South Down


Map and graph by Conal Kelly

This constituency takes in a large part of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and a corner of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council. The MP has been Chris Hazzard (SF) since 2017; he defeated former SDLP party leader Margaret Ritchie, who had held the seat since 2010; she succeeded Eddy McGrady (SDLP), who had defeated Enoch Powell (UUP) in 1987. SF hold two Assembly seats and the SDLP, Alliance, and DUP hold one each. See the 1983-1992 South Down results, the 1973-84 South Down results and the 1950-1970 South Down results.

The calculations for the effect of the boundary changes on South Down were much the most complex for any constituency. It swaps bits of territory with three of its neighbours, most notably donating the voters around Downpatrick to Strangford, and also makes a gain from Upper Bann (my ancient homeland of Loughbrickland). Although the shifts are geographically complex, the electoral impact is muted.

2024 Westminster election

Chris Hazzard (SF) 19,698 (43.5%, +12.7%)
Colin McGrath (SDLP) 10,418 (23.0%, -4.2%)
Diane Forsythe (DUP) 7,349 (16.2%, -1.9%)
Andrew McMurray (Alliance) 3,187 (7.0%, -6.8%)
Jim Wells (TUV) 1,893 (4.2%)
Michael O'Loan (UUP) 1,411 (3.1%, -4.6%)
Rosemary McGlone (Aontú) 797 (1.8%)
Declan Walsh (Green) 444 (1.0%)
Hannah Westropp (Con) 46 (0.1%)

Electorate 76,248; total vote 45,472 (59.6%); valid votes 45,243; invalid 229 (0.5%)

Some SDLP optimists thought that they had a chance here, but in fact SF increased their majority, as in all of the seats that they held.

In a five-seat Assembly election, these votes would probably get SF three seats and the SDLP and DUP one each.

2019 Westminster notional result on new boundaries:

Sinn Fein 13,861 (30.8%)
SDLP 12,240 (27.2%)
DUP 8,162 (18.1%)
Alliance 6,212 (13.8%)
UUP 3,460 (7.7%)
Aontu 1,070 (2.4%)
Conservatives 1 (0.00%)

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	Cons	Alliance	SDLP	SF	Aontu
2019 actual		7,619	3,307		6,916	14,517	16,137	1,266
		15.3%	6.6%	0.0%	13.9%	29.2%	32.4%	2.5%
From South Down	To South Down	7,417	3,219		5,987	12,032	13,374	1,049
From South Down	To Strangford	-60	-26		-800	-2,215	-2462	-193
From South Down	To Newry and Armagh	-140	-61		-127	-267	-297	-23
From South Down	To Lagan Valley	-2	-1		-2	-4	-4
From Upper Bann	To South Down	574	174		152	83	221
From Newry and Armagh	To South Down	143	55		55	123	264	21
From Lagan Valley	To South Down	27	12	1	18	2	2
From Strangford	To South Down	1
2019 notional		8,162	3,460	1	6,212	12,240	13,861	1,070
		18.1%	7.7%	-	13.8%	27.2%	30.8%	2.4%
		+2.8%	+1.0%	-	-0.1%	-2.0%	-1.6%	-0.2%

Results of recent elections

	DUP	UUP	Oth U	Alliance	Oth	SDLP	SF
2024w	16.2%	3.1%	4.3%	7.0%	2.8%	23.0%	43.5%
2022a	11.8%	5.2%	6.0%	12.6%	3.5%	16.5%	44.3%
2019w	15.3%	6.6%		13.9%	2.5%	29.2%	32.4%
2019lg	9.8%	11.6%	0.3%	7.4%	16.4%	24.3%	30.1%
2017w	17.4%	3.9%		3.5%		35.1%	39.9%
2017a	15.8%	8.4%	1.4%	9.2%	1.4%	25.2%	38.6%
2016a	12.3%	8.5%	9.4%	5.4%	2.0%	31.4%	31.1%
2015w	8.2%	9.3%	7.8%	3.8%		42.3%	28.5%
2014lg	8.5%	13.6%	6.4%	3.0%	6.0%	33.0%	29.4%
2011a	12.5%	10.6%	5.6%	2.1%	2.7%	35.8%	30.9%
2011lg	9.1%	13.2%	5.7%	2.2%	3.2%	35.7%	28.5%
2010w	8.6%	7.3%	3.5%	1.3%	2.1%	48.5%	28.7%
2007a	15.6%	8.5%	3.2%	1.6%	6.0%	32.9%	32.2%
2005w	16.1%	8.7%		1.3%		46.9%	27.0%
2005lg	13.0%	14.9%		1.1%	10.8%	34.8%	25.4%

NB that the figures for elections before 2010 are projections. Figures for the previous boundaries can be found at the bottom of this page.
NB also that the Conservatives got 0.8% in 2007 (on the previous boundaries) and supported the UUP in 2010.

2022 Assembly election (five seats)

@Sinéad Ennis (SF) 14,381 (26.2%)
Cathy Mason (SF) 9,963 (18.1%)
Patrick Brown (Alliance) 6,942 (12.6%)
Diane Forsythe (DUP) 6,497 (11.8%)
@Colin McGrath (SDLP) 6,082 (11.1%)
Harold McKee (TUV) 3,273 (6.0%)
Karen McKevitt (SDLP) 3,006 (5.5%)
Jill Macauley (UUP) 2,880 (5.2%)
Rosemary McGlone (Aontú) 1,177 (2.1%)
Noeleen Lynch (Green) 412 (0.7%)
Paul McCrory (PBP) 205 (0.4%)
Patrick Clarke (Ind) 134 (0.2%)

@ member of the Assembly when it was dissolved.

SF 24,344 (44.3%, +5.7%) 2 seats
SDLP 9,088 (16.5%, -8.7%) 1 seat (-1)
Alliance 6,942 (12.6%, +3.4%) 1 seat
DUP 6,497 (11.8%, -4.0%) 1 seat
TUV 3,273 (6.0%, +4.7%)
UUP 2,880 (5.2%, -3.2%)
Aontú 1,177 (2.1%)
Green 412 (0.7%, -0.3%)
PBP 205 (0.4%)
Ind 134 (0.2%)

Electorate: 84,046
Votes cast: 55,631 (66.2%, ±0%), spoilt votes 679 (1.2%)
Valid votes: 54,952, quota 9,159

One of Alliance's four gains from the SDLP; their candidate Patrick Brown being elected on the fifth count. The last seat was decided between the two SDLP candidates, with Colin McGrath winning by a margin of 3,859.17 votes; the undistributed Alliance surplus of 142 and a DUP surplus of 1914 would have made little difference. Sinn Fein's Sinéad Ennis recorded the highest first preference vote of the election in Northern Ireland, with 14,381 votes.

2019 Westminster election

*Chris Hazzard (SF) 16,137 (32.4%, -7.5%)
Michael Savage (SDLP) 14,517 (29.2%, -6.0%)
Glyn Hanna (DUP) 7,619 (15.3%, -2.1%)
Patrick Brown (Alliance) 6,916 (13.9%, +10.3%)
Jill Macauley (UUP) 3,307 (6.6%, +2.7%)
Paul Brady (Aontú) 1,266 (2.5%, +2.5%)

* outgoing MP.

Electorate: 79,175; Total Poll: 49,971 (63.1%); Invalid Votes: 209 (0.4%); Valid Votes: 49,762

Hazzard's share of the poll was down on 2017 but fortunately for him so was the SDLP's. Aontu ate a little into the Nationalist vote, but Alliance ate into it rather more, with the UUP picking up from the DUP. In a five-seat Assembly election, these votes would give SF two seats and one each for the SDLP and DUP. The last seat would be between a second SDLP and the Alliance, with the Alliance better positioned.

2019 local government election

From the 2011 census, South Down includes:

The entire Newry, Mourne and Down DEA of Downpatrick
The entire Newry, Mourne and Down DEA of The Mournes
The entire Newry, Mourne and Down DEA of Slieve Croob
98% of the Newry, Mourne and Down DEA of Crotlieve
12% of the Newry, Mourne and Down DEA of Rowallane
7% of the Newry, Mourne and Down DEA of Newry
and
22% of the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon of Banbridge
6% of the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon of Lagan River

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

SF 13,166 (30.1%)
SDLP 10,610 (24.3%)
Inds 6,058 (13.9%)
UUP 5,062 (11.6%)
DUP 4,305 (9.8%)
Alliance 3,241 (7.4%)
Aontú 975 (2.2%)
Green 149 (0.3%)
TUV 138 (0.3%)

If cast in a five-seat STV election, those votes would certainly give SF two seats and the SDLP and UUP one each, with the last one dependent on transfers from Alliance and the Independents - probably favouring the SDLP to get a second one, though independents transferring to each other would stand a chance.

2017 Westminster election

@Chris Hazzard (SF) 20,328 (39.9%, +11.4%)
*Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) 17,882 (35.1%, -7.2%)
Diane Forsythe (DUP) 8,867 (17.4%, +8.1%)
Harold McKee (UUP) 2,002 (3.9%, -5.4%)
Andrew McMurray (Alliance) 1,814 (3.5%, -0.3%)

* outgoing MP.
@ member of the Assembly.

Electorate: 75,685; Total Poll: 51,082 (67.5%); Invalid Votes: 189 (0.4%); Valid Votes: 50,893

One of SF's three gains, achieved with a spectacular increase of over 8,000 votes. In a five-seat Assembly election, these votes would elect two MLAs from SF and the SDLP, and one from the DUP.

2017 Assembly election (five seats)

Sinéad Ennis (SF) 10,256 (20.8%)
@Chris Hazzard (SF) 8,827 (17.9%)
@Jim Wells (DUP) 7,786 (15.8%)
@Sinéad Bradley (SDLP) 7,323 (14.8%)
@Colin McGrath (SDLP) 5,110 (10.3%)
Patrick Brown (Alliance) 4,535 (9.2%)
@Harold Mckee (UUP) 4,172 (8.4%)
Lyle Rea (TUV) 630 (1.3%)
Hannah George (Green) 483 (1.0%)
Patrick Clarke (Ind) 192 (0.4%)
Gary Hynds (Con) 85 (0.2%)

@ member of the Assembly when it was dissolved.

SF 19,083 (38.6%, +7.5%) 2 seats
SDLP 12,433 (25.2%, -6.2%) 2 seats
DUP 7,786 (15.8%, +3.5%) 1 seat
Alliance 4,535 (9.2%, +3.8%)
UUP 4,172 (8.4%, -0.1%) 0 seats (-1)
TUV 630 (1.3%, -5.3%)
Green 483 (1.0%, -1.0%)
Ind 192 (0.4%)
Con 85 (0.2%)

Electorate: 75,415
Votes cast: 49,934 (66.2%, +12.5%), spoilt votes 535 (1.1%)
Valid votes: 49,399, quota 8,234

The last count saw the redistribution of the 2,730 votes that the DUP's Wells received from the UUP's McKee; they went 1,411 non-transferable, 723 to Alliance and 596 to the SDLP.. A very good result for Alliance's Brown, who overtook the incumbent UUP MLA to finish 497.60 votes behind the SDLP's McGrath (though an undistributed SF surplus of 593 would likely have widened that gap).

2016 Brexit referendum

Total electorate: 76,697
Turnout: 47,724 (62.2%), 12/18.
Invalid votes: 23 (0.05%)
Votes to REMAIN: 32,076 (67.2%);
Votes to LEAVE: 15,625 (32.8%).
Fourth highest REMAIN vote share (and highest numerical REMAIN vote) in Northern Ireland.

2016 Assembly election (six seats)

@Jim Wells (DUP) 5,033 (12.3%)
@Chris Hazzard (Sinn Féin) 5,045 (12.3%)
Sinead Bradley (SDLP) 5,059 (12.3%)
@Caitríona Ruane (Sinn Féin) 4,191 (10.2%)
Colin McGrath (SDLP) 4,288 (10.4%)
@Seán Rogers (SDLP) 3,564 (8.7%)
Michael Gray-Sloan (Sinn Féin) 3,520 (8.6%)
Harold McKee (UUP) 3,481 (8.5%)
Henry Reilly (TUV) 2,718 (6.6%)
Patrick Brown (Alliance) 2,200 (5.4%)
John McCallister (Independent) 1,156 (2.8%)
John Hardy (Green) 820 (2.0%)

@ member of the Assembly when it was dissolved.

SDLP 12,911 (31.4%, -4.4%) 2 seats
Sinn Féin 12,756 (31.1%, +0.2%) 2 seats
DUP 5,033 (12.3%, -0.2%) 1 seat
UUP 3,481 (8.5%, -2.1%) 1 seat
TUV 2,718 (6.6%)
Alliance 2,200 (5.4%, +3.3%)
Independent 1,156 (2.8%)
Green 820 (2.0%, -0.7%)

Electorate: 77,409
Votes cast: 41,645 (53.7%); spoilt votes 570 (1.4%)
Valid votes: 41,075; quota: 5,868

No change in party strengths, with the UUP emerging victorious after finishing 8th on first preferences. Sean Rogers of the SDLP lost out for the last seat to running-mate Colin McGrath by 901.25 votes.

2015 Westminster election

*Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) 18,077 (42.3%, -6.1%)
Chris Hazzard (SF) 12,186 (28.5%, -0.2%)
Harold McKee (UUP) 3,964 (9.3%, +2.0%)
Jim Wells (DUP) 3,486 (8.2%, -0.4%)
Henry Reilly (UKIP) 3,044 (7.1%)
Martyn Todd (Alliance) 1,622 (3.8%, +2.5%)
Felicity Buchan (Conservative) 318 (0.7%)
Electorate: 75,220; Total Poll: 43,000 (57.2%); Invalid Votes: 303 (0.7%); Valid Votes: 42,697

A fall in the SDLP vote which (here as elsewhere) was not matched by a rise in SF support - indeed, a naive reading of the figures would suggest that the disaffected SDLP voters had moved to UKIP, though this seems a bit unlikely.

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

2014 local government election

From the 2011 census, South Down includes:

The entire Newry, Mourne and Down DEA of Downpatrick
The entire Newry, Mourne and Down DEA of The Mournes
The entire Newry, Mourne and Down DEA of Slieve Croob
98% of the Newry, Mourne and Down DEA of Crotlieve
12% of the Newry, Mourne and Down DEA of Rowallane
7% of the Newry, Mourne and Down DEA of Newry
and
22% of the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon of Banbridge
6% of the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon of Lagan River

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

SDLP 12631 (33%)
SF 11254 (29%)
UUP 5215 (14%)
DUP 3273 (9%)
TUV 2029 (5%)
Inds 1912 (5%)
Alliance 1169 (3%)
UKIP 407 (1%)
NI21 388 (1%)
Democracy First 11 (0.03%)

If cast in a six-seat STV election, those votes would certainly give the SDLP and SF two seats each and the UUP one, with the last likely to go to the DUP.

2011 Assembly election (six seats)

Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) 8,506 (20.4%)
Caitriona Ruane (SF) 5,955 (14.3%)
Jim Wells (DUP) 5,200 (12.5%)
John McCallister (UUP) 4,409 (10.6%)
Willie Clarke (SF) 3,882 (9.3%)
Karen McKevitt (SDLP) 3,758 (9.0%)
Naomi Bailie (SF) 3,050 (7.3%)
Eamonn O'Neill (SDLP) 2,663 (6.4%)
Henry Reilly (UKIP) 2,332 (5.6%)
Cadogan Enright (Green) 1,107 (2.7%)
David Griffin (Alliance) 864 (2.1%)

@ member of the Assembly when it was dissolved.

SDLP 14,927 (35.8%, +2.8%) 2 seats
SF 12,887 (30.9%, -1.3%) 2 seats
DUP 5,200 (12.5%, -3.1%) 1 seat
UUP 4,409 (10.6%, +2.1%) 1 seat
UKIP 2,332 (5.6%, +2.9%)
Green 1,107 (2.7%, -0.9%)
Alliance 864 (2.1%, +0.6%)

Electorate: 73,240
Votes cast: 42,551 (58.1%); spoilt votes 825 (1.9%)
Valid votes: 41,276; quota: 5,961

With four women candidates out of eleven, this was the least gender-unbalanced ballot paper of any constituency in the election. (Neighbouring Newry and Armagh, by contrast, had an all-male line-up.) I had thought that one of the two Unionist seats here was vulnerable to demographic changes, but in fact there was sufficient residual strength - with transfers from the UK Independence Party - to ensure no change in party strength, O'Neill of the SDLP 465 votes behind his running-mate McKevitt and too far behind any others to calculate the margin.

2011 local government election

My attempt to project the votes cast in 2011 in this constituency, which includes four complete DEAs and straddles the boundaries of another five, gives me these figures:

SDLP 14680 (35.7%)
SF 11,715 (28.5%)
UUP 5,434 (13.2%)
DUP 3,756 (9.1%)
UKIP 1,910 (4.6%)
Green 1,349 (3.3%)
Alliance 920 (2.2%)
TUV 416 (1.0%)
Inds 896 (2.2%)

These votes, if cast in a six-seat STV contest, would certainly give the SDLP and SF two seats each, and the UUP one; it is not at all clear who would win the last, probably between the DUP and a third SDLP candidate.

2010 Westminster election (one seat)

@Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) 20,648 (48.5%, +1.7%)
@Caitriona Ruane (Sinn Féin) 12,236 (28.7%, +1.7%)
@Jim Wells (DUP) 3,645 (8.6%, -7.5%)
@John McCallister (UCUNF) 3,093 (7.3% -1.5%)
Ivor McConnell (TUV) 1,506 (3.5%)
Cadogan Enright (Green) 901 (2.1%)
David Griffin (Alliance) 560 (1.3%, ±0%)
Electorate: 70,784; Total Poll: 42,840 (60.5%); Invalid Votes: 251 (0.6%); Valid Votes: 42,589

@ elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly from this constituency

The SDLP's new leader, Margaret Ritchie, can feel content that she actually improved the SDLP vote here. If cast in a six-seat Assembly election, these votes would give the SDLP three seats, SF two and the DUP one, thus an SDLP gain from the UUP.

2007 Assembly Election (7 March, six seats)

Full details of each count are available here.

*Caitriona Ruane (SF) 6334 (13.7%)
*Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) 5838 (12.7%)
*P.J. Bradley (SDLP) 5652 (12.3%)
*Jim Wells (DUP) 5542 (12.0%)
*Willie Clarke (SF) 5138 (11.1%)
John McCallister (UUP) 4447 (9.6%)
Michael Carr (SDLP) 2972 (6.4%)
Eamonn McConvey (SF) 2662 (5.8%)
William Burns (DUP) 2611 (5.7%)
Ciaran Mussen (Green) 1622 (3.5%)
Henry Reilly (UK Independence Party) 1229 (2.7%)
David Griffin (Alliance) 691 (1.5%)
Martin Cunningham (Independent) 434 (0.9%)
Frederick Wharton (UKUP) 424 (0.9%)
Peter Bowles (Conservative) 391 (0.8%)
Malachi Curran (Labour) 123 (0.3%)

*Elected in 2003 from South Down

SDLP 14,462 (31.4, -3.7%) 2 seats
SF 14,134 (30.7%, +4.2%) 2 seats
DUP 8,153 (17.7%, +2.7%) 1 seat
UUP 4,447 (9.6%, -8.6%) 1 seat
Green 1,622 (3.5%, +1.8%)
UKIP 1,229 (2.7%)
Alliance 691 (1.5%, +0.4%)
Cunningham 434 (0.9%)
UKUP 424 (0.9%, +0.4%)
Conservative 391 (0.8%)
Labour 123 (0.3%)

Electorate 71,704
Votes cast 46,623 (65.0%); spoilt votes 513 (1.1%)
Valid votes 46,110; quota 6,588

No change in the distribution of spoils, but SF are breathing down the SDLP's necks, and the DUP are within shouting distance of geting both Unionist seats. On the last count McCallister (UUP) was pushed comfortably over the quota and 3838 votes ahead of Carr (SDLP) by DUP transfers. 507 undistributed transfers from elected Nationalist candidates make little difference to the picture.

2005 Westminster election (5 May, 1 seat)

*Eddie McGrady (SDLP) 21,557 (44.7% -1.6%)
@Caitriona Ruane (Sinn Fein) 12,417 (25.8% +6.1%)
@Jim Wells (DUP) 8,815 (18.3% +3.3%)
@Dermot Nesbitt (UUP) 4,775 (9.9% -7.7%)
Julian Crozier (Alliance) 613 (1.3% +/- 0.0.%)

* outgoing MP.
@ Member of the Assembly

If these votes were cast in a six-seat STV election, the SDLP would win three seats, and SF and the DUP one each. The last seat would be most likely to go to SF.

2005 Local Government Election (5 May)

The constituency comprises 20 of the 23 wards in Down (all 5 wards in the Ballynahinch DEA, all 7 wards in the Downpatrick DEA, all 6 wards in the Newcastle DEA, and 2 of the 5 wards in the Rowallane DEA [Crossgar and Kilmore]); and 13 of the 30 wards in Newry and Mourne (all 7 wards in the Crotlieve DEA, all 5 wards in the Mournes DEA, and 1 of the 6 wards in the Fews DEA [Donaghmore]); and 4 of the 17 wards in Banbridge (3 of the 6 wards in the Knockiveagh DEA [Bannside, Katesbridge and Rathfriland] and 1 of the 5 wards in the Dromore DEA [Ballyward])

SDLP 16,290.1 (34.5%)
Sinn Fein 11,396.2 (24.1%)
UUP 7,417.5 (15.7%)
DUP 7,231.8 (15.3%)
Green 1,650.8 (3.5%)
Alliance 535.2 (1.1%)
WP 97 (0.2%)
Independents 2,622 (5.6%)

These votes, if cast in a six-seat STV election, would porbably give the SDLP and SF two seats each, and the UUP and DUP one each.

2003 Assembly election (26 November; six seats)

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

*Jim Wells (DUP) 6789 (15.0%)
*Dermot Nesbitt (UUP) 5368 (11.8%)
*P.J. Bradley (SDLP) 5337 (11.8%)
Catriona Ruane (SF) 5118 (11.3%)
Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) 4261 (9.4%)
Willie Clarke (SF) 4083 (9.0%)
*Eamonn O'Neill (SDLP) 3942 (8.7%)
Jim Donaldson (UUP) 2885 (6.4%)
Eamonn McConvey (SF) 2806 (6.2%)
Marian Fitzpatrick (SDLP) 2382 (5.3%)
Raymond Blaney (Green) 799 (1.8%)
Trudy Miller (NIWC) 565 (1.2%)
Neil Powell (Alliance) 489 (1.1%)
Nelson Wharton (UKUP) 245 (0.5%)
Malachi Curran (Ind) 162 (0.4%)
Desmond O'Hagan (WP) 115 (0.3%)

SDLP 15,922 (35.1%, -10.2%) 2 seats
SF 12,007 (26.5%, +11.4%) 2 seats
UUP 8,253 (18.2%, +3.8%) 1 seat
DUP 6,789 (15.0%, +5.6%) 1 seat
Green 799 (1.8%)
NIWC 565 (1.2%, -2.0%)
Alliance 489 (1.1%, -1.8%)
UKUP 245 (0.5%, -4.5%)
Ind 162 (0.4%)
WP 115 (0.3%, +/-0.0%)

Electorate 70,149
Votes cast 46,012 (65.6%); spoilt votes 666 (1.4%)
Valid votes 45,346; quota 6,479

Initial reaction: One of several seats where SF gained from the SDLP. On the final count, 542 votes of Nesbitt's surplus of 1847 (originally votes from Jim Donaldson) went fairly evenly split between the SDLP candidates, 17 evenly between the two SF candidates, and the other 1288 non-transferable. Had the SDLP candidates got twice as much from the UUP they would both have been ahead of SF's Clarke for the last seat. As it was Margaret Ritchie edged out incumbent Eamonn O'Neill by the second smallest margin of the election, 36 votes.

South Down had lost 9.54% of its electorate in the great electoral register shake-out, varying from 17.60% in the Bracken and Kilbroney ward of Newry and Mourne to 4.55% in the Rathfriland ward of Banbridge. 6 constituencies lost fewer voters, 11 lost more.

2001 Westminster Election (7 June; 1 seat)

*@Eddie McGrady (SDLP) 24,136 (46.3%)
@Mick Murphy (Sinn Fein) 10,278 (19.7%)
@Dermot Nesbitt (UUP) 9,173 (17.6%)
@Jim Wells (DUP) 7,802 (15.0%)
Betty Campbell (Alliance) 685 (1.3%)

Electorate: 73,519; votes cast: 52,648 (71.6%); spoilt votes: 574 (1.0%)
Valid votes: 52,074; SDLP majority 13,858

* outgoing MP
@ Member of the Assembly

No surprise in the result, though again the increase in the SF vote was striking. A six-seat Assembly election here would give the SDLP three seats and the other three big parties one each.

2001 Local Government Election (7 June)

The constituency comprises 20 of 23 wards in Down (all 5 wards in the Ballynahinch DEA, all 7 wards in the Downpatrick DEA, all 6 wards in the Newcastle DEA, and 2 of the 5 wards in the Rowallane DEA); 13 of 30 wards in Newry and Mourne (all 7 wards in the Crotlieve DEA, all 5 wards in the Mournes DEA, and 1 of the 6 wards in the Fews DEA); and 4 of 17 wards in Banbridge (3 of the 6 wards in the Knockiveagh DEA and 1 of the 5 wards in the Dromore DEA). Votes cast in 2001 were roughly as follows:

SDLP 20450.7 (40%)
SF 10235.8 (20%)
UUP 9820.0 (19%)
DUP 6933.2 (14%)
UKUP 193.5 (0.4%)
WP 115 (0.2%)
NIUP 9 (0.02%)
Independents 3388.6 (7%)
Total valid 51145.8

Extrapolating from the local government elections is very difficult because the South Down constituency breaches no less than four local electoral area boundaries. If we make some reasonable adjustments, we get the figures above for the whole South Down constituency. These would give the SDLP three seats, and Sinn Fein, the UUP and the DUP one each.

1998 Assembly Election (25 June; six seats)

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

*Eddie McGrady (SDLP) 10,373
*Mick Murphy (SF) 6,251
P.J. Bradley (SDLP) 5,571
*Dermot Nesbitt (UUP) 5,480
Jim Wells (DUP) 4,826
*Hugh Carr (SDLP) 3,731
Eamonn O'Neill (SDLP) 3,582
Frederick Wharton (UKU) 2,576
Norman Hanna (UUP) 1,939
Anne Carr (NIWC) 1,658
George Graham (Unionist) 1,562
Garret O'Fachtna (SF) 1,520
Anne-Marie Cunningham (All) 1,502
#Malachi Curran (Lab) 498
Desmond O'Hagan (WP) 130
Patrick O'Connor (Ind Lab) 121
Thomas Mullins (NLP) 33

SDLP 23,257 (45.29%) 3 seats
SF 7,771 (15.13%) 1 seat
UUP 7,419 (14.45%) 1 seat
DUP 4,826 (9.40%) 1 seat
UKU 2,576 (5.02%)
NIWC 1,658 (3.23%)
Unionist 1,562 (3.04%)
Alliance 1,502 (2.92%)
Lab 498 (0.97%)
WP 130 (0.25%)
Ind Lab 121 (0.24%)
NLP 33 (0.06%)

Electorate: 71,027
Votes cast: 52,342 (73.7%); spoilt votes 989 (1.9%)
Valid votes: 51,353; quota: 7,337

* elected in 1996 Forum/talks election from South Down
# elected in 1996 Forum/talks election as a 'top-up' candidate.

Not a surprising result, but a good one for the SDLP in what is now their second strongest constituency. As in neighbouring Newry and Armagh, the UUP won only one seat despite having held this constituency at Westminster until 1987. Hugh Carr, the runner-up, was almost a thousand votes adrift of his running-mate Eamonn O'Neill (by 5,187 to 6,163) with surpluses of 53 votes from Bradley and 833 from Wells left undistributed.

1997 Local Government Election

Social Democratic and Labour Party 17,515.1 (43%)
Ulster Unionist Party 10,176.9 (25%)
Sinn Féin 4,015.2 (10%)
Democratic Unionist Party 3,899.2 (10%)
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland 1419.8 (3%)
Women's Coalition 430 (1%)
Labour 327 (1%)
Workers Party 210 (1%)
Green Party 113 (0.28%)
Others 2,330 (6%)
Total valid 40708.5 (57.91%)

1997 Westminster Election (one seat)

*ƒ Eddie McGrady (Social Democratic and Labour Party) 26,181 (53%) Best result for SDLP in Northern Ireland
ƒ Dermot Nesbitt (Ulster Unionist Party) 16,248 (33%)
ƒ Mick Murphy (Sinn Féin) 5,127 (10%)
Julian Crozier (Alliance Party of Northern Ireland) 1,711 (3%)
Rosaleen McKeon (Natural Law Party) 219 (0.44%)
Turnout 49,486 (70.84%)

* outgoing MP
ƒ member of the Forum

1996 Forum Election (five seats)

Also available: full list of 1996 candidates

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) 20,220 (43%) 3 seats (Edward McGrady, Hugh Carr, Margaret Ritchie elected)
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) 10,379 (22%) 1 seat (Dermot Nesbitt elected)
Sinn Féin (SF) 6,142 (13%) 1 seat (Mick Murphy elected)
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) 5,060 (10%)
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) 1,685 (4%)
Labour (Lab) 927 (2%)
Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) 497 (1%)
Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (NIWC) 464 (1%)
Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) 404 (1%)
Green Party 251 (1%)
Conservative Party (Con) 197 (0.42%)
Workers Party (WP) 162 (0.35%)
Ulster Independence Movement (UIM) 130 (0.28%)
Democratic Partnership 117 (0.25%)
Democratic Left (DL) 65 (0.14%)
Natural Law Party (NLP) 30 (0.06%)
Independent Chambers 18 (0.04%)

Electorate: 69,035; votes cast: 46,891 (67.9%); spoilt votes: 143 (0.3%); valid votes: 46,748

McGrady had been elected to the 1973 Assembly, the 1975 Convention, and the 1982 Assembly from South Down.

Results 1996-2007

	DUP	UUP	Oth U	Alliance	Oth	SDLP	SF
2007a	18%	10%	4%	1%	5%	31%	31%
2005w	18%	10%		1%		45%	26%
2005lg	15%	16%		1%	10%	34%	24%
2003a	15%	18%	1%	1%	4%	35%	26%
2001w	15%	18%		1%		46%	20%
2001lg	14%	19%	0%		7%	40%	20%
1998a	9%	14%	8%	3%	5%	45%	15%
1997lg	10%	25%		3%	8%	43%	10%
1997w		33%		3%	0%	53%	10%
1996f	10%	22%	2%	4%	5%	43%	13%

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.

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