Belfast West (Assembly constituency)

Belfast West (Irish: Béal Feirste Thiar, Ulster Scots: Bilfawst Wast) is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Belfast West
Northern Ireland Assembly
Parliamentary Constituency
West Belfast shown within Northern Ireland
Current constituency
Created1973
Seats6 (1998–2016)
5 (2017–)
MLAs
  •   Gerry Carroll (PBP)
  •   Órlaithí Flynn (SF)
  •   Alex Maskey (SF)
  •   Fra McCann (SF)
  •   Pat Sheehan (SF)
City councilBelfast City Council

It was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election in 1973, which elected the 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 1975 Constitutional Convention, the 1982 Assembly, the 1996 Forum 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 Gerry Carroll
(PBP)
December 2016
co-option		 Órlaithí Flynn
(Sinn Féin)
2017 5 seats
2017–present

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

2017
2017 Assembly election: Belfast West - 5 seats[1]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234
Sinn Féin Órlaithí Flynn 17.1 6,918
People Before Profit Gerry Carroll 12.2 4,903 6,514 8,252
Sinn Féin Alex Maskey 15.7 6,346 6,451 7,036
Sinn Féin Fra McCann 15.4 6,201 6,314 6,636 7,067
Sinn Féin Pat Sheehan 13.5 5,466 5,515 5,739 5,903
DUP Frank McCoubrey 10.1 4,063 4,372 4,490 4,521
SDLP Alex Attwood 8.6 3,452 4,019
People Before Profit Matthew Collins 2.7 1,096
Alliance Sorcha Eastwood 1.9 747
UUP Fred Rogers 1.2 486
Workers' Party Conor Campbell 1.0 415
Green (NI) Ellen Murray 0.6 251
Electorate: 61,309   Valid: 40,344   Spoilt: 586 (1.43%)   Quota: 6,725   Turnout: 40,930 (66.76%)

    2016
    2016 Assembly election: Belfast West - 6 seats
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12345678
    People Before Profit Gerry Carroll 22.9 8,299
    Sinn Féin Alex Maskey 13.1 4,769 5,360.80
    Sinn Féin Pat Sheehan 9.7 3,516 3,761.08 3,829.20 6,393.20
    Sinn Féin Fra McCann 11.1 4,028 4,283.20 4,479.48 4,756.68 5,891.73
    Sinn Féin Jennifer McCann 12.1 4,386 4,648.68 4,755.04 4,988.88 5,044.81 5,750.11
    SDLP Alex Attwood 7.3 2,647 3,407.76 4,161.36 4,234.52 4,242.98 4,245.38 4,299.08 4,430.20
    DUP Frank McCoubrey 10.4 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 8.4 3,053 3,244.40 3,303.24
    Workers' Party Conor Campbell 1.5 532 766.54
    Green (NI) Ellen Murray 0.9 327 705.84
    UUP Gareth Martin 1.8 654 668.96
    Alliance Jemima Higgins 0.8 291 427.40
    Electorate: 63,993   Valid: 36,268   Spoilt: 722 (1.95%)   Quota: 5,182   Turnout: 56.70

      2011
      2011 Assembly election:[2] Belfast West - 6 seats
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234567891011
      Sinn Féin Paul Maskey 15.4 5,343
      Sinn Féin Jennifer McCann 15.1 5,239
      Sinn Féin Fra McCann 12.9 4,481 4,587.96 4,604.96 4,613.08 4,645.50 4,682.60 4,735.84 4,837.22 4,838.34 5,167.34
      SDLP Alex Attwood 10.9 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 11.9 4,116 4,340.28 4,350.88 4,358.19 4,377.40 4,394.47 4,407.47 4,423.94 4,433.99 4,683.90 4,823.06
      Sinn Féin Pat Sheehan 10.8 3,723 3,737.35 3,960.50 3,971.78 3,996.39 4,016.61 4,029.73 4,051.85 4,054.90 4,249.77 4,327.19
      DUP Brian Kingston 7.5 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 4.8 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
      UUP Bill Manwaring 4.2 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 2.3 802 803.26 804.41 807.41 853.58 878.63 981.82
      Workers' Party John Lowry 1.7 586 586.63 587.03 590.10 607.24 644.38
      Socialist Party Pat Lawlor 1.1 384 384.42 384.92 399.92 408.92
      Alliance Dan McGuinness 1.1 365 367.66 368.76 370.76
      Independent Brian Pelan 0.4 122 122.77 122.92
      Electorate: 61,520   Valid: 34,645   Spoilt: 973   Quota: 4,950   Turnout: 35,618 (57.9%)

        2007
        2007 Assembly election: Belfast West - 6 seats
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        123456
        Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 17.8 6,029
        Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey 14.0 4,715 5,266.60
        Sinn Féin Paul Maskey 12.9 4,368 4,758.60 4,774.05 4,783.95 4,821.80 5,074.80
        Sinn Féin Jennifer McCann 12.6 4,265 4,294.80 4,665.75 4,667.70 4,693.50 4,848.50
        SDLP Alex Attwood 9.0 3,036 3,148.80 3,149.70 3,196.90 3,234.90 4,779.10
        Sinn Féin Fra McCann 12.6 4,254 4,323.80 4,344.95 4,353.80 4,378 4,646.85
        DUP Diane Dodds 10.8 3,661 3,661 3,661.15 3,671.15 3,677.15 4,166
        SDLP Margret Walsh 3.2 1,074 1,086.20 1,087.10 1,110.30 1,156.50
        People Before Profit Seán Mitchell 2.3 774 789 789.60 830.40 968.80
        UUP Louis West 1.7 558 558.80 558.80 579.80 581.80
        Workers' Party John Lowry 1.3 434 440 440.45 452.65 452.65
        Republican Sinn Féin Geraldine Taylor 1.3 427 429 429.45 437.05
        Alliance Dan McGuinness 0.4 127 132.40 133.30
        Make Politicians History Rainbow George 0.2 68 69 69
        Electorate: 50,792   Valid: 33,790   Spoilt: 448   Quota: 4,828   Turnout: 34,238 (67.4%)

          Note: All Republican Sinn Féin candidates appeared as Independent on the ballot paper.

          2003
          2003 Assembly election: Belfast West - 6 seats
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          12345678
          Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 18.9 6,199
          SDLP Alex Attwood 11.2 3,667 3,796.60 3,901.04 3,956.28 6,096.28
          Sinn Féin Bairbre de Brun 12.4 4,069 4,476.52 4,494.96 4,504.92 4,665.68 5,229.68
          Sinn Féin Fra McCann 13.0 4,263 4,337.16 4,360.88 4,363.36 4,525 4,905
          Sinn Féin Michael Ferguson 11.7 3,849 3,912.84 3,921.56 3,945.12 4,000 4,117 4,346 4,448.60
          DUP Diane Dodds 7.7 2,554 2,554 2,631 4,144.24 4,256.24 4,272.40 4,274.40 4,277.09
          Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey 9.1 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 7.9 2,583 2,654.28 2,849.72 3,108.72
          UUP Chris McGimpsey 3.6 1,170 1,174.56 1,298.57
          PUP Hugh Smyth 2.5 813 814.68 862.68
          Workers' Party John Lowry 1.2 407 410.84
          Independent John MacVicar 0.6 211 211.24
          Alliance Dan McGuiness 0.2 75 78.20
          Independent David Kerr 0.1 16 16
          Electorate: 50,861   Valid: 32,854   Spoilt: 673   Quota: 4,694   Turnout: 33,527 (65.9%)

            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
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            12345678910
            Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 21.7 9,078
            SDLP Joe Hendron 14.7 6,140
            Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey 9.4 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 11.2 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 10.3 4,330 4,831.20 4,852.35 4,856.41 4,889.20 4,901.27 4,909.82 5,242.20 5,324.61 6,328.43
            SDLP Alex Attwood 10.2 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
            UUP Chris McGimpsey 3.9 1,640 1,641.40 1,674.40 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 6.2 2,585 2,791.85 2,838.45 2,840.71 2,867.12 2,871.84 2,896.95
            PUP Hugh Smyth 5.2 2,180 2,186.65 2,206.75 2,208.63 2,342.94 2,716.06
            DUP Margaret Ferris 3.2 1,345 1,347.80 1,354.50 1,354.80 1,784.22
            UK Unionist Thomas Dalzell-Sheridan 1.6 666 671.25 677.25 677.37
            Workers' Party John Lowry 1.5 607 630.10 658.80 660.68
            Alliance Dan McGuiness 0.3 129 165.40
            Independent Mary Cahillane 0.3 128 151.80
            Natural Law Michael Kennedy 0.1 29 31.45
            Electorate: 50,861   Valid: 41,794   Spoilt: 960   Quota: 5,971   Turnout: 42,754 (70.5%)

              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.[3]

              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
              UUP 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 Kenneth McClinton
              Clifford Peoples              		 43 0.1
              Democratic Left Mary McMahon
              Freddie Rea              		 37 0.1
              Natural Law Michael Kennedy
              Vivien Martin              		 30 0.1
              Communist Party 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
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              12345678
              Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 28.4 9,740
              SDLP Joe Hendron 15.2 5,207 5,309.30 6,003.30 7,965.30
              UUP Thomas Passmore 13.1 4,505 4,505 4,509 5,128 5,130 5,131.86 5,151.79 5,165.55
              Alliance Will Glendinning 8.0 2,733 2,764.50 2,805.10 2,847.10 3,072.70 3,651.16 4,525.99 5,163.20
              DUP Billy Dickson 12.8 4,394 4,396.10 4,399.10 4,849.40 4,866.40 4,869.09 4,892.81 4,918.60
              Sinn Féin Alex Maskey 1.8 627 3,240 3,326.20 3,326.20 3,397.60 3,565.93 3,824.22
              Workers' Party Mary McMahon 7.3 2,493 2,512.80 2,566.90 2,580.90 2,662.80 3,017.13
              SDLP Cormac Boomer 6.3 2,145 2,204.40 2,452.50 2,454.50
              PUP Hugh Smyth 3.7 1,255 1,255.30 1,256.30
              SDLP Mary Muldoon 3.0 1,016 1,024.10
              People's Democracy John McAnulty 0.4 144 161.10
              Electorate: 57,726   Valid: 34,259   Spoilt: 1,819   Quota: 6,852   Turnout: 36,078 (62.50%)

                1975 Constitutional Convention
                1975 Constitutional Convention: Belfast West - 6 seats
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                12345678
                UUP John Laird 23.6 8,433
                SDLP Paddy Devlin 17.5 6,267
                UUP Jean Coulter 6.5 2,325 4,209.48 4,209.48 4,226.65 4,235.65 5,710.65
                Alliance Bob Cooper 9.2 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 8.0 2,840 2,841.56 3,058.82 3,180.76 3,607.50 3,611.04 3,611.66 4,901.95
                Independent Unionist Hugh Smyth 7.4 2,644 3,235.63 3,236.35 3,252.92 3,256.31 4,127.80 4,684.56 4,693.55
                SDLP Desmond Gillespie 5.6 1,986 1,988.73 2,506.59 2,652.23 3,254.10 3,257.10 3,257.72 4,513.76
                SDLP Paschal O'Hare 6.9 2,452 2,453.95 2,578.87 2,691.07 3,115.67 3,118.63 3,121.11
                DUP Edith Goligher 5.5 1,958 2,668.19 2,669.63 2,686.41 2,688.59
                Independent Thomas Conaty 5.7 2,052 2,052.78 2,133.96 2,302.18
                Republican Clubs John Sullivan 1.8 660 661.17 676.29
                Republican Clubs John Brady 1.2 418 418,78 432.82
                Republican Clubs Bernard McDonagh 0.7 262 263.17 268.21
                Communist Party John Morris 0.2 86 86 87.62
                Communist Party Peter Kerrins 0.1 44 44.78 45.50
                Electorate: 63,869   Valid: 37,514 (58.7%)   Spoilt: 1,794   Quota: 5,103   Turnout: 35,720

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

                  1973
                  1973 Assembly Election: Belfast West - 6 seats
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  123456789101112
                  UUP John Laird 27.7 11,479
                  SDLP Paddy Devlin 18.7 7,743 7,743
                  Independent Unionist Hugh Smyth 8.8 3,625 5,997.09 5,997.09
                  Vanguard Jean Coulter 4.3 1,765 3,606.42 3,606.42 3,634.31 3,638.30 3,704.33 3,707.56 5,610.71 6,281.71
                  Alliance Bob Cooper 7.6 3,160 3,262.90 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 4.7 1,940 1,940 2,520.29 2,520.30 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 4.3 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 5.1 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 3.4 1,389 1,389 1,438.91 1,438.91 1,465.37 2,134.58 2,537.47 2,538.47 2,563.10 2,564.10
                  NI Labour Billy Boyd 4.7 1,942 2,204.15 2,214.73 2,216.67 2,237.90 2,333.56 2,388.08 2,538.10
                  DUP Willam Spence 3.3 1,366 2,270.05 2,270.05 2,286.85 2,293.62 2,236.40 2,239.40
                  Republican Labour Paddy Kennedy 4.2 1,750 1,750.49 1,970.37 1,970.37 1,984.60 2,036.94
                  Republican Clubs John O'Hare 1.7 702 703.47 715.43 715.44 725.44
                  Alliance Reginald Donnelly 0.5 194 202.33 223.49 223.51 225
                  Alliance Maureen Smyth 0.4 169 232.70 238.22 238.67 242.67
                  NI Labour Patrick Doherty 0.4 151 152.47 172.02 172.03 174.03
                  Communist Party James Stewart 0.3 123 130.35 131.96 132.20
                  Electorate: 70,791   Valid: 44,208   Spoilt: 2,834   Quota: 5,911   Turnout: 41,374

                    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". EONI. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
                    2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
                    3. 1996 Candidates – West Belfast, Northern Ireland Elections

                    Sources

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