick (Alliance) 487 (1.3%, +0.3%)

The by-election was caused by Martin McGuinness resigning in order to concentrate on his duties as Deputy First Minister.
Lutton stood with support from both UUP and DUP, and scored 1.71% more than their combined total in 2010.
If cast in a six-seat Assembly election, these votes would have seen 3 SF, 1 SDLP and 2 Unionists elected.

2011 Assembly election (six seats)

@Martin McGuinness MP (SF) 8,957 (21.0%)
@Ian McCrea (DUP) 7,127 (16.7%)
@Michelle O'Neill (SF) 5,178 (12.1%)
@Patsy McGlone (SDLP) 5,065 (11.9%)
Sandra Overend (UUP) 4,409 (10.3%)
@Francie Molloy (SF) 4,263 (10.0%)
Ian Milne (SF) 2,635 (6.2%)
Walter Millar (TUV) 2,075 (4.9%)
Austin Kelly (SDLP) 1,214 (2.8%)
Hugh McCloy (Independent) 933 (2.2%)
Michael McDonald (Alliance) 398 (0.9%)
Harry Hutchinson (PBPA) 243 (0.6%)
Gary McCann (Independent) 241 (0.6%)

@ member of the Assembly when it was dissolved.

SF 21,033 (49.2%, +1.6%) 3 seats
DUP 7,127 (16.7%, -2.8%) 1 seat
SDLP 6,279 (14.7%, -2.8%) 1 seat
UUP 4,409 (10.3%, -0.5%) 1 seat
TUV 2,075 (4.9%)
Independents 1,174 (2.8%)
Alliance 398 (0.9%, +0.4%)
PBPA 243 (0.6%)

Electorate: 66,602
Votes cast: 43,522 (65.3%); spoilt votes: 784 (1.8%)
Valid votes: 42,738; quota 6,106

Not a very exciting result, with Molloy retaining the last seat by a 740 vote margin over his party colleague Milne.

2011 local government elections

Votes cast in Magherafelt, Cookstown, and the torrent DEA of Dungannon and South Tyrone:

SF 19,559 (45.7%)
SDLP 7,147 (16.7%)
DUP 6,446 (15.1%)
UUP 5,440 (12.7%)
TUV 2,230 (5.2%)
Ind Rep 850 (2.0%)
Alliance 92 (0.2%)
Ind 993 (2.3%)

These votes, if cast in a six-seat STV election, would have given SF three seats and the SDLP, DUP and UUP one each.

2010 Westminster election (one seat)

*@Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin) 21,239 (52.0%, +4.4%)
@ Ian McCrea (DUP) 5,876 (14.4%, -9.1%)
Tony Quinn (SDLP) 5,826 (14.3%, -3.1%)
Sandra Overend (UCUNF) 4,509 (11.0%, +0.3%)
Walter Millar (TUV) 2,995 (7.3%)
Ian Butler (Alliance) 397 1.0%
Electorate: 64,594; Total Poll: 41,139 (63.7%); Invalid Votes: 297 (0.7%); Valid Votes: 40,842

A solid hold for McGuinness, and another seat where the TUV failed to hit the big time. If cast in a six-seat Assembly election, these votes would probably see no change in the distribtuion of MLAs between the parties, SF not quite being in position to win a fourth seat yet.

2007 Assembly Election (7 March, six seats)

Full details of each count are available here.

*Martin McGuinness MP (SF) 8065 (18.2%)
Ian McCrea (DUP) 7608 (17.2%)
*Francis Molloy (SF) 6597 (14.9%)
Michelle O'Neill (SF) 6432 (14.5%)
*Patsy McGlone (SDLP) 4976 (11.2%)
*Billy Armstrong (UUP) 4781 (10.8%)
Kathleen Lagan (SDLP) 2759 (6.2%)
Walter Millar (UKUP) 1210 (2.7%)
Elizabeth Forde (DUP) 1021 (2.3%)
Brendan McLaughlin (RSF) 437 (1.0%)
Margaret Marshall (Alliance) 221 (0.5%)
Harry Hutchinson (Independent) 170 (0.4%)

*Elected in 2003 from Mid Ulster

SF 21,094 (47.6%, +2.1%) 3 seats
DUP 8,629 (19.5%, -1.3%) 1 seat
SDLP 7,735 (17.5%, -0.9%) 1 seat
UUP 4,781 (10.8%, -3.6%) 1 seat
UKUP 1,210 (2.7%)
RSF 437 (1.0%)
Alliance 221 (0.5%, +0.1%)
Hutchinson 170 (0.4%)

Electorate 61,223
Votes cast 44,728 (73.1%); spoilt votes 451 (1.0%)
Valid votes 44,277; quota 6,326

No change here. Lagan (SDLP) was 2824 votes behind Armstrong (UUP) on the final count, with Armstrong 28 votes over quota and undistributed Nationalist surpluses totalling 210.

2005 Westminster election (5 May, 1 seat)

*@Martin McGuinness (Sinn Fein) 21,641 (47.6% -3.5%)
Ian McCrea (DUP) 10,665 (23.5% -7.6%)
@Patsy McGlone (SDLP) 7,922 (17.4% +0.6%)
@Billy Armstrong (UUP) 4,853 (10.7%)
Francis Donnelly (WP) 345 (0.8% -0.2%)

* outgoing MP.
@ Member of the Assembly

If cast in a six-seat STV election, these votes would give Sinn Fein three seats, the SDLP one, and the DUP one, with the last between the DUP and UUP.

2005 Local Government Election

Votes cast in Cookstown, Magherafelt and the Torrent DEA of Dungannon were as follows:

Sinn Fein 17,828 (46.1%)
DUP 7,495 (19.4%)
SDLP 6,581 (17.0%)
UUP 3,991 (10.3%)
Independents 2,599 (6.7%)
WP 102 (0.3%)
Socialist Party 84 (0.2%)

NB that there was no contest in the Ballinderry DEA of Cookstown, as only six candidates stood for six seats; if there had been, the overall vote share for SF would probably have been a little lower, and those of the UUP and SDLP a bit higher. If cast in a six-seat STV election, these votes would have given SF three seats and the DUP, SDLP and UUP one each.

2003 Assembly election (26 November; six seats)

Also available: details of each count with analysis of surplus transfers.

*William McCrea (DUP) 8211 (18.5%)
*Martin McGuinness (SF) 8128 (18.3%)
Geraldine Dougan (SF) 5827 (13.1%)
*Francis Molloy (SF) 5255 (11.8%)
*Billy Armstrong (UUP) 4323 (9.7%)
Patsy McGlone (SDLP) 4295 (9.7%)
*Denis Haughey (SDLP) 3843 (8.7%)
Trevor Wilson (UUP) 2071 (4.7%)
Alan Miller (DUP) 1029 (2.3%)
Cora Groogan (SF) 984 (2.2%)
Francis Donnelly (WP) 230 (0.5%)
James Holmes (Alliance) 166 (0.4%)

SF 20,194 (45.5%, +4.7%) 3 seats
DUP 9,240 (20.8%, -0.6%) 1 seat
SDLP 8,138 (18.3%, -3.9%) 1 seat
UUP 6,394 (14.4%, +0.5%) 1 seat
WP 230 (0.5%, +0.1%)
Alliance 166 (0.4%, -0.6%)

Electorate 60,095
Votes cast 45,023 (74.9%); spoilt votes 661 (1.5%)
Valid votes 44,362; quota 6,338

Reaction: No change in party strengths, though Denis Haughey lost to running-mate Patsy McGlone by 634 votes.

Mid Ulster had lost 7.26% of its electorate in the great electoral register shake-out, less than any other constituency, varying from 12.34% in the Coalisland South ward of Dungannon to 3.29% in the Upperlands ward of Magherafelt.

2001 Westminster Election (7 June; 1 seat)

*@Martin McGuinness (Sinn Fein) 25,667 (51.1%)
McCrea, Ian (DUP) 15,549 (31.1%)
Haughey, Eilis (SDLP) 8,376 (16.8%)
Donnelly, Francie (WP) 509 (1.0%)

Electorate: 61,390; votes cast: 50,388 (82.0%); spoilt votes: 452 (0.9%)
Valid votes: 49,936; SF majority 9,953

* outgoing MP
@ member of the Assembly

Another good result for SF, increasing their vote in their second strongest constituency. A six-seat Assembly election on these figures would have given them three seats, the DUP two and SDLP one.

2001 Local Government Election (7 June)

SF 20800 (41%)
SDLP 10159 (20%)
DUP 8378 (17%)
UUP 7209 (15%)
WP 104 (0.2%)
Inds 2919 (6%)
Total valid votes 38,646 (75.74% of electorate)

If these votes had been cast in a six-seat STV election, Sinn Fein would have won three seats and the SDLP, DUP and UUP one each.

1998 Assembly Election (25 June; six seats)

Also available: details of each count with analysis of surplus transfers.

*William McCrea (DUP) 10,339
#Martin McGuinness (SF) 8,703
Denis Haughey (SDLP) 6,410
*Francie Molloy (SF) 6,008
John Kelly (SF) 5,594
*Patsy McGlone (SDLP) 4,666
Billy Armstrong (UUP) 4,498
*John Junkin (UUP) 2,440
Yvonne Boyle (Alliance) 497
Paul McLean (DUP) 307
Francie Donnelly (WP) 207
Harry Hutchinson (Pro-Agreement Socialist) 91
Mary Daly (NLP) 38

SF 20,305 (40.77%) 3 seats
SDLP 11,076 (22.24%) 1 seat
DUP 10,646 (21.38%) 1 seat
UUP 6,938 (13.93%) 1 seat
All 497 (1.00%)
WP 207 (0.42%)
Soc 91 (0.18%)
NLP 38 (0.08%)

Electorate: 59,991
Votes cast 50,622 (84.4%); spoilt votes 824 (1.6%)
Valid votes 49,798; quota: 7,115

* elected in 1996 Forum/talks election from Mid Ulster
# elected in 1996 Forum/talks election from Foyle

The third Sinn Féin seat took everyone by surprise, though it had been presaged in Martin McGuinness' victory in the 1997 Westminster election. Patsy McGlone of the SDLP began in sixth place, but there were not enough SDLP votes to elect him and he was overtaken by the UUP when their second candidate was eliminated. Had the two SDLP candidates balanced their votes slightly better, UUP transfers would have elected McGlone at the expense of Captain Kelly. As it was Kelly was ahead on the last count by 5,914 to 5,076, with an undistributed UUP surplus of 352 votes which might have narrowed the gap.

1997 Local Government Election

Sinn Féin 13,845 votes (36%)
Social Democratic and Labour Party 8,914 votes (23%)
Ulster Unionist Party 7,012 votes (18%)
Democratic Unionist Party 6,673 votes (17%)
Independent 1,183 votes (3%)
Independent Unionist 741 votes (2%)
Workers Party 140 votes (0.36%)
Labour 73 votes (0.19%)
Independent Nationalist 53 votes (0.14%)
Green Party 12 votes (0.03%)
Total valid votes 38,646 (75.74% of electorate)

1997 Westminster Election (one seat)

ƒ Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin) 20,294 (40%)
*ƒ William McCrea (Democratic Unionist Party) 18,411 (36%)
Denis Haughey (Social Democratic and Labour Party) 11,205 (22%)
Ephrem Bogues (Alliance Party of Northern Ireland) 460 (1%)
Marian Donnelly (Workers' Party) 238 (0.47%)
Maureen Murray (Natural Law Party) 61 (0.12%)
Turnout 50,669 (86.12%)

* outgoing MP
ƒ member of the Forum

1996 Forum election (five seats)

Also available: full list of 1996 candidates

Sinn Féin (SF) 13,001 (30%); Francie Molloy, Patrick Groogan elected
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) 12,492 (28%); Patsy McGlone elected
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) 7,935 (18%); John Junkin elected
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) 7,243 (17%); Rev William McCrea elected
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) 549 (1%)
United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP) 435 (1%)
Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) 380 (1%)
Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) 375 (1%)
Labour (Lab) 271 (1%)
Ulster Independence Movement (UIM) 263 (1%)
Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (NIWC) 259 (1%)
Workers Party (WP) 210 (0.48%)
Green Party 132 (0.30%)
Conservative Party (Con) 119 (0.27%)
Democratic Partnership 93 (0.21%)
Democratic Left (DL) 41 (0.09%)
Natural Law Party (NLP) 24 (0.05%)
Independent Chambers 20 (0.05%)

Electorate: 57,683; votes cast: 44,001 (76.2%); spoilt votes: 159 (0.3%); valid votes: 43,842

McCrea had been elected to the 1982 Assembly from Mid-Ulster.

Results 1996-2007

	DUP	UUP	Oth U	Alliance	Oth	SDLP	SF
2007a	19%	11%	3%	0%	1%	17%	48%
2005w	23%	11%			1%	17%	48%
2005lg	19%	10%			7%	17%	46%
2003a	21%	14%		0%	1%	18%	46%
2001w	31%				1%	17%	51%
2001lg	17%	15%			6%	20%	41%
1998a	21%	14%		1%	1%	22%	41%
1997lg	17%	18%	2%		3%	23%	36%
1997w	36%			1%	1%	22%	40%
1996f	17%	18%	3%	1%	3%	28%	30%

Other sites based at ARK: ORB (Online Research Bank) | CAIN (Conflict Archive on the INternet) | Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey

Your comments, please! Send an email to me at nicholas.whyte@gmail.com.

This page has been developed with the support of a project grant from the New Initiatives Fund of the Electoral Commission. However, any views expressed on this page or, in particular, other pages of this website are those of the author and not necessarily shared by The Electoral Commission.

Nicholas Whyte, 3 June 1998; last updated 7 May 2022 by Conal Kelly.

The Author | What's New | Your Comments

Disclaimer:� Nicholas Whyte 1998-2015