East Down (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 54°23′10″N 5°25′52″W / 54.386°N 5.431°W / 54.386; -5.431

East Down
Former County Constituency
for the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Former constituency
Created 1929
Abolished 1972
Election method First past the post

East Down was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.

Boundaries

East Down was a county constituency comprising the towns of Ardglass, Ballynahinch, Crossgar, Downpatrick, Dunmore, Killinchy, Killyleagh, Kilmore, Saintfield and Strangford, all in the current Down District Council.[1] It was created in 1929 as one of the eight seats replacing the former Down constituency when the House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929 introduced first past the post elections throughout Northern Ireland. The constituency survived unchanged, returning one member of Parliament until the Parliament of Northern Ireland was temporarily suspended in 1972, and then formally abolished in 1973.[2]

Politics

East Down had a unionist majority, and consistently elected Ulster Unionist Party members. On occasions, however, it was contested by members of the Ulster Liberal Party, and various nationalist candidates who usually received over 40% of the votes cast.[3]

Members of Parliament

Elected Party Name[3]
1929 UUP Sir Alexander Robert Gisborne Gordon
1949 UUP Brian Faulkner

Elections

Northern Ireland 1921–72
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General Election 1929: East Down[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Alexander Gordon 6,553 56.4 N/A
Liberal David Johnston 5,057 43.6 N/A
Majority 1,496 12.8 N/A
Turnout 74.1 N/A
UUP hold Swing N/A

At the Northern Ireland general election, 1933, Alexander Gordon was elected unopposed.[3]

General Election 1938: East Down[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Alexander Gordon 4,989 55.2 N/A
Progressive Unionist W. J. Price 4,050 44.8 N/A
Majority 939 10.4 N/A
Turnout 57.8 N/A
UUP hold Swing N/A

At the Northern Ireland general election, 1945, Alexander Gordon was elected unopposed.[3]

General Election 1949: East Down[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Brian Faulkner 8,132 59.7 N/A
Nationalist E.K McGrady 5,480 40.3 N/A
Majority 2,652 19.4 N/A
Turnout 79.9 N/A
UUP hold Swing N/A

At the elections of 1953, 1958 and 1962 Northern Ireland general elections, Brian Faulkner was elected unopposed.[3]

General Election 1965: East Down[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Brian Faulkner 8,362 62.6 N/A
National Democratic Daniel Rice 4,995 37.4 N/A
Majority 3,367 25.2 N/A
Turnout 73.7 N/A
UUP hold Swing N/A
General Election 1969: East Down[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Brian Faulkner 8,136 51.5 N/A
National Democratic Eddie McGrady 6,427 40.6 N/A
Independent Unionist D. A. Rowan-Hamilton 1,248 7.9 N/A
Majority 1,709 10.9 N/A
Turnout 86.7 N/A
UUP hold Swing N/A

References

  1. ↑ http://www.election.demon.co.uk/stormont/boundaries.html
  2. ↑ The Northern Ireland House of Commons, 1921-1972, Northern Ireland Elections
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Northern Ireland Parliamentary Elections Results: Counties: Down
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