1986 Belfast North by-election

1986 Belfast North by-election

← 1983 23 Jan 1986 1987 →

Constituency of Belfast North
Turnout51.5% (Decrease 17.9%)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Candidate Cecil Walker Paul Maguire Seamus Lynch
Party UUP Alliance Workers' Party
Popular vote 21,649 5,072 3,563
Percentage 71.5% 16.7% 11.8%
Swing Increase 35.3% Increase 7.6% Increase 6.1%

MP before election

Cecil Walker
UUP

Subsequent MP

Cecil Walker
UUP

The 1986 Belfast North by-election was one of the fifteen 1986 Northern Ireland by-elections held on 23 January 1986, to fill vacancies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom caused by the resignation in December 1985 of all sitting Unionist Members of Parliament (MPs). The MPs, from the Ulster Unionist Party, Democratic Unionist Party and Ulster Popular Unionist Party, did this to highlight their opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Each of their parties agreed not to contest seats previously held by the others, and each outgoing MP stood for re-election.

1986 Belfast North by-election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Cecil Walker 21,649 71.5 +35.3
Alliance Paul Richard Maguire 5,072 16.7 +7.6
Workers' Party Seamus Lynch 3,563 11.8 +6.1
Majority 16,577 54.8 +38.1
Turnout 30,284 51.5 −17.9
Registered electors 59,791
UUP hold Swing

References

Other References