Belfast is the largest city and capital of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

. It is partly located in County Antrim

County Antrim

County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...

 and partly in County Down

County Down

-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...

.

Belfast was represented in the Northern Ireland House of Commons 1921-1973. This article deals with the Belfast borough constituencies. For the County Antrim and County Down county constituencies, see Antrim (Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies) and Down (Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies)

Down (Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies)

Down is one of the six counties comprising Northern Ireland.County Down was represented in the Northern Ireland House of Commons 1921-1973. This article deals with the Down County constituencies. For the County Down Borough constituencies in the City of Belfast, see Belfast...

. See also the List of Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies 1921-1973.

Boundaries

1921-1929: The City of Belfast was divided into four constituencies, each returning four MPs, using the single transferable vote

Single transferable vote

The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...

 method of proportional representation

Proportional representation

Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...

. There were four single member UK Parliament constituencies with the same names, which existed from 1885-1918 and since 1922. See Belfast East

Belfast East (UK Parliament constituency)

Belfast East is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Naomi Long of the Alliance Party, elected in 2010...

, Belfast North

Belfast North (UK Parliament constituency)

Belfast North is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...

, Belfast South

Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)

Belfast South is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...

 and Belfast West

Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)

Belfast West is a parliamentary constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Boundaries:The seat was restored in 1922 when as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...

.

The Northern Ireland Parliament seats comprised the following wards of the then County Borough of Belfast (as they existed in 1921).

Belfast East

Belfast East (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)

Belfast East was a borough constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1921 - 1929. It returned four MPs, using the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.- Boundaries :...

: Dock, Pottinger and Victoria.

Belfast North

Belfast North (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)

Belfast North was a borough constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1921 - 1929. It returned four MPs, using the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.-Boundaries:...

: Clifton, Duncairn and Shankill.

Belfast South

Belfast South (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)

Belfast South was a borough constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1921-1929. It returned four MPs, using the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.-Boundaries:...

: Cromac, Ormeau and Windsor.

Belfast West

Belfast West (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)

Belfast West was a borough constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1921 - 1929. It returned four MPs, using the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.-Boundaries:...

: Court, Falls, St Anne's, St George's, Smithfield and Woodvale.

1929-1973: The area was divided into sixteen single member constituencies, electing MPs using the first past the post electoral system.

• Belfast East was split into the following constituencies.

Bloomfield: Part of Pottinger ward.

Dock: Dock ward.

Pottinger: Parts of Pottinger and Victoria wards.

Victoria: Part of Victoria ward.

• Belfast North was divided into the following seats.

Clifton: Parts of Clifton and Duncairn wards.

Duncairn: Part of Duncairn ward.

Oldpark: Parts of Clifton and Shankill wards.

Shankill: Part of Shankill ward.

• Belfast South was partitioned into the following divisions.

Ballynafeigh: Part of Ormeau ward.

Cromac: Cromac ward.

Willowfield: Part of Ormeau ward.

Windsor: Windsor ward.

• Belfast West was redistributed into the following areas.

Central: Smithfield ward and part of Court, St Anne's and Woodvale wards.

Falls: Falls ward.

St. Anne's: St George's ward and part of St Anne's ward.

Woodvale: Part of Court and Woodvale wards..

Analysis of Political Representation

• Belfast East was a predominantly Unionist area with some pockets of labour strength, returning four Unionists in 1921 and 2 Unionists, 1 Independent Unionist and a Northern Ireland Labour Party
  Northern Ireland Labour Party
  The Northern Ireland Labour Party was an Irish political party which operated from 1924 until 1987.In 1913 the British Labour Party resolved to give the recently formed Irish Labour Party exclusive organising rights in Ireland...
  
   MP in 1925. After 1929 the safe unionist seat of Bloomfield elected only Unionist MPs but Dock had an Independent Unionist representative in 1953-58 and an Independent Unionist support O'Neill in 1969-73. Victoria elected a NILP MP for two terms (1958-65) but was otherwise represented by Unionists. The mostly non-unionist Pottinger was won by an NILP then Independent Labour MP 1929-49. Another NILP member served 1958-69.
• Belfast North was a predominantly Unionist area with some pockets of labour strength, returning four Unionists in 1921 and 2 Unionists, 1 Independent Unionist and a Northern Ireland Labour Party
  Northern Ireland Labour Party
  The Northern Ireland Labour Party was an Irish political party which operated from 1924 until 1987.In 1913 the British Labour Party resolved to give the recently formed Irish Labour Party exclusive organising rights in Ireland...
  
   MP in 1925. Clifton was only represented by Unionist MPs, apart from an Independent Umionist 1953-58 and Pro-O'Neill Unionist 1969-73. Duncairn only had Unionist MPs. Oldpark had Northern Ireland Labour Party
  Northern Ireland Labour Party
  The Northern Ireland Labour Party was an Irish political party which operated from 1924 until 1987.In 1913 the British Labour Party resolved to give the recently formed Irish Labour Party exclusive organising rights in Ireland...
  
   members 1945-49 and 1958-73. Shankill had an Independent Unionist MP 1929-53.
• Belfast South was a strongly Unionist area, returning four Unionists in 1921 and 3 Unionists and 1 Independent Unionist MP in 1925. Ballynafeigh, Cromac, and Windsor only elected Unionist MPs. Willowfield elected a NILP MP in a 1941 by-election. He was re-elected for the Commonwealth Labour Party
  Commonwealth Labour Party
  The Commonwealth Labour Party was a minor political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded in 1942 by Harry Midgley, former leader of the Northern Ireland Labour Party , in order to pursue his brand of labour unionism....
  
   in 1945 but by the time of the 1949 election he was a Unionist. A Pro-O'Neill Unionist served as MP 1969-73.
• Belfast West was a predominantly Unionist area with some pockets of Nationalist strength, electing 3 Unionists and 1 Nationalist in 1921 and 2 Unionist, 1 Independent Unionist and 1 Nationalist in 1925. Central and Falls never elected a Unionist MP. Central had a Nationalist MP 1929-46, a NILP MP elected in 1946 who by 1949 was Independent Labour until 1965, then a NDP MP 1965-69 and a NILP one 1969-73. Falls elected a Nationalist 1929-42, a Republican 1942-45, a Socialist Republican
  Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)
  The Socialist Republican Party was an Irish republican political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1944 by a coalition of former Nationalist Party members, former Irish Republican Army members and Protestant trade unionists around Victor Halley, all based in West Belfast.The party...
  
   from 1945 who by 1953 represented the Republican Labour Party
  Republican Labour Party
  The Republican Labour Party was a political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1964, with two MPs at Stormont, Harry Diamond and Gerry Fitt...
  
   until 1969-73 when the Northern Ireland Labour Party held the seat. St. Anne's was always Unionist. Woodvale was represented by an Independent Unionist 1929-50 and a Northern Ireland Labour Party legislator 1958-65.

Summary of MPs by Party

Key to Parties: CWLP Commonwealth Labour Party

Commonwealth Labour Party

The Commonwealth Labour Party was a minor political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded in 1942 by Harry Midgley, former leader of the Northern Ireland Labour Party , in order to pursue his brand of labour unionism....

, Ind Lab Independent Labour, Ind U Independent Unionist, Ind UA Independent Unionist Association

Independent Unionist Association

The Independent Unionist Association or Independent Unionist Party was a political party in Northern Ireland.The organisation was founded in 1937, shortly before the announcement of the Northern Ireland general election, 1938. It consisted of a disparate group of independent Unionists, and...

, Irish LP Irish Labour Party, N Nationalist, NDP National Democratic Party

National Democrats (Northern Ireland)

The National Democratic Party was an Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland.-Origins:The organisation's origins lay in National Unity, a political study group founded in 1959...

, NILP Northern Ireland Labour Party

Northern Ireland Labour Party

The Northern Ireland Labour Party was an Irish political party which operated from 1924 until 1987.In 1913 the British Labour Party resolved to give the recently formed Irish Labour Party exclusive organising rights in Ireland...

, O'N U Independent Unionist supporting Terence Marne O'Neill, Rep Republican, Rep LP Republican Labour Party

Republican Labour Party

The Republican Labour Party was a political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1964, with two MPs at Stormont, Harry Diamond and Gerry Fitt...

, SDLP Social Democratic and Labour Party

Social Democratic and Labour Party

The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...

, Soc Rep Socialist Republican Party

Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)

The Socialist Republican Party was an Irish republican political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1944 by a coalition of former Nationalist Party members, former Irish Republican Army members and Protestant trade unionists around Victor Halley, all based in West Belfast.The party...

, U Ulster Unionist

• 1921-1925 U 15, N 1 (1st Parliament) (see note a)
• 1925-1929 U 9, Ind U 4, NILP 2, N 1 (2nd Parliament) (see note b)
• 1929-1933 U 11, Ind U 2, N 2, NILP 1 (3rd Parliament)
• 1933-1938 U 10, Ind U 2, N 2, NILP 2 (4th Parliament) (see note c)
• 1938-1945 U 11, N 2, Ind Lab 1, Ind U 1, Ind UA 1 (5th Parliament) (see note d)
• 1945-1949 U 8, Ind U 2, NILP 2, CWLP 1, Ind Lab 1, Soc Rep 1 (6th Parliament) (see note e)
• 1949-1953 U 12, Ind U 2, NILP 1, Soc Rep 1 (7th Parliament) (see note f)
• 1953-1958 U 12, Ind Lab 1, Ind U 1, NILP 1, Irish LP 1, Rep LP 1 (8th Parliament)
• 1958-1962 U 10, NILP 4, Ind Lab 1, Rep LP 1 (9th Parliament)
• 1962-1965 U 9, NILP 4, Ind Lab 1, Irish LP 1, Rep LP 1 (10th Parliament) (see note g)
• 1965-1969 U 11, NILP 2, Rep LP 2, NDP 1 (11th Parliament)
• 1969-1973 U 10, NILP 2, O'N U 2, Rep LP 2 (12th Parliament) (see note h)

Notes:-

• (a) Joseph Devlin
  Joseph Devlin
  Joseph Devlin, also known as Joe Devlin, was an Irish journalist and influential nationalist politician...
  
   (N) was also elected for Antrim but chose to represent Belfast West. An Ind U gained a seat from U in a Belfast South by-election
  By-election
  A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
  
   in 1923.
• (b) P.J. Woods (Ind U) was elected in Belfast South and Belfast West. He decided to represent Belfast West. A U candidate won the by-election to fill the vacancy.
• (c) In 1934 the MP for Pottinger was expelled from NILP and became Ind Lab
• (d) 1941 the NILP gained a seat from U at a by-election, but the MP formed the CWLP before the next election. In 1942 Rep gained a N seat.
• (e) In 1946 the NILP won a N seat. The CWLP MP became U before the next election.
• (f) A NILP MP became Independent Labour and a Soc Rep MP became Rep LP before the next election.
• (g) A Rep LP MP became Irish LP in 1964.
• (h) In 1970 a Rep LP MP became SDLP.

Members of Parliament

• 1925(be)-1938 A.B. Babington (U) South 1925-29, Cromac 1929-38 (resigned, appointed as Lord Justice of Appeal)
• 1921-1929 Sir R.D. Bates (U) East
• 1925-1929 Jack Beattie
  Jack Beattie
  Jack Beattie was a politician from Northern Ireland.He was a teacher by profession. He joined the Northern Ireland Labour Party . In 1925, he became a Member of the Northern Ireland House of Commons for Belfast East. He represented Belfast Pottinger from 1929...
  
   (NILP) East
• 1929-1933 C. Blakiston-Houston (U) Dock
• 1965-1969 J.J. Brennan (NDP) Central
• 1921-1925 T.H. Burn (U) West
• 1921-1929 L. Campbell (U) North
• 1934(be)-1946 T.J. Campbell (N) Central (resigned)
• 1938-1945 G.A. Clark (U) Dock
• 1949-1953 T.L. Cole (U) Dock
• 1921-1934 Joseph Devlin
  Joseph Devlin
  Joseph Devlin, also known as Joe Devlin, was an Irish journalist and influential nationalist politician...
  
   (N) West 1921-29, Central 1929-34
• 1950-1961 Daniel Stewart Thomas Bingham Dixon, 2nd Baron Glentoran (U) Bloomfield (resigned)
• 1921-1950 Herbert Dixon, 1st Baron Glentoran
  Herbert Dixon, 1st Baron Glentoran
  Herbert Dixon, 1st Baron Glentoran OBE PC was a Northern Ireland Unionist politician.He was born in Belfast, the fourth son of Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet, and educated at Harrow and Sandhurst, being commissioned into the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, with which regiment he served in the Second...
  
   (from 1939) (U) East 1921-29, Bloomfield 1929-50 (died)
• 1921-1925 T. Donald (U) East
• 1945-1949 H. Downey (NILP) Dock
• 1921-1925 J.A. Duff (U) East
• 1962-1973 Gerry Fitt
  Gerry Fitt
  Gerard Fitt, Baron Fitt was a politician in Northern Ireland. He was a founder and the first leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party , a social democratic and Irish nationalist party.-Early years:...
  
   (Irish LP then Rep LP then SDLP) Dock
• 1921-1925 W. Grant (U) North
• 1925-1929 J.W. Gyle (Ind U) East
• 1969-1973 R.L. Hall-Thompson (O'N U) Clifton
• 1929-1953 S.H. Hall-Thompson (U) Clifton
• 1946(be)-1965 F. Hanna (NILP then Ind Lab) Central
• 1925-1953 Tommy Henderson
  Tommy Henderson
  Thomas Gibson Henderson was an Ulster independent Unionist politician. He served in the House of Commons of Northern Ireland from 1925 to 1953 in vigorous opposition to the Unionist governments on all issues other than the partition of Ireland, and is famous for having at one stage spoken for...
  
   (Ind U) North 1925-29, Shankill 1929-53
• 1962-1973 J.W. Kennedy (U) Cromac
• 1969-1973 Paddy Kennedy (Rep LP) Central
• 1958-1959 R.J.C. Kinahan (U) Clifton
• 1925-1929 S. Kyle (NILP) North
• 1921-1929 Sir R. J. Lynn (U) West
• 1921-1929 Sir C. McCullagh (U) South
• 1921-1925 S. McGuffin (U) North
• 1921-1925 R.J. McKeown (U) North
• 1921-1925 Mrs J. McMordie (U) South
• 1925-1929 W. McMullen (NILP) West
• 1933-1938 Harry Midgley
  Harry Midgley
  Henry Cassidy Midgley, PC , known as Harry Midgley was a prominent politician in Northern Ireland. Born to a unionist family in Belfast, he worked in the textile industry before joining the Royal Engineers during World War I....
  
   (NILP) Dock
• 1921-1937 Thomas Moles
  Thomas Moles
  Thomas Moles was an Ulster Unionist politician. Born in Belfast, Ireland in 1871, he was educated at the Collegiate School, Ballymena....
  
   (U) South 1921-29, Ballynafeigh 1929-37 (died)
• 1953-1962 J.W. Morgan (U) Cromac (died)
• 1953-1958 M. Morgan (Irish LP) Dock
• 1959-1969 W.J. Morgan (U) Clifton
• 1949-1973 I. Neill (U) Ballynafeigh
• 1958-1962 W. Oliver (U) Dock
• 1921-1929 H.M. Pollock (U) South
• 1953-1958 N. Porter (Ind U) Clifton
• 1961-1973 W. Scott (U) Bloomfield
• 1938-1953 John Maynard Sinclair (U) Cromac (died 31 January 1953)
• 1937-1949 F. Thompson (U) Ballynafeigh
• 1921-1922 W.J. Twaddell
  William Twaddell
  William John Twaddell was a Unionist politician from Belfast.Twaddell was a draper from Belfast who was educated at a Belfast primary school....
  
   (U) West (Assassinated by IRA)
• 1923(be)-1929 P.J. Woods (Ind U) West 1923-29, South 1925
• 1965-1972 John McQuade
  John McQuade
  John McQuade , known as Johnny McQuade, was a Northern Ireland politician. He was a professional boxer under the name of Jack Higgins....
  
  (U) Woodvale

Sources

• Northern Ireland Parliamentary Election Results 1921-1972, compiled and edited by Sydney Elliott (Political Reference Publications 1973)

• For the exact definition of constituency boundaries see http://www.election.demon.co.uk/stormont/boundaries.html