Lagan Valley | |
---|---|
County constituency for the House of Commons | |
![]() Boundary of Lagan Valley in Northern Ireland | |
Major settlements | Lisburn |
Current constituency | |
Created | 1983 |
Member of Parliament | Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance) |
Seats | 1 |
Created from | South Antrim, Belfast South, North Down and South Down[1] |
Lagan Valley is a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.
The constituency had always returned unionist MPs from its creation until 2019, However it returned Sorcha Eastwood of the Alliance Party in the 2024 election.[2]
Boundaries
[edit]1983–1997: The District of Lisburn, and the District of Castlereagh ward of Carryduff.
1997–2010: The District of Lisburn wards of Ballinderry, Ballymacash, Ballymacbrennan, Ballymacoss, Blaris, Derryaghy, Dromara, Drumbo, Dunmurry, Glenavy, Harmony Hill, Hilden, Hillhall, Hillsborough, Knockmore, Lagan Valley, Lambeg, Lisnagarvey, Maghaberry, Magheralave, Maze, Moira, Old Warren, Seymour Hill, Tonagh, and Wallace Park, and the District of Banbridge wards of Dromore North, Dromore South, Gransha, and Quilly.
2010–present: The City of Lisburn wards of Ballinderry, Ballymacash, Ballymacbrennan, Ballymacoss, Blaris, Dromara, Drumbo, Harmony Hill, Hilden, Hillhall, Hillsborough, Knockmore, Lagan Valley, Lambeg, Lisnagarvey, Maghaberry, Magheralave, Maze, Moira, Old Warren, Seymour Hill, Tonagh, Wallace Park, and part of Derryaghy; the District of Banbridge wards of Dromore North, Dromore South, Gransha, and Quilly and the Ballynahatty and Edenderry parts of the Belvoir ward of the City of Belfast.
The seat was created in 1983, as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17, and was predominantly made up from parts of South Antrim and North Down. In their original proposals, in January 1980, the boundary commission proposed calling it 'Lagan'. In further revisions in 1995 it lost some areas to both Belfast West and Strangford. Currently the constituency contains most of Lisburn district and part of Banbridge district.
Following their review of all parliamentary seats in Northern Ireland prior to the 2010 United Kingdom general election the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland made alterations to Lagan Valley. In an unprecedented decision, passed by Parliament through the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Constituencies Order,[3] one electoral ward was split between two constituencies. This followed concerns in Derriaghy about being moved into the neighbouring but republican West Belfast seat.
Future boundaries
[edit]In time for the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland has recommended minor alterations to Lagan Valley, including splitting the wards of Donaghcloney, and Gransha[4]
History
[edit]For the history of the equivalent constituencies prior to 1950 please see Antrim (UK Parliament constituency) and Down (UK Parliament constituency) and from 1950 until 1983, please see South Antrim (UK Parliament constituency) and North Down.
Members of Parliament
[edit]The Member of Parliament since 1997 was Sir Jeffrey Donaldson who was elected as a member of the Ulster Unionist Party but switched to the Democratic Unionist Party in 2004. He succeeded James Molyneaux who had represented the seat for the UUP since the 1983 general election and previously sat for the old South Antrim constituency which covered much of the same area. Donaldson was elected Leader of the DUP in June 2021, but resigned the leadership in March 2024.
Election | Member[5] | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
1983 | Sir James Molyneaux | Ulster Unionist | |
1997 | Sir Jeffrey Donaldson | ||
2004 | Democratic Unionist | ||
2024 | Independent Unionist[6] | ||
2024 | Sorcha Eastwood | Alliance |
Elections
[edit]![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Lagan_Valley_Parliamentary.png/220px-Lagan_Valley_Parliamentary.png)
Elections in the 2020s
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alliance | Sorcha Eastwood | 18,618 | 37.9 | +10.8 | |
DUP | Jonathan Buckley | 15,659 | 31.9 | −11.5 | |
UUP | Robbie Butler | 11,157 | 22.7 | +4.2 | |
TUV | Lorna Smyth | 2,186 | 4.5 | New | |
SDLP | Simon Lee | 1,028 | 2.1 | −2.0 | |
Green (NI) | Patricia Denvir | 433 | 0.9 | New | |
Majority | 2,959 | 6.0 | |||
Turnout | 49,081 | 60.0 | −0.2 | ||
Registered electors | 82,201 | ||||
Alliance gain from DUP | Swing | +11.15 |
Elections in the 2010s
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DUP | Jeffrey Donaldson | 19,586 | 43.1 | ―16.5 | |
Alliance | Sorcha Eastwood | 13,087 | 28.8 | +17.7 | |
UUP | Robbie Butler | 8,606 | 19.0 | +2.2 | |
SDLP | Ally Haydock | 1,758 | 3.9 | ―3.6 | |
Sinn Féin | Gary McCleave | 1,098 | 2.4 | ―1.1 | |
NI Conservatives | Gary Hynds | 955 | 2.1 | +1.1 | |
UKIP | Alan Love | 315 | 0.7 | New | |
Majority | 6,499 | 14.3 | ―28.5 | ||
Turnout | 45,405 | 60.0 | ―2.2 | ||
Registered electors | 75,675 | ||||
DUP hold | Swing | ―17.1 |
This seat saw a swing towards the Alliance Party of over 17%, and the largest decrease in vote share for the DUP at the 2019 general election.[9]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DUP | Jeffrey Donaldson | 26,762 | 59.6 | +11.7 | |
UUP | Robbie Butler | 7,533 | 16.8 | +1.6 | |
Alliance | Aaron McIntyre | 4,996 | 11.1 | ―2.8 | |
SDLP | Pat Catney | 3,384 | 7.5 | +1.2 | |
Sinn Féin | Jacqui Russell | 1,567 | 3.5 | +0.6 | |
NI Conservatives | Ian Nickels | 462 | 1.0 | ―0.6 | |
Independent | Jonny Orr | 222 | 0.5 | ―1.4 | |
Majority | 19,229 | 42.8 | +10.1 | ||
Turnout | 45,044 | 62.2 | +6.3 | ||
Registered electors | 72,380 | ||||
DUP hold | Swing | +5.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DUP | Jeffrey Donaldson | 19,055 | 47.9 | ―1.9 | |
UUP | Alexander Redpath | 6,055 | 15.2 | ―5.9 | |
Alliance | Trevor Lunn | 5,544 | 13.9 | +2.5 | |
SDLP | Pat Catney | 2,500 | 6.3 | +1.3 | |
UKIP | Alan Love | 2,200 | 5.5 | New | |
TUV | Samuel Morrison | 1,887 | 4.7 | ―3.9 | |
Sinn Féin | Jacqui McGeough | 1,144 | 2.9 | ―1.1 | |
Independent | Jonny Orr | 756 | 1.9 | New | |
NI Conservatives | Helen Osborne | 654 | 1.6 | New | |
Majority | 13,000 | 32.7 | +4.0 | ||
Turnout | 39,795 | 55.9 | ―0.1 | ||
Registered electors | 71,152 | ||||
DUP hold | Swing | +2.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DUP | Jeffrey Donaldson | 18,199 | 49.8 | ―8.5 | |
UCU-NF | Daphne Trimble | 7,713 | 21.1 | ―1.8 | |
Alliance | Trevor Lunn | 4,174 | 11.4 | +0.5 | |
TUV | Keith Harbinson | 3,154 | 8.6 | +8.6 | |
SDLP | Brian Heading | 1,835 | 5.0 | ―1.1 | |
Sinn Féin | Paul Butler | 1,465 | 4.0 | ―3.5 | |
Majority | 10,486 | 28.7 | ―4.5 | ||
Turnout | 36,540 | 56.0 | ―4.2 | ||
Registered electors | 65,257 | ||||
DUP hold | Swing | ―3.4 |
Elections in the 2000s
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DUP | Jeffrey Donaldson | 23,289 | 54.7 | +41.3 | |
UUP | Basil McCrea | 9,172 | 21.5 | ―35.0 | |
Alliance | Seamus Close | 4,316 | 10.1 | ―6.5 | |
Sinn Féin | Paul Butler | 3,197 | 7.5 | +1.6 | |
SDLP | Patricia Lewsley | 2,598 | 6.1 | ―1.4 | |
Majority | 14,117 | 33.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 42,572 | 60.2 | ―3.0 | ||
Registered electors | 70,238 | ||||
DUP gain from UUP | Swing | +38.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Jeffrey Donaldson | 25,966 | 56.5 | +1.1 | |
Alliance | Seamus Close | 7,624 | 16.6 | ―0.6 | |
DUP | Edwin Poots | 6,164 | 13.4 | ―0.2 | |
SDLP | Patricia Lewsley | 3,462 | 7.5 | ―0.3 | |
Sinn Féin | Paul Butler | 2,725 | 5.9 | +3.4 | |
Majority | 18,342 | 39.9 | ―1.7 | ||
Turnout | 45,941 | 63.2 | +1.1 | ||
Registered electors | 72,671 | ||||
UUP hold | Swing | +0.9 |
Elections in the 1990s
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Jeffrey Donaldson | 24,560 | 55.4 | −5.4 | |
Alliance | Seamus Close | 7,635 | 17.2 | +4.5 | |
DUP | Edwin Poots | 6,005 | 13.6 | New | |
SDLP | Dolores Kelly | 3,436 | 7.8 | −1.7 | |
NI Conservatives | Stuart E. Sexton | 1,212 | 2.7 | −6.3 | |
Sinn Féin | Sue Ramsey | 1,110 | 2.5 | +0.4 | |
Workers' Party | Frances McCarthy | 203 | 0.5 | −0.7 | |
Natural Law | Hugh Finlay | 149 | 0.3 | New | |
Majority | 16,925 | 38.2 | −9.9 | ||
Turnout | 44,310 | 62.1 | −5.2 | ||
Registered electors | 71,341 | ||||
UUP hold | Swing | −8.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | James Molyneaux | 29,772 | 60.8 | −9.2 | |
Alliance | Seamus Close | 6,207 | 12.7 | −1.1 | |
SDLP | Hugh Lewsley | 4,626 | 9.5 | +2.6 | |
NI Conservatives | Timothy R. Coleridge | 4,423 | 9.0 | New | |
Sinn Féin | Patrick Joseph Rice | 3,346 | 6.8 | +0.4 | |
Workers' Party | Ann Marie Lowry | 582 | 1.2 | −1.7 | |
Majority | 23,565 | 48.1 | −8.1 | ||
Turnout | 48,956 | 67.3 | +2.9 | ||
Registered electors | 72,645 | ||||
UUP hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1980s
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | James Molyneaux | 29,101 | 70.0 | +10.8 | |
Alliance | Seamus Close | 5,728 | 13.8 | +2.5 | |
SDLP | Billy McDonnell | 2,888 | 6.9 | +0.5 | |
Sinn Féin | Patrick Joseph Rice | 2,656 | 6.4 | +2.1 | |
Workers' Party | John Lowry | 1,215 | 2.9 | +0.9 | |
Majority | 23,373 | 56.2 | +13.8 | ||
Turnout | 41,588 | 64.4 | ―3.2 | ||
Registered electors | 64,873 | ||||
UUP hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | James Molyneaux | 32,514 | 90.7 | +31.5 | |
Workers' Party | John Lowry | 3,328 | 9.3 | +7.3 | |
Majority | 29,186 | 81.4 | +39.0 | ||
Turnout | 35,842 | 57.8 | ―9.8 | ||
Registered electors | 63,244 | ||||
UUP hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | James Molyneaux | 24,017 | 59.2 | ||
DUP | William John Beattie | 6,801 | 16.8 | ||
Alliance | Seamus Close | 4,593 | 11.3 | ||
SDLP | Cormac Joseph Boomer | 2,603 | 6.4 | ||
Sinn Féin | Richard McAuley | 1,751 | 4.3 | ||
Workers' Party | Gerard Loughlin | 809 | 2.0 | ||
Majority | 17,216 | 42.4 | |||
Turnout | 40,574 | 67.6 | |||
Registered electors | 60,051 | ||||
UUP win (new seat) |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "'Lagan Valley', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
- ^ Carroll, Rory. "Donaldson's downfall raises questions over Stormont power sharing". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 2008". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008.
- ^ Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 1)
- ^ "Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson". UK Parliament. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Lagan Valley Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "Election of a Member of Parliament for the LAGAN VALLEY Constituency - Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Electoral Office of Northern Ireland. 11 May 2017. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- ^ "Lagan Valley parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
- ^ "The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland - EONI". www.eoni.org.uk. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "By-election Result". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
External links
[edit]- 2017 Election House Of Commons Library 2017 Election report
- A Vision Of Britain Through Time (Constituency elector numbers)
- Lagan Valley UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
- Lagan Valley UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK