1955 Belfast Corporation election

Map of results by ward.

Elections to Belfast Corporation were held on 18 May 1955, alongside elections to Northern Ireland's other municipal councils. The Ulster Unionists maintained their dominance of the 60-seat corporation, gaining 3 seats to bring their total number of seats to 50.[1]

Council results

Belfast Corporation election, 1955
Total vote: 194,838
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  UUP 50 3 Increase3 91.67 76.19 148,446
  Irish Labour 8 13.33 0.28 551
  NI Labour 1 1.67 12.65 24,656
  Ind. Unionist 1 1.67 6.64 12,931
  Dock Labour Party 0 0 2 Decrease2 0.00 3.63 7,063
  Communist (NI) 0 0.00 0.61 1,191

Ward results

Clifton Ward

Alderman

Clifton Ward[1]
1 Alderman
Electorate: 21,839
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP R. G. C. Kinahan
(incumbent Alderman) 		6,339
NI Labour W. Harris 1,732
Majority 4,607
Turnout

Councillors

Clifton Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate: 21,839
Spoiled papers: 349
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP J. F. Cairns (incumbent) 5,959
UUP F. R. A. Hynds 5,929
UUP F. W. Watson 5,823
NI Labour W. J. Blease 1,774
NI Labour R. R. Hanna 1,735
NI Labour T. G. Kitchen 1,400
Communist (NI) Betty Sinclair 503
Turnout 8,456 38.7%

Court Ward

Councillors

Court Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate: 5,938
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP J. D. Barbour 1,708
UUP S. H. Walsh (incumbent) 1,677
NI Labour W. R. Boyd 1,299
NI Labour C. Scott (incumbent) 1,107
Ind. Unionist T. Meekin (incumbent) 1,054
Ind. Unionist B. Horan 579
Irish Labour E. Carlin 551
Turnout 3,778 63.62%

Cromac Ward

Councillors

Cromac Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate: 9,949
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP S. K. Henry (incumbent) 2,827
UUP T. Rea (incumbent) 2,787
UUP W. J. Lawther (incumbent) 2,767
NI Labour W. J. Alexander 507
Turnout 3,287 33%

Dock Ward

Alderman

Dock Ward[1][2]
1 Alderman
Electorate: 5,773
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP William Oliver
(incumbent Alderman) 		2,276 55.65
Dock Labour Party P. Kelly 1,814 44.35
Majority 462 11.30
Turnout 4,090 70.85

Councillors

Dock Ward[1][2]
3 Councillors
Electorate: 16,510
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP W. Atcheson 2,203
UUP Dorothy Williamson (incumbent) 2,202
UUP J. Cardwell 2,196
Dock Labour Party M. Ferran (incumbent) 1,782
Dock Labour Party Gerry Fitt 1,735
Dock Labour Party J. A. Toner 1,732
Turnout 4,186 72.51%

Duncairn Ward

Alderman

Duncairn Ward[1]
1 Alderman
Electorate: 16,823
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP S. W. Neill
(incumbent Alderman) 		5,069
NI Labour T. Williamson 1,178
Majority 3,891
Turnout

Councillors

Duncairn Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate: 16,823
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP W. D. Geddis (incumbent) 5,124
UUP J. W. Lindsay (incumbent) 5,092
UUP J. L. Cunningham (incumbent) 4,956
NI Labour Bessie McKeown 1,260
Turnout %

Falls Ward

Alderman

Falls Ward[1]
1 Alderman
Electorate:
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Labour J. McKearney Unopposed

Councillors

Falls Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate:
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Labour Jack Macgougan Unopposed
Irish Labour J. G. McAllister Unopposed
Irish Labour F. C. Hughes Unopposed
Turnout

Ormeau Ward

Councillors

Cromac Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate: 21,653
Spoiled papers: 53
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP W. S. Hinds 5,948
UUP Irene McAlery (incumbent) 5,921
UUP T. McMullan (incumbent) 5,855
NI Labour A. Holmes 1,336
NI Labour N. Searight 1,213
NI Labour C. Allen 1,190
Turnout 7,455 34.4%

Pottinger Ward

Councillors

Pottinger Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate: 20,774
Spoiled papers: 85
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP G. Kelso (incumbent) 4,982
UUP J. C. McIntyre 4,946
UUP A. E. Quinn 4,705
Communist (NI) Andy Barr 688
Turnout 5,785 27.8%

Shankill Ward

Alderman

Shankill Ward[1]
1 Alderman
Electorate: 15,194
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Unionist T. G. Henderson
(incumbent Alderman) 		4,649
NI Labour S. Cree 1,379
Majority 3,270
Turnout

Councillors

Shankill Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate: 15,194
Spoiled papers: 1,388
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP R. Armstrong 4,755
UUP J. Ross (incumbent) 4,541
UUP Sir James Norritt (incumbent) 4,524
NI Labour J. McAllister 1,763
NI Labour I. Johnston 1,744
Turnout 6,959 45.2

Smithfield Ward

Alderman

Smithfield Ward[1]
1 Alderman
Electorate:
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Labour Jack Beattie Unopposed

Councillors

Smithfield Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate:
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Labour D. P. Marrinan Unopposed
Irish Labour T. Carragher Unopposed
Irish Labour B. Murray Unopposed
Turnout

St Anne's Ward

Alderman

St Anne's Ward[1]
1 Alderman
Electorate:
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP William Cecil McKee Unopposed

Councillors

St Anne's Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate:
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Florence E. Breakie Unopposed
UUP J. D. E. Cheyne Unopposed
UUP J. S. R. Harcourt Unopposed
Turnout

St George's Ward

Councillors

St George's Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate: 5,593
Spoiled papers: 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP J. G. Armstrong (incumbent) 1,988
UUP Mrs E. Armstrong 1,865
UUP J. R. McClurg 1,850
Ind. Unionist A. H. Duff (incumbent) 1,599
NI Labour J. E. Gilmore 588
Turnout 3,433 61.1%

Victoria Ward

Alderman

Victoria Ward[1]
1 Alderman
Electorate: 16,510
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP T. L. Cole
Alderman 		Unopposed as Alderman

Councillors

Victoria Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate: 16,510
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP H. Jefferson 5,209
UUP H. Fair 5,063
UUP W. J. McCracken 5,022
NI Labour W. D. Purdy 1,815
NI Labour Victoria Dunlop 1,697
NI Labour G. Hooley 1,671
Turnout 7,118 43.11

Windsor

Alderman

Windsor Ward[1]
1 Alderman
Electorate:
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP A. Scott Unopposed

Councillors

Windsor Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate:
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP M. Wallace Unopposed
UUP J. Dixon Unopposed
UUP H. V. Kirk Unopposed
Turnout

Woodvale Ward

Alderman

Woodvale Ward[1]
1 Alderman
Electorate: 11,133
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Hilda Wilson
(incumbent Alderman) 		3,018
Ind. Unionist N. Porter 2,533
Majority 485
Turnout

Councillors

Woodvale Ward[1]
3 Councillors
Electorate: 11,133
Spoiled papers: 332
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP A. F. Wilson 3,180
UUP A. T. Hill 2,864
UUP W. Boucher 2,627
Ind. Unionist W. M. Wilton 2,475
Ind. Unionist W. S. McVea 2,382
Ind. Unionist A. Miller 2,309
Turnout 6,023 54%

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Municipal election result". Belfast News-Letter. 19 May 1955. p. 5 & 6.
  2. ^ a b "The results at a glance". Belfast Telegraph. Belfast. 19 May 1955.