Belfast West (Assembly constituency)

Coordinates: 54°35′11″N 6°00′06″W / 54.58639°N 6.00167°W / 54.58639; -6.00167
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Belfast West
City councilBelfast City Council
BoundariesMap

Belfast West (

Ulster Scots: Belfast West) is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly
.

It was first used for a

then Northern Ireland Assembly. It usually shares boundaries with the Belfast West UK Parliament constituency. However, the boundaries of the two constituencies were slightly different from 1973 to 1974, 1983 to 1986 and 2010 to 2011 (because the Assembly boundaries had not caught up with Parliamentary boundary changes) and from 1996 to 1997, when members of the Northern Ireland Forum had been elected from the newly drawn Parliamentary constituencies but the 51st Parliament of the United Kingdom
, elected in 1992 under the 1983–95 constituency boundaries, was still in session.

Members were then elected from the constituency to the

and then to the current Assembly from 1998.

For further details of the history and boundaries of the constituency, see Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency).

Members

Election MLA
(party)
MLA
(party)
MLA
(party)
MLA
(party)
MLA
(party)
MLA
(party)
1973 Paddy Devlin
(SDLP)
Desmond Gillespie
(SDLP)
Hugh Smyth
(Independent Unionist)
Bob Cooper
(Alliance Party)
John Laird
(UUP)
Jean Coulter
(Vanguard/UUP)
1975 Joe Hendron
(SDLP)
1982 4 seats
1982–1996
Gerry Adams
(Sinn Féin)
Will Glendinning
(Alliance)
Thomas Passmore
(UUP)
4 seats
1982–1996
1996 5 seats
1996–1998
Alex Maskey
(Sinn Féin)
Dodie McGuinness
(Sinn Féin)
Annie Armstrong
(Sinn Féin)
1998 Alex Attwood
(SDLP)
Bairbre De Brun
(Sinn Féin
)
Sue Ramsey
(Sinn Féin)
2003 Diane Dodds
(DUP)
Fra McCann
(Sinn Féin)
Michael Ferguson
(Sinn Féin)
November 2004
co-option
Sue Ramsey
(Sinn Féin)
2007 Paul Maskey
(Sinn Féin)
Jennifer McCann
(Sinn Féin)
December 2010
co-option
Pat Sheehan
(Sinn Féin)
2011
July 2012
co-option
Rosie McCorley
(Sinn Féin)
November 2014
co-option
Alex Maskey
(Sinn Féin)
2016
PBP
)
December 2016
co-option
Órlaithí Flynn
(Sinn Féin)
2017 5 seats
2017–present
October 2021
co-option
Aisling Reilly
(Sinn Féin)
2022 Danny Baker
(Sinn Féin)

Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns. For details of the order in which seats were won at each election, see the detailed results of that election.

Elections

Northern Ireland Assembly

2022

2022 Assembly election: Belfast West – 5 seats[1]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Sinn Féin Danny Baker 20.64% 9,011                    
Sinn Féin Órlaithí Flynn 15.44% 6,743 7,087 7,093 7,109 7,136 7,159 7,159 7,160 7,228 7,407  
Sinn Féin Aisling Reilly 13.01% 5,681 6,709 6,720 6,727 6,745 6,759 6,761 6,761 6,812 7,131 7,664
Sinn Féin Pat Sheehan 14.59% 6,370 6,422 6,426 6,431 6,440 6,449 6,449 6,450 6,447 6,735 7,186
People Before Profit Gerry Carroll 7.51% 3,279 3,394 3,414 3,492 3,563 3,667 3,688 3,698 3,936 4,479 6,023
DUP Frank McCoubrey 9.54% 4,166 4,167 4,174 4,174 4,176 4,180 4,396 5,199 5,275 5,429 5,490
SDLP Paul Doherty 5.79% 2,528 2,616 2,619 2,648 2,684 2,727 2,744 2,754 3,232 3,636  
Aontú Gerard Herdman 4.01% 1,753 1,761 1,793 1,802 1,820 1,823 1,829 1,837 1,871    
Irish Republican Socialist Dan Murphy 2.53% 1,103 1,115 1,123 1,130 1,144 1,152 1,152 1,152 1,159    
Alliance Donnamarie Higgins 2.08% 907 924 926 932 940 1,027 1,109 1,135      
TUV Jordan Doran 1.84% 802 802 805 806 809 810 918        
Ulster Unionist Linsey Gibson 1.09% 474 475 477 478 480 484          
Green (NI) Stevie Maginn 0.70% 307 310 313 323 333            
Independent
Gerard Burns 0.44% 192 209 237 244              
Workers' Party Patrick Crossan 0.44% 193 198 205                
Independent
Tony Mallon 0.30% 129 131                  
Independent
Declan Hill 0.06% 26 26                  
Electorate: 68,727   Valid: 43,664 (63.53%)   Spoilt: 776   Quota: 7,278   Turnout: 44,440 (64.66%)  

2017

2017 Assembly election: Belfast West – 5 seats[2]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
Sinn Féin Órlaithí Flynn 17.15% 6,918      
People Before Profit Gerry Carroll 12.15% 4,903 6,514 8,252  
Sinn Féin Alex Maskey 15.73% 6,346 6,451 7,036  
Sinn Féin Fra McCann 15.37% 6,201 6,314 6,636 7,067
Sinn Féin Pat Sheehan 13.55% 5,466 5,515 5,739 5,903
DUP Frank McCoubrey 10.07% 4,063 4,372 4,490 4,521
SDLP Alex Attwood 8.56% 3,452 4,019    
People Before Profit Michael Collins 2.72% 1,096      
Alliance Sorcha Eastwood 1.85% 747      
Ulster Unionist Fred Rogers 1.20% 486      
Workers' Party Conor Campbell 1.03% 415      
Green (NI) Ellen Murray 0.62% 251      
Electorate: 61,309   Valid: 40,344 (65.80%)   Spoilt: 586   Quota: 6,725   Turnout: 40,930 (66.76%)  

2016

2016 Assembly election: Belfast West – 6 seats[3]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
People Before Profit Gerry Carroll 22.88% 8,299              
Sinn Féin Alex Maskey 13.15% 4,769 5,360.8            
Sinn Féin Pat Sheehan 9.69% 3,516 3,761.08 3,829.2 6,393.2        
Sinn Féin Fra McCann 11.11% 4,028 4,283.2 4,479.48 4,756.68 5,891.73      
Sinn Féin Jennifer McCann 12.09% 4,386 4,648.68 4,755.04 4,988.88 5,044.81 5,750.11    
SDLP Alex Attwood 7.30% 2,647 3,407.76 4,161.36 4,234.52 4,242.98 4,245.38 4,299.08 4,430.2
DUP Frank McCoubrey 10.38% 3,766 3,780.52 4,332.28 4,336.28 4,337.69 4,337.69 4,337.69 4,341.21
Sinn Féin Rosie McCorley 8.42% 3,053 3,244.4 3,303.24          
Workers' Party Conor Campbell 1.47% 532 766.54            
Green (NI) Ellen Murray 0.90% 327 705.84            
Ulster Unionist Gareth Martin 1.80% 654 668.96            
Alliance Jemima Higgins 0.80% 291 427.4            
Electorate: 63,993   Valid: 36,268 (56.67%)   Spoilt: 722   Quota: 5,182   Turnout: 36,990 (57.80%)  

2011

2011 Assembly election: Belfast West – 6 seats[4]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Sinn Féin Paul Maskey 15.42% 5,343                    
Sinn Féin Jennifer McCann 15.12% 5,239                    
Sinn Féin Fra McCann 12.93% 4,481 4,587.96 4,604.96 4,613.08 4,645.5 4,682.6 4,735.84 4,837.22 4,838.34 5,167.34  
SDLP Alex Attwood 10.87% 3,765 3,776.69 3,780.09 3,787.09 3,890.45 3,939.62 4,083.74 4,719.58 4,780.65 5,151.65  
Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey 11.88% 4,116 4,340.28 4,350.88 4,358.19 4,377.4 4,394.47 4,407.47 4,423.94 4,433.99 4,683.9 4,823.06
Sinn Féin Pat Sheehan 10.75% 3,723 3,737.35 3,960.5 3,971.78 3,996.39 4,016.61 4,029.73 4,051.85 4,054.9 4,249.77 4,327.19
DUP Brian Kingston 7.47% 2,587 2,587.28 2,587.33 2,587.33 2,600.45 2,604.45 2,607.45 2,617.57 3,834.57 3,866.57 3,866.57
People Before Profit
Gerry Carroll
4.79% 1,661 1,664.85 1,665.85 1,701.85 1,732.85 1,853.97 1,939.09 1,977.31 1,999.31    
Ulster Unionist Bill Manwaring 4.25% 1,471 1,471.21 1,471.36 1,473.36 1,503.41 1,512.41 1,517.41 1,526.41      
SDLP Colin Keenan 2.31% 802 803.26 804.41 807.41 853.58 878.63 981.82        
Workers' Party John Lowry 1.69% 586 586.63 587.03 590.1 607.24 644.38          
Socialist Party Pat Lawlor 1.11% 384 384.42 384.92 399.92 408.92            
Alliance Dan McGuinness 1.05% 365 367.66 368.76 370.76              
Independent
Brian Pelan 0.35% 122 122.77 122.92                
Electorate: 61,520   Valid: 34,645 (56.32%)   Spoilt: 973   Quota: 4,950   Turnout: 35,618 (57.90%)  

2007

2007 Assembly election: Belfast West – 6 seats[5]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 17.84% 6,029          
Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey 13.95% 4,715 5,266.6        
Sinn Féin Paul Maskey 12.93% 4,368 4,758.6 4,774.05 4,783.95 4,821.8 5,074.8
Sinn Féin Jennifer McCann 12.62% 4,265 4,294.8 4,665.75 4,667.7 4,693.5 4,848.5
SDLP Alex Attwood 8.98% 3,036 3,148.8 3,149.7 3,196.9 3,234.9 4,779.1
Sinn Féin Fra McCann 12.59% 4,254 4,323.8 4,344.95 4,353.8 4,378 4,646.85
DUP Diane Dodds 10.83% 3,661 3,661 3,661.15 3,671.15 3,677.15 4,166
SDLP Margaret Walsh 3.18% 1,074 1,086.2 1,087.1 1,110.3 1,156.5  
People Before Profit
Seán Mitchell 2.29% 774 789 789.6 830.4 968.8  
Ulster Unionist Louis West 1.65% 558 558.8 558.8 579.8 581.8  
Workers' Party John Lowry 1.28% 434 440 440.45 452.65 452.65  
Republican Sinn Féin Geraldine Taylor 1.26% 427 429 429.45 437.05    
Alliance Dan McGuinness 0.38% 127 132.4 133.3      
Make Politicians History
Rainbow George
0.20% 68 69 69      
Electorate: 50,792   Valid: 33,790 (66.53%)   Spoilt: 448   Quota: 4,828   Turnout: 34,238 (67.41%)  

Note: All

Independent
on the ballot paper.

2003

2003 Assembly election: Belfast West – 6 seats[6]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 18.87% 6,199              
SDLP Alex Attwood 11.16% 3,667 3,796.60 3,901.04 3,956.28 6,096.28      
Sinn Féin
Bairbre de Brun
12.39% 4,069 4,476.52 4,494.96 4,504.20 4,665.68 5,229.68    
Sinn Féin Fra McCann 12.98% 4,263 4,337.16 4,360.88 4,363.36 4,525.00 4,905.00    
Sinn Féin Michael Ferguson 11.72% 3,849 3,912.84 3,921.56 3,945.12 4,000.00 4,117.00 4,346.00 4,448.60
DUP Diane Dodds 7.74% 2,544 2,544.00 2,631.00 4,144.24 4,256.24 4,272.24 4,274.24 4,277.09
Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey 9.09% 2,988 3,673.20 3,699.68 3,705.92 3,768.84 3,923.84 4,084.84 4,190.29
SDLP Joe Hendron 7.86% 2,583 2,654.28 2,849.72 3,108.72        
Ulster Unionist Chris McGimpsey 3.56% 1,170 1,174.56 1,298.56          
PUP Hugh Smyth 2.47% 813 814.68 862.68          
Workers' Party John Lowry 1.24% 407 410.84            
Independent
John MacVicar 0.64% 211 211.24            
Alliance Mary Ayers 0.23% 75 78.12            
Independent
David Kerr 0.05% 16 16.00            
Electorate: 50,861   Valid: 32,854 (64.60%)   Spoilt: 673   Quota: 4,694   Turnout: 33,527 (65.92%)  

Note:

David Kerr sought election as an Ulster Third Way
candidate, and appeared as such on the ballot paper.

1998

1998 Assembly election: Belfast West – 6 seats[7]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 21.72% 9,078                  
SDLP Joe Hendron 14.69% 6,140                  
Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey 9.44% 3,946 5,223.15 5,235 5,236.44 5,253.27 5,262.62 5,276.34 7,371.34    
Sinn Féin
Bairbre de Brun
11.27% 4,711 5,341 5,381.35 5,383.83 5,405.11 5,409.11 5,421.89 5,705.26 6,993.67  
Sinn Féin Alex Maskey 10.36% 4,330 4,831.2 4,852.35 4,856.41 4,889.2 4,901.27 4,909.82 5,242.2 5,324.61 6,328.43
SDLP Alex Attwood 10.24% 4,280 4,647.85 4,738.25 4,838.85 5,117.87 5,127.22 5,234.49 5,327.61 5,343.69 5,349.52
Ulster Unionist Chris McGimpsey 3.92% 1,640 1,641.4 1,674.4 1,675.58 1,808.99 2,757.44 4,827.29 4,837.64 4,837.64 4,837.64
Sinn Féin Michael Ferguson 6.19% 2,585 2,791.85 2,838.45 2,840.71 2,867.12 2,871.84 2,896.95      
PUP Hugh Smyth 5.22% 2,180 2,186.65 2,206.75 2,208.63 2,342.94 2,716.06        
DUP Margaret Ferris 3.22% 1,345 1,347.8 1,354.5 1,354.8 1,784.22          
UK Unionist Thomas Dalzell-Sheridan 1.59% 666 671.25 677.25 677.37            
Workers' Party John Lowry 1.45% 607 630.1 658.8 660.68            
Alliance Dan McGuinness 0.31% 129 165.4                
Independent
Mary Cahillane 0.31% 128 151.8                
Natural Law Michael Kennedy 0.07% 29 31.45                
Electorate: 60,669   Valid: 41,794 (68.89%)   Spoilt: 960   Quota: 5,971   Turnout: 42,754 (70.47%)  

Note: Mary Cahillane sought election as a Pro-Agreement Socialist candidate, and appeared as such on the ballot paper.

1996 forum

Successful candidates are shown in bold.[8]

Party Candidate(s) Votes Percentage
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams
Dodie McGuinness
Alex Maskey
Annie Armstrong

Marie Moore
22,355 53.4
SDLP Joe Hendron
Alex Attwood
Margaret Walsh
Patricia Lewsley
Mary Muldoon
11,087 26.5
PUP Hugh Smyth
Mina Wardle
1,982 4.7
DUP Eric Smyth
Margaret Ferris
1,769 4.2
Ulster Unionist Fred Parkinson
John McDonald
1,489 3.6
Workers' Party John Lowry
Jim Pollock
984 2.4
Ulster Democratic Frank McCoubrey
Delwyn Williams
848 2.0
Alliance Dan McGuinness
Patricia Mallon
Glyn Roberts
340 0.8
Labour coalition Mary Cahillane
Isabel Cowan
Barbara Lynn
Brian McDermott
Terence McDonagh
319 0.8
NI Women's Coalition Vera McKee
Mary Catney
Ann Hall
Julie Cullen
252 0.6
Green (NI) Jude Stephens
Philip Kearney
David Taylor
156 0.4
NI Conservatives Charles Balmer
David Munster
60 0.1
Independent DUP
Florence Baxter
William Clements
36 0.1
Ulster Independence
Clifford Peoples
43 0.1
Democratic Left Mary McMahon
Freddie Rea
37 0.1
Natural Law Michael Kennedy
Vivien Martin
30 0.1
Communist Barry Bruton
Daniella Egerton
28 0.1
Independent Voice Bernard McGrath
Susan McGrath
26 0.1
Independent Chambers
Ruth Patty
Richard Stewart
12 0.0

1982

1982 Assembly election: Belfast West – 4 seats[9]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 28.43% 9,740              
SDLP Joe Hendron 15.20% 5,207 5,309.3 6,003.3 7,965.3        
Ulster Unionist Thomas Passmore 13.15% 4,505 4,505 4,509 5,128 5,130 5,131.86 5,151.79 5,165.55
Alliance Will Glendinning 7.98% 2,733 2,764.5 2,805.1 2,847.1 3,072.7 3,651.16 4,525.99 5,163.2
DUP Billy Dickson 12.83% 4,394 4,396.1 4,399.1 4,849.4 4,866.4 4,869.09 4,892.81 4,918.6
Sinn Féin Alex Maskey 1.83% 627 3,240 3,326.2 3,326.2 3,397.6 3,565.93 3,824.22  
Workers' Party Mary McMahon 7.28% 2,493 2,512.8 2,566.9 2,580.9 2,662.8 3,017.13    
SDLP Cormac Boomer 6.26% 2,145 2,204.4 2,452.5 2,454.5        
PUP Hugh Smyth 3.66% 1,255 1,255.3 1,256.3          
SDLP Mary Muldoon 2.97% 1,016 1,024.1            
People's Democracy John McAnulty 0.42% 144 161.1            
Electorate: 57,726   Valid: 34,259 (59.35%)   Spoilt: 1,819   Quota: 6,852   Turnout: 36,078 (62.50%)  

1975 Constitutional Convention

1975 Constitutional Convention: Belfast West – 6 seats[10]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Ulster Unionist John Laird 23.61% 8,433              
SDLP Paddy Devlin 17.54% 6,267              
Ulster Unionist Jean Coulter 6.51% 2,325 4,209.48 4,209.48 4,226.65 4,235.65 5,710.65    
Alliance Bob Cooper 9.22% 3,293 3,362.81 3,495.11 3,679.76 4,341.58 4,428.25 4,472.89 4,915.13
SDLP Joe Hendron 7.95% 2,840 2,841.56 3,058.82 3,180.76 3,607.5 3,611.04 3,611.66 4,901.95
Ind. Unionist Hugh Smyth 7.40% 2,644 3,235.63 3,236.35 3,252.92 3,256.31 4,127.8 4,684.56 4,693.55
SDLP Desmond Gillespie 5.56% 1,986 1,988.73 2,506.59 2,652.23 3,254.1 3,257.1 3,257.72 4,513.76
SDLP Paschal O'Hare 6.86% 2,452 2,453.95 2,578.87 2,691.07 3,115.67 3,118.63 3,121.11  
DUP Edith Goligher 5.48% 1,958 2,668.19 2,669.63 2,686.41 2,688.59      
Independent Nationalist Thomas Conaty 5.74% 2,052 2,052.78 2,133.96 2,302.18        
Republican Clubs
John Sullivan 1.85% 660 661.17 676.29          
Republican Clubs
John Brady 1.17% 418 418.78 432.82          
Republican Clubs
Bernard McDonagh 0.73% 262 263.17 268.21          
Communist John Morris 0.24% 86 86 87.62          
Communist Peter Kerrins 0.12% 44 44.78 45.5          
Electorate: 63,869   Valid: 35,720 (55.93%)   Spoilt: 1,794   Quota: 5,103   Turnout: 37,514 (58.74%)  

Note: John Laird, Jean Coulter and Edith Goligher were all UUUC endorsed candidates.

1973

1973 Assembly election: Belfast West – 6 seats[11]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Ulster Unionist John Laird 27.74% 11,479                      
SDLP Paddy Devlin 18.71% 7,743                      
Ind. Unionist Hugh Smyth 8.76% 3,625 5,997.09                    
Vanguard
Jean Coulter 4.27% 1,765 3,606.42 3,606.42 3,634.31 3,638.3 3,704.33 3,707.56 5,610.71 6,281.71      
Alliance Bob Cooper 7.64% 3,160 3,262.9 3,374.22 3,374.89 3,382.61 3,637.01 3,810.76 3,866.68 5,042.61 5,221.61 5,378.06 5,597.46
SDLP Desmond Gillespie 4.69% 1,940 1,940 2,520.29 2,520.3 2,527.93 2,590.38 2,953 2,953.49 2,993.58 2,994.58 3,404.51 4,961.35
SDLP Gerry Campbell 4.26% 1,764 1,764.49 2,269.34 2,268.35 2,277.35 2,325.48 2,698.95 2,699.95 2,835.67 2,837.67 3,320.88 4,399.77
SDLP Desmond O'Donnell 5.10% 2,112 2,113.47 2,341.17 2,321.17 2,353.40 2,394.93 2,734.28 2,734.78 2,763.39 2,764.39 3,037.25  
Republican Clubs
Raymond O'Hagan 3.36% 1,389 1,389 1,438.91 1,438.91 1,465.37 2,134.58 2,537.47 2,538.47 2,563.1 2,564.1    
NI Labour Billy Boyd 4.69% 1,942 2,204.15 2,214.73 2,216.67 2,237.9 2,333.56 2,388.08 2,538.1        
DUP William Spence 3.30% 1,366 2,270.05 2,270.05 2,286.85 2,293.62 2,236.4 2,239.4          
Republican Labour Paddy Kennedy 4.23% 1,750 1,750.49 1,970.37 1,970.37 1,984.6 2,036.94            
Republican Clubs
John O'Hare 1.70% 702 703.47 715.43 715.44 725.44              
Alliance Reginald Donnelly 0.47% 194 202.33 223.49 223.51 225              
Alliance Maureen Smyth 0.41% 169 232.7 238.22 238.67 242.67              
NI Labour Patrick Doherty 0.36% 151 152.47 172.02 172.03 174.03              
Communist James Stewart 0.30% 123 130.35 131.96 132.2                
Electorate: 70,791   Valid: 41,374 (58.45%)   Spoilt: 2,834   Quota: 5,911   Turnout: 44,208 (62.45%)  

Note: John Laird, Hugh Smyth, Jean Coulter and William Spence used the label "West Belfast Loyalist Coalition" simultaneously whilst standing under different party affiliations.

References

  1. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Belfast West". Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  2. ^ "NI Assembly Election 2017". EONI. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  3. ^ "NI Assembly Election 2016". EONI. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  4. ^ "NI Assembly Election 2011" (PDF). EONI. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  5. ^ "NI Assembly Election 2007". EONI. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  6. ^ "NI Assembly Election 2003". Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  7. ^ "NI Assembly Election 1998". EONI. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  8. ^ 1996 Candidates – West Belfast Archived 7 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Northern Ireland Elections
  9. ^ "NI Assembly Election 1982". EONI. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  10. ^ "NI Convention Election 1975". EONI. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  11. ^ "NI Assembly Election 1973". EONI. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2021.

Sources


54°35′11″N 6°00′06″W / 54.58639°N 6.00167°W / 54.58639; -6.00167