2023 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election

Main article: 2023 Northern Ireland local elections
2023 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election
← 2019 18 May 2023 2027 →
All 40 council seats
21 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Naomi Long 2021.png
Doug Beattie.png
Leader Jeffrey Donaldson Naomi Long Doug Beattie
Party DUP Alliance UUP
Last election 15 9 11
Seats won 14 13 6
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 4 Decrease 5
Popular vote 19,187 16,064 7,877
Percentage 34.0% 28.5% 14.0%
Swing Decrease 2.7% Increase 4.9% Decrease 3.6%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Colum Eastwood MLA.JPG
Leader Michelle O'Neill[n 1] Colum Eastwood
Party Sinn Féin SDLP Independent
Last election 2 2 0
Seats won 4 2 1
Seat change Increase 2 Steady 0 Increase 1
Popular vote 6,193 3,774 1,017
Percentage 11.0% 6.7% 1.8%
Swing Increase 5.6% Decrease 2.0% Increase 0.1%
Lisburn and Castlereagh 2023 Council Election Results by DEA (Shaded by plurality of FPVs)
Council control before election

No overall control

 Council control after election

TBC

The 2023 election to Lisburn and Castlereagh 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]

The election returned 40 members to the council via Single Transferable Vote. This consisted of 14 Democratic Unionist Party members (who topped the polls in three districts: Castlereagh East, Downshire East and Lisburn South), 13 Alliance Party members (who topped the polls in two districts: Castlereagh South and Downshire West), 6 Ulster Unionist Party members, 4 Sinn Féin members (who topped the polls in two districts: Killultagh and Lisburn North), 2 Social Democratic and Labour Party members and 1 Independent member.

Election results

2023 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election result[3]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  DUP 14 0 1 Decrease 1 35.00 34.02 19,187 Decrease 2.69
  Alliance 13 4 0 Increase 4 32.50 28.48 16,064 Increase 4.84
  UUP 6 0 5 Decrease 5 15.00 13.97 7,877 Decrease 3.61
  Sinn Féin 4 2 0 Increase 2 10.00 10.98 6,193 Increase 5.57
  SDLP 2 0 0 Steady 0 5.00 6.69 3,774 Decrease 1.99
  Independent 1 1 0 Increase 1 2.50 1.80 1,017 Increase 0.05
  TUV 0 0 0 Steady 0 0.00 2.33 1,317 Increase 0.01
  Green (NI) 0 0 1 Decrease 1 0.00 1.73 975 Decrease 0.02
Total 40 56,404

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

Districts summary

Results of the 2023 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election
by district
District Electoral Area (DEA) %
Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 Total
cllrs
DUP Alliance UUP Sinn Féin SDLP Independents and others
Castlereagh East 50.92 3 Steady 30.78 2 Steady 9.03 1 Steady 0.00 0 Steady 0.00 0 Steady 9.28 0 Steady 6
Castlereagh South 15.05 1 Steady 32.36 3 Increase 1 7.46 0 Decrease 1 21.61 2 Increase 1 17.05 1 Steady 6.92 0 Decrease 1 7
Downshire East 41.34 2 Steady 30.06 2 Increase 1 17.47 1 Decrease 1 0.00 0 Steady 4.51 0 Steady 5.73 0 Steady 5
Downshire West 40.19 2 Steady 36.62 2 Increase 1 17.26 1 Decrease 1 4.21 0 Steady 0.00 0 Steady 1.73 0 Steady 5
Killultagh 33.49 2 Steady 22.22 1 Steady 15.66 1 Steady 23.36 1 Steady 4.34 0 Steady 0.93 0 Steady 5
Lisburn North 26.47 1 Decrease 1 23.61 1 Steady 13.65 1 Decrease 1 14.67 1 Increase 1 11.07 1 Steady 10.54 1 Increase 1 6
Lisburn South 38.20 3 Steady 23.81 2 Increase 1 19.95 1 Decrease 1 6.58 0 Steady 6.30 0 Steady 5.16 0 Steady 6
Total 34.02 14 Decrease 1 28.48 13 Increase 4 13.97 6 Decrease 5 10.98 4 Increase 2 6.69 2 Steady 5.87 1 Steady 40

District results

Castlereagh East

2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP

2023: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP

2019–2023 Change: No change

Castlereagh East - 6 seats[4]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
DUP Sharon Skillen* 21.04% 1,655        
Alliance Martin Gregg* 17.50% 1,377        
DUP Samantha Burns 11.17% 879 1,165.72      
Alliance Sharon Lowry* 13.28% 1,045 1,057.16 1,192.16    
DUP John Laverty* 11.31% 890 960.72 966.68 980.62 1,130.62
UUP Hazel Legge* 9.03% 710 735.28 763.92 959.08 1,086.60
DUP David Drysdale* 7.40% 582 678 682.96 703.70 931.76
TUV Andrew Girvin 6.79% 534 558.32 566.64 589.76  
Green (NI) Terry Winchcombe 2.49% 195 199.48      
Electorate: 16,289   Valid: 7,867 (48.30%)   Spoilt: 90   Quota: 1,124   Turnout: 7,957 (48.85%)  

Castlereagh South

2019: 2 x Alliance, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x Green

2023: 3 x Alliance, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP

2019–2023 Change: Alliance and Sinn Féin gain from Green and UUP

Castlereagh South - 7 seats[4]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Alliance Michelle Guy* † 14.26% 1,452              
DUP Brian Higginson 9.88% 1,006 1,009 1,009.60 1,507.72        
Alliance Nancy Eaton 10.96% 1,116 1,121 1,183.16 1,186.16 1,188.76 1,416.76    
SDLP John Gallen* 10.61% 1,035 1,035 1,042.08 1,044.08 1,046.16 1,147.12 1,613.12  
Sinn Féin Ryan Carlin* 11.82% 1,204 1,207 1,213.24 1,214.24 1,214.76 1,260.76 1,314.76  
Alliance Martin McKeever 7.14% 727 734 793.88 795.88 803.12 926.04 1,048.76 1,269.89
Sinn Féin Daniel Bassett 9.79% 997 998 1,000.88 1,000.88 1,000.88 1,036.24 1,095.60 1,192.80
UUP Michael Henderson* 7.46% 760 764 768.92 786.92 1,001.68 1,039.08 1,059.60 1,077.42
SDLP Simon Lee* 6.44% 656 662 683.36 686.36 688.44 761.64    
Green (NI) Jacinta Hamley 6.44% 656 667 675.16 675.16 677.76      
DUP William Traynor 5.17% 527 528 528.18          
Independent Andrew Miller 0.48% 49              
Electorate: 18,120   Valid: 10,185 (56.21%)   Spoilt: 95   Quota: 1,274   Turnout: 10,280 (56.73%)  

Downshire East

2019: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance

2023: 2 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP

2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from UUP

Downshire East - 5 seats[4]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
DUP Andrew Gowan* 26.01% 1,798          
DUP Uel Mackin* 15.33% 1,060 1,576.96        
Alliance Aaron McIntyre* 15.94% 1,102 1,123.96 1,139.00 1,253.00    
Alliance Kurtis Dickson 14.12% 976 981.04 985.84 1,147.84    
UUP James Baird* 10.50% 726 768.48 938.40 945.76 959.76 1,154.76
UUP Alex Swan* 6.97% 482 498.92 600.36 605.36 626.36 749.36
TUV Stewart Ferris 5.73% 396 428.76 564.12 566.48 570.48  
SDLP John Drake 4.51% 312 314.52 317.08      
Electorate: 12,763   Valid: 6,914 (54.17%)   Spoilt: 62   Quota: 1,143   Turnout: 6,976 (54.66%)  

Downshire West

2019: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance

2023: 2 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP

2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from UUP

Downshire West - 5 seats[4]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Alliance Owen Gawith* 23.58% 1,693          
Alliance Gretta Thompson 13.04% 936 1,353.02        
UUP Alan Martin 8.69% 624 641.98 693.33 776.91 1,315.91  
DUP Caleb McCready* 13.87% 996 1,014.56 1,020.85 1,032.40 1,059.86 1,093.46
DUP Allan Ewart* 13.53% 971 975.06 987.35 992.81 1,039.51 1,082.56
DUP William Leathem 12.79% 918 921.48 925.48 928.21 947.26 988.56
UUP Liz McCord 8.57% 615 621.38 691.12 739.42    
Sinn Féin Siobhán Murphy 4.21% 302 310.70        
Green (NI) Luke Robinson 1.73% 124 135.02        
Electorate: 13,284   Valid: 7,179 (54.04%)   Spoilt: 72   Quota: 1,197   Turnout: 7,251 (54.58%)  

Killultagh

2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin

2023: 2 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP

2019–2023 Change: No change

Killultagh - 5 seats[4][5]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Sinn Féin Gary McCleave* 23.36% 1,958          
Alliance Claire Kemp 22.22% 1,862          
DUP Thomas Beckett* 18.01% 1,509          
DUP James Tinsley* 15.48% 1,297 1,297.68 1,312.26 1,325.80 1,415.05  
UUP Ross McLernon* 7.80% 654 657.74 732.80 765.65 776.78 1,398.14
SDLP Jack Patton 4.34% 364 888.28 1,145.86 1,178.05 1,178.47 1,192.49
UUP Laura Turner 7.86% 659 664.10 728.63 748.84 752.69  
Independent Stuart Brown 0.93% 78 93.64 136.57      
Electorate: 15,956   Valid: 8,381 (52.53%)   Spoilt: 68   Quota: 1,397   Turnout: 8,449 (52.95%)  

Lisburn North

2019: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP

2023: 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent

2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin and Independent gain from DUP and UUP

Lisburn North - 6 seats[4][6]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Sinn Féin Paul Burke † 14.67% 1,239        
DUP Jonathan Craig* 14.45% 1,220        
Alliance Nicola Parker 13.47% 1,137 1,147 1,900    
SDLP Pat Catney 11.07% 935 941 1,002 1,360  
UUP Nicholas Trimble* 7.43% 627 1,035 1,070 1,242  
Independent Gary Hynds 10.54% 890 933 946 1,045 1,162
DUP Scott Carson* 12.02% 1,015 1,049 1,053 1,066 1,071
Alliance Stephen Martin* 10.14% 856 874      
UUP Linsey Gibson 6.22% 525        
Electorate: 16,680   Valid: 8,444 (50.62%)   Spoilt: 89   Quota: 1,207   Turnout: 8,553 (51.28%)  

Lisburn South

2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance

2023: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP

2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from UUP

Lisburn South - 6 seats[4]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DUP Andrew Ewing* 15.19% 1,139              
Alliance Amanda Grehan* 14.82% 1,111              
DUP Alan Givan* 13.85% 1,038 1,089.60            
Alliance Peter Kennedy 8.99% 674 674.24 677.30 707.33 707.55 949.27 1,324.27  
UUP Tim Mitchell* 11.61% 870 871.44 962.86 963.58 965.12 971.12 1,007.29 1,065.29
DUP Paul Porter* 9.16% 687 696 900.42 900.81 915.15 921.15 931.23 937.23
UUP Jenny Palmer* 8.34% 625 628.42 692.90 693.59 694.27 706.42 727.48 745.48
Sinn Féin Aisling Flynn 6.58% 493 493.42 494.42 494.90 494.94 671.09    
SDLP Dee French 6.30% 472 472.42 476.42 477.32 477.34      
TUV Stewart McEvoy 5.16% 387 388.44            
Electorate: 16,838   Valid: 7,496 (44.52%)   Spoilt: 99   Quota: 1,071   Turnout: 7,595 (45.11%)  

Changes during the term

† Co-options

Date co-opted Electoral Area Party Outgoing Co-optee Reason
5 August 2024 Castlereagh South Alliance Michelle Guy Jamie Harpur Guy was co-opted to the Northern Ireland Assembly.[7]
1 November 2024 Lisburn North Sinn Féin Paul Burke Declan Lynch Burke resigned.[8]

Notes

  1. ^ The leader of Sinn Féin is Mary Lou McDonald, who sits as a TD in the Irish Dáil Éireann for Dublin Central. O'Neill is the leader of the party in Northern Ireland.

References

  1. ^ "Local government elections in Northern Ireland". www.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  2. ^ "NI council election moved to avoid coronation clash". BBC News. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Lisburn and Castlereagh result - Northern Ireland Council Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Northern Ireland council election: List of all the candidates in the May 2023 poll". Belfast Live. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  5. ^ "Killultagh Election Results 2023". Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Lisburn North Election Results 2023". Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  7. ^ "New Councillor - Castlereagh South District Electoral Area".
  8. ^ "New Councillor - Lisburn North District Electoral Area".