2023 Belfast City Council election
Local election in Northern Ireland
2023 Belfast City Council election
First party
Second party
Third party
Leader
Ciaran Beattie
Sarah Bunting
Michael Long
Party
Sinn Féin
DUP
Alliance
Leader's seat
Black Mountain
Balmoral
Lisnasharragh
Last election
18 seats, 28.2%
15 seats, 21.6%
10 seats, 15.7%
Seats won
22
14
11
Seat change
4
1
1
Popular vote
44,202
26,621
19,841
Percentage
35.2%
21.2%
15.9%
Swing
7.0%
0.4%
0.2%
Fourth party
Fifth party
Sixth party
Leader
Carl Whyte
Mal O'Hara
Sonia Copeland
Party
SDLP
Green (NI)
UUP
Leader's seat
Castle
Castle (defeated )
Titanic
Last election
6 seats, 9.1%
4 seats, 6.0%
2 seats, 6.2%
Seats won
5
3
2
Seat change
1
1
Popular vote
9,690
5,965
5,123
Percentage
7.8%
4.8%
4.1%
Swing
1.3%
1.2%
2.1%
Seventh party
Eighth party
Ninth party
PUP
Leader
Matt Collins
Ron McDowell
Billy Hutchinson
Party
People Before Profit
TUV
PUP
Leader's seat
Black Mountain (defeated )
Court
Court (defeated)
Last election
3 seats, 5.2%
0 seats, 0.3%
2 seats, 3.1%
Seats won
1
1
0
Seat change
2
1
2
Popular vote
4,492
3,482
679
Percentage
3.6%
2.8%
0.5%
Swing
1.6%
2.5%
2.6%
First preference vote and seat totals by local electoral area. As this is a STV election, seat totals are determined by popular vote and preferences in each district electoral area.
Council control before election
No overall control
Council control after election
No overall control
The 2023 election to Belfast City Council was held on 18 May 2023, alongside other local elections in Northern Ireland , two weeks after local elections in England .[ 1] The Northern Ireland elections were delayed by 2 weeks to avoid overlapping with the coronation of King Charles III .[ 2]
Voters returned 60 members to the council via single transferable vote . Typical for Northern Ireland, the council remained with no overall control but Sinn Féin remained the single largest party, but fell short of a majority despite a net gain of 4 seats. [ 3]
Election results
2023 Belfast local election result
Party
Seats
Gains
Losses
Net gain/loss
Seats %
Votes %
Votes
+/−
Sinn Féin
22
4
0
4
36.67
35.39
44,202
7.24
DUP
14
0
1
1
23.33
21.31
26,621
0.24
Alliance
11
1
0
1
18.33
15.88
19,841
0.21
SDLP
5
1
2
1
8.33
7.76
9,690
1.30
Green (NI)
3
0
1
1
5.00
4.78
5,965
1.23
UUP
2
0
0
0
3.33
4.10
5,123
2.09
People Before Profit
1
0
2
2
1.67
3.60
4,492
1.62
TUV
1
1
0
1
1.67
2.79
3,482
2.49
Independent
1
1
0
1
1.67
1.84
2,299
0.01
Aontú
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.86
1,069
0.40
Irish Republican Socialist
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.66
825
0.66
PUP
0
0
2
2
0.00
0.54
679
2.52
Workers' Party
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.46
574
0.23
NI Conservatives
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.04
52
0.04
Total
60
124,914
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.
Districts summary
Results of the 2023 Belfast City Council election by district
District Electoral Area (DEA)
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
Total cllrs
Sinn Féin
DUP
Alliance
SDLP
Green
UUP
PBP
TUV
Independents and others
Balmoral
24.08
1
22.78
1 1
25.54
2 1
18.96
1
3.26
0
5.39
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
5
Black Mountain
72.52
6
0.00
0
1.04
0
10.55
1 1
0.43
0
0.00
0
8.24
0 1
0.00
0
7.23
0
7
Botanic
24.36
1
19.08
1
17.12
1
17.76
1
9.50
1
3.59
0
2.91
0
2.95
0
2.74
0
5
Castle
36.96
2 1
28.02
2
11.31
1
8.51
1
7.96
0 1
4.50
0
2.03
0
0.00
0
0.70
0
6
Collin
71.64
5 1
0.00
0
3.52
0
6.47
0 1
1.63
0
0.00
0
8.54
1
0.00
0
8.19
0
6
Court
28.59
2
45.09
3
2.74
0
1.46
0
0.90
0
0.00
0
3.39
0
8.01
1
9.83
0 1
6
Lisnasharragh
10.28
0
26.24
2
29.03
2
13.19
1
9.66
1
6.85
0
1.67
0
3.07
0
0.00
0
6
Oldpark
50.53
4 1
17.64
1
3.66
0
1.98
0 1
1.20
0
0.00
0
5.66
0 1
4.81
0
14.50
1 1
6
Ormiston
1.22
0
28.24
2
44.27
3
0.74
0
6.99
1
12.95
1
0.82
0
4.76
0
0.00
0
7
Titanic
12.90
1 1
35.79
2
25.20
2
1.30
0
9.42
0
9.72
1
0.00
0
5.67
0
0.00
0 1
6
Total
35.39
22 4
21.31
14 1
15.88
11 1
7.76
5 1
4.78
3 1
4.10
2
3.60
1 2
2.79
1 1
4.40
1 1
60
District results
Balmoral
2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Féin
2023: 2 x Alliance, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin
2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from DUP
Balmoral - 5 seats[ 4] [ 5]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Sinn Féin
Geraldine McAteer * †
19.91%
2,037
SDLP
Donal Lyons*
15.80%
1,616
1,641.28
1,894.28
Alliance
Tara Brooks
14.88%
1,522
1,530.64
1,555.28
1,729.28
DUP
Sarah Bunting*
14.79%
1,513
1,513.32
1,514.32
1,523.32
1,524.98
1,722.98
Alliance
Micky Murray*
10.66%
1,090
1,096.72
1,121.16
1,197.16
1,324.15
1,501.12
1,788.12
DUP
Gareth Spratt*
7.99%
817
817
818
825
825
940
941
Sinn Féin
Seán Napier
4.17%
427
699.80
716.72
755
806.46
809.46
UUP
Joshua Lowry
5.39%
551
551.16
554.16
567.16
574.63
Green (NI)
Lauren Kendall
3.26%
333
334.60
340.08
SDLP
Sarah Mulgrew
3.16%
323
332.12
Electorate: 18,691 Valid: 10,229 (54.73%) Spoilt: 147 Quota: 1,705 Turnout: 10,376 (55.51%)
Black Mountain
2019: 6 x Sinn Féin, 1 x People Before Profit
2023: 6 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP
2019–2023 Change: SDLP gain from People Before Profit
Black Mountain - 7 seats[ 4]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Sinn Féin
Ciarán Beattie*
14.63%
2,336
Sinn Féin
Michael Donnelly*
13.51%
2,158
Sinn Féin
Arder Carson*
12.98%
2,073
Sinn Féin
Ronan McLaughlin*
10.27%
1,641
1,867.24
1,983.65
1,986.65
2,037.59
SDLP
Paul Doherty
10.55%
1,685
1,700.96
1,706.77
1,718.05
1,720.72
1,838.15
2,029.15
Sinn Féin
Áine McCabe*
11.51%
1,838
1,848.50
1,853.12
1,860.40
1,862.65
1,897.79
2,005.79
Sinn Féin
Róis-Máire Donnelly*
9.62%
1,536
1,575.06
1,589.29
1,594.27
1,597.66
1,643.84
1,730.09
1,762.61
People Before Profit
Matt Collins*
8.24%
1,316
1,330.14
1,334.13
1,353.13
1,354.57
1,446.13
1,660.80
1,661.40
Aontú
Gerard Herdman
3.40%
543
544.96
545.66
547.66
547.90
563.18
Irish Republican Socialist
Dan Murphy
2.67%
426
429.78
431.53
432.53
432.71
454.51
Workers' Party
Ursula Meighan
1.16%
185
186.82
188.36
188.36
188.54
Alliance
Ryan Brown
1.04%
166
171.04
171.39
185.53
185.86
Green (NI)
Stevie Maginn
0.43%
68
68.70
68.77
Electorate: 27,143 Valid: 15,971 (58.84%) Spoilt: 309 Quota: 1,997 Turnout: 16,280 (59.98%)
Botanic
2019: 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Green, 1 x SDLP
2023: 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Green
2019–2023 Change: No change
Botanic - 5 seats[ 4]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SDLP
Gary McKeown*
17.76%
1,881
DUP
Tracy Kelly*
12.95%
1,372
1,372.42
1,382.48
1,525.54
1,529.54
1,717.90
2,342.90
Alliance
Emmet McDonough-Brown*
10.25%
1,086
1,118.94
1,144.48
1,150.48
1,182.02
1,263.56
1,275.62
1,298.62
1,951.62
Sinn Féin
John Gormley* †
14.47%
1,533
1,543.80
1,560.22
1,562.22
1,584.28
1,587.34
1,588.46
1,591.46
1,602.18
Green (NI)
Áine Groogan*
9.50%
1,006
1,023.88
1,080.66
1,089.72
1,299.68
1,343.16
1,355.16
1,394.16
1,544.34
Sinn Féin
Emma-Jane Faulkner
9.89%
1,048
1,061.08
1,081.44
1,087.50
1,127.86
1,132.92
1,135.92
1,135.92
1,157.06
Alliance
Chris Ogle
6.87%
728
754.76
768.42
772.42
821.90
880.44
895.50
912.50
DUP
Darren Leighton
6.13%
649
649.24
656.30
708.30
709.36
765.36
UUP
Jeffrey Dudgeon
3.59%
380
381.98
399.16
477.28
484.34
People Before Profit
Sipho Sibanda
2.91%
308
310.58
406.88
408.88
TUV
Billy Dickson
2.95%
312
312.30
316.36
Socialist Party
Neil Moore
1.41%
149
150.68
Workers' Party
Paddy Lynn
0.84%
89
90.62
NI Conservatives
Idris Maiga
0.49%
52
52.66
Electorate: 23,049 Valid: 10,593 (45.96%) Spoilt: 162 Quota: 1,766 Turnout: 10,755 (46.66%)
Castle
2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Green
2023: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP
2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin gain from Green
Castle - 6 seats[ 4]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
Sinn Féin
Brónach Anglin
20.15%
2,479
Sinn Féin
Conor Maskey*
16.81%
2,068
DUP
Fred Cobain *
14.43%
1,775
DUP
Dean McCullough*
13.59%
1,671
1,673.31
1,673.85
2,021.85
Alliance
Sam Nelson*
11.31%
1,392
1,546.11
1,590.03
1,772.03
SDLP
Carl Whyte*
8.51%
1,047
1,378.98
1,511.28
1,608.53
1,628.53
Green (NI)
Mal O'Hara *
7.96%
979
1,137.73
1,225.75
1,474.88
1,553.88
UUP
Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston
4.50%
553
555.64
556.72
People Before Profit
Barney Doherty
2.03%
250
300.16
327.16
Workers' Party
Lily Kerr
0.70%
86
102.17
111.17
Electorate: 23,442 Valid: 12,479 (53.23%) Spoilt: 179 Quota: 1,758 Turnout: 12,300 (52.47%)
Collin
2019: 4 x Sinn Féin, 1 x People Before Profit, 1 x SDLP
2023: 5 x Sinn Féin, 1 x People Before Profit
2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin gain from SDLP
Collin - 6 seats[ 4]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Sinn Féin
Joe Duffy*
18.33%
2,559
Sinn Féin
Caoimhín McCann*
16.83%
2,350
Sinn Féin
Matt Garrett*
13.78%
1,924
2,029.82
Sinn Féin
Séanna Walsh *
10.89%
1,521
1,910.62
2,186.77
Sinn Féin
Clíodhna Nic Bhranair
11.81%
1,649
1,671.44
1,700.54
1,880.34
1,892.34
1,900.68
1,923.04
2,024.04
People Before Profit
Michael Collins*
8.54%
1,193
1,208.40
1,219.95
1,220.95
1,250.55
1,271.55
1,338.14
1,469.95
1,479.69
1,481.45
1,581.67
1,730.09
SDLP
Gerard McDonald
6.47%
903
913.12
921.97
922.67
931.19
938.71
985.23
1,018.63
1,034.08
1,034.52
1,181.96
1,520.65
Alliance
Eoin Millar
3.52%
492
496.84
498.94
499.24
504.24
518.24
588.46
617.06
622.01
622.89
647.41
Aontú
Luke McCann
3.77%
526
529.52
531.92
532.12
537.34
566.34
576.34
594.56
597.11
597.77
Independent
Julieann McNally
2.64%
368
371.96
384.86
385.36
390.36
425.80
448.32
Green (NI)
Ash Jones
1.63%
228
230.64
232.29
232.59
238.81
260.81
Independent
Tony Mallon
1.19%
166
166.66
167.26
167.36
169.36
Workers' Party
Paddy Crossan
0.59%
83
84.32
86.12
86.12
Electorate: 24,938 Valid: 13,962 (55.99%) Spoilt: 255 Quota: 1,996 Turnout: 14,217 (57.01%)
Court
2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x PUP
2023: 3 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x TUV
2019–2023 Change: TUV gain from PUP
Court - 6 seats[ 4]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
DUP
Frank McCoubrey *
22.00%
2,645
Sinn Féin
Tina Black *
15.15%
1,822
DUP
Nicola Verner *
14.83%
1,783
Sinn Féin
Claire Canavan*
13.44%
1,616
1,616.70
1,697.65
1,698.65
1,698.74
1,712.04
1,780.04
DUP
Ian McLaughlin
8.26%
993
1,656.25
1,656.25
1,661.30
1,702.37
1,703.40
1,705.46
1,705.46
1,705.46
1,720.5
TUV
Ron McDowell
8.01%
963
1,090.40
1,090.50
1,093.50
1,098.73
1,098.73
1,101.7
1,101.7
1,104.73
1,130.85
1,156.85
PUP
Billy Hutchinson *
5.65%
679
789.25
789.35
790.35
795.63
795.63
801.07
803.07
803.07
853.92
906.27
People Before Profit
Cailín McCaffery
3.39%
408
409.05
411.40
411.40
411.52
436.62
500.92
509.92
631.27
807.62
Alliance
Ally Haydock
2.74%
329
333.20
333.80
336.80
337.43
337.48
440.33
465.33
477.43
Irish Republican Socialist
Michael Kelly
3.32%
399
399.00
402.5
402.5
402.53
406.78
422.98
425.98
SDLP
Olcan McSparron
1.46%
175
176.05
177.55
178.55
178.61
189.66
Green (NI)
Sara Haller
0.90%
108
110.45
110.8
111.8
111.92
117.97
Workers' Party
Tony Walls
0.71%
85
85.00
85.85
85.9
85.93
Independent
Geoffrey Wilson
0.15%
18
19.05
19.10
Electorate: 23,779 Valid: 12,023 (50.56%) Spoilt: 252 Quota: 1,718 Turnout: 12,275 (51.62%)
Lisnasharragh
2019: 2 x Alliance, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Green
2023: 2 x Alliance, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Green
2019–2023 Change: No Change
Lisnasharragh - 6 seats[ 4]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
DUP
Davy Douglas
17.39%
2,083
DUP
Bradley Ferguson
8.85%
1,060
1,391.84
1,649.26
1,992.26
Alliance
Michael Long *
12.00%
1,437
1,439.21
1,462.21
1,602.57
1,638.57
1,971.57
Alliance
Eric Hanvey*
9.00%
1,078
1,078.68
1,099.02
1,160.36
1,205.36
1,747.36
SDLP
Séamas de Faoite*
13.19%
1,580
1,580.17
1,598.34
1,629.51
1,635.51
1,669.51
Green (NI)
Brian Smyth*
9.66%
1,157
1,158.19
1,273.53
1,422.91
1,491.91
1,588.76
Sinn Féin
Stevie Jenkins
10.28%
1,231
1,231.17
1,250.17
1,250.17
1,250.17
1,258.17
Alliance
Anna McErlean
8.03%
961
961.85
965.85
1,037.87
1,054.87
UUP
Bill Manwaring
6.85%
820
828.67
921.71
TUV
Stephen Ferguson
3.07%
368
375.14
People Before Profit
Nick Cropper
1.67%
200
200.34
Electorate: 21,488 Valid: 11,975 (55.73%) Spoilt: 116 Quota: 1,711 Turnout: 12,091 (56.27%)
Oldpark
2019: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x People Before Profit
2023: 4 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x Independent
2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin and Independent gain from SDLP and People Before Profit
Oldpark - 6 seats[ 4]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Sinn Féin
Nichola Bradley*
15.12%
1,870
Independent
Paul McCusker*
14.13%
1,747
1,764.05
1,835.05
Sinn Féin
JJ Magee*
13.09%
1,619
1,637.15
1,665.60
1,668.60
1,714.05
1,714.05
1,877.05
Sinn Féin
Ryan Murphy*
11.56%
1,430
1,472.70
1,493.95
1,497.95
1,524.05
1,526.05
1,704.40
DUP
Jordan Doran*
10.21%
1,263
1,263.00
1,273.05
1,273.05
1,310.05
1,606.05
1,634.10
Sinn Féin
Tomás Ó Néill
10.76%
1,330
1,335.35
1,353.45
1,367.45
1,402.70
1,404.70
1,601.55
DUP
Gillian Simpson
7.43%
919
919.00
924.00
924.00
962.00
1,232.00
1,260.00
People Before Profit
Fiona Ferguson*
5.66%
700
704.65
830.85
849.85
1,114.15
1,125.15
TUV
Ann McClure
4.81%
595
595.00
604.00
604.00
624.00
Alliance
Chris Shannon
3.66%
453
453.75
578.45
597.45
SDLP
Charlotte Carson
1.98%
245
248.55
Green (NI)
Ange Cruz
1.20%
149
149.35
Workers' Party
Fiona McCarthy
0.37%
46
46.30
Electorate: 23,871 Valid: 12,366 (51.80%) Spoilt: 193 Quota: 1,767 Turnout: 12,559 (52.61%)
Ormiston
2019: 3 x Alliance, 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Green
2023: 3 x Alliance, 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Green
2019–2023 Change: No change
Ormiston - 7 seats[ 4]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Alliance
Christine Bower*
18.61%
2,661
DUP
James Lawlor
16.75%
2,394
DUP
Andrew McCormick
11.49%
1,642
1,648.72
2,180.22
Alliance
Jenna Maghie*
9.09%
1,299
1,681.72
1,684.47
1,688.27
1,797.27
Alliance
Ross McMullan* †
10.35%
1,480
1,585.28
1,587.03
1,593.63
1,666.83
1,684.59
2,542.59
Green (NI)
Anthony Flynn*
6.99%
999
1,042.20
1,044.45
1,053.45
1,200.94
1,226.89
1,438.69
1,919.69
UUP
Jim Rodgers *
7.02%
1,004
1,010.40
1,024.40
1,157.00
1,162.00
1,532.42
1,557.42
1,644.42
UUP
Carole Howard*
5.93%
847
863.96
881.71
965.51
978.08
1,282.15
1,303.51
1,365.51
Alliance
Caitlin Sullivan
6.22%
889
1,145.64
1,145.64
1,147.04
1,196.92
1,199.32
TUV
John Hiddleston
4.76%
680
684.16
710.91
863.91
870.93
Sinn Féin
Caitríona Mallaghan
1.22%
174
181.04
181.29
181.69
People Before Profit
Fiona Doran
0.82%
117
132.36
133.11
133.71
SDLP
Lorcan McGuirk
0.74%
106
111.12
111.12
111.72
Electorate: 26,314 Valid: 14,295 (54.32%) Spoilt: 84 Quota: 1,787 Turnout: 14,379 (54.64%)
Titanic
2019: 2 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x PUP
2023: 2 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP
2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin gain from PUP
Titanic - 6 seats[ 4]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
DUP
Ruth Brooks
16.98%
1,690
DUP
Sammy Douglas *
12.20%
1,214
1,216
1,244.35
1,440.35
Alliance
David Bell
13.66%
1,360
1,392
1,395.75
1,403.75
1,680.75
Alliance
Fiona McAteer
11.54%
1,149
1,176
1,176.75
1,181.90
1,597.90
Sinn Féin
Pádraig Donnelly
12.90%
1,284
1,304
1,304.30
1,305.30
1,399.45
1,489.45
UUP
Sonia Copeland*
9.72%
968
973
995.65
1,162.80
1,254.25
1,325.25
DUP
George Dorrian*
6.61%
658
660
842.70
1,012.10
1,033.30
1,040.30
Green (NI)
Gillian Hamilton
9.42%
938
969
970.95
984.10
TUV
Anne Smyth
5.67%
564
567
577.05
SDLP
Elly Omondi
1.30%
129
Electorate: 24,018 Valid: 9,954 (41.44%) Spoilt: 209 Quota: 1,423 Turnout: 10,163 (42.31%)
Changes during the term
† Co-options
Date co-opted
Electoral Area
Party
Outgoing
Co-optee
Reason
27 February 2024
Botanic
Sinn Féin
John Gormley
Conor McKay
Gormley resigned.[ 6]
16 May 2024
Ormiston
Alliance
Ross McMullan
Hedley Abernethy
McMullan resigned.[ 7]
13 August 2024
Balmoral
Sinn Féin
Geraldine McAteer
Natasha Brennan
McAteer resigned.[ 8]
Notes
References