West Down (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
West Down was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland
.
. It was created 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
. West Down was created by the division of Down
into eight new constituencies. It survived unchanged, returning one Member of Parliament, until the Parliament of Northern Ireland was temporarily suspended
in 1972, and then formally abolished
in 1973.
The seat included the town of Banbridge
, and also parts of the rural districts of Banbridge and Newry
No.1.
candidates. It was contested on three occasions by independent unionists
, each of whom won over 40% of the votes cast, and once by a communist candidate.
, Robert McBride
was elected unopposed.
At the 1949
, 1953
and 1958 Northern Ireland general elections
, John Edgar Bailey
was elected unopposed.
At the 1959 by-election and the Northern Ireland general election, 1962
, David John Little
was elected unopposed.
At the 1965 by-election and the Northern Ireland general election, 1965
, John Dobson
was elected unopposed.
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
.
Boundaries
West Down was a county constituency comprising part of western County DownCounty Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. It was created when the House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929
House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929
The House of Commons Act 1929 was an Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland; its major provision was to abolish proportional representation for all future elections in Northern Ireland....
introduced first-past-the-post
First-past-the-post
First-past-the-post voting refers to an election won by the candidate with the most votes. The winning potato candidate does not necessarily receive an absolute majority of all votes cast.-Overview:...
elections throughout 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...
. West Down was created by the division of Down
Down (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Down was a county constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1921 - 1929. It returned eight MPs, using the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.-Boundaries:...
into eight new constituencies. It survived unchanged, returning one Member of Parliament, until the Parliament of Northern Ireland was temporarily suspended
Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972
The Northern Ireland Act 1972 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that introduced direct rule in Northern Ireland with effect from 30 March 1972....
in 1972, and then formally abolished
Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973
The Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which received the Royal Assent on 18 July 1973...
in 1973.
The seat included the town of Banbridge
Banbridge
Banbridge is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Bann and the A1 road. It was named after a bridge built over the Bann in 1712. The town grew as a coaching stop on the road from Belfast to Dublin and thrived from Irish linen manufacturing...
, and also parts of the rural districts of Banbridge and Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
No.1.
Politics
The seat had a substantial unionist majority and was always won by Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
candidates. It was contested on three occasions by independent unionists
Independent Unionist
See also Independent .Independent Unionist has been a label sometimes used by candidates in elections in the United Kingdom, indicating a support for Unionism, retaining the unity of the British state....
, each of whom won over 40% of the votes cast, and once by a communist candidate.
Members of Parliament
| Elected | Party | Name |
|---|---|
| 1929 Northern Ireland general election, 1929 -References:*... |
Robert McBride Robert McBride (politician) Robert McBride was a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.McBride worked as a farmer, and with textiles. He was also a lay preacher with the Church of Ireland. He joined the Ulster Unionist Party and was elected in Down at the Northern Ireland general election, 1921. He held the seat in... |
| 1933 Northern Ireland general election, 1933 -References:*... |
Samuel Fryar Samuel Fryar Samuel Fryar was an Irish solicitor, councillor and politician from Northern Ireland.Samuel Fryar was born on 4 February 1863 at Banbridge, County Down in Ireland, to parents Samuel Fryar and his wife, Ann Jane née Gibson... |
| 1938 Northern Ireland general election, 1938 -References:*... |
John Edgar Bailey John Edgar Bailey John Edgar Bailey was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.A farmer by profession, he was educated at private school and was a member of Down County Council. He was elected to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland from the West Down seat in 1938, and represented the constituency until his... |
| 1959 |
David John Little David John Little David John Little QC was an Ulster Unionist Party politician in the Parliament of Northern Ireland, a barrister and county court judge.... |
| 1965 |
John Dobson John Dobson (UK politician) John Dobson is a former solicitor and unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Lurgan, Dobson studied at Lurgan College and Trinity College Dublin. He joined the Ulster Unionist Party and was elected to Banbridge Urban District Council in 1961, serving until 1967. In 1965, he was elected... |
Election results
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1929Northern Ireland general election, 1929
-References:*...
, Robert McBride
Robert McBride (politician)
Robert McBride was a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.McBride worked as a farmer, and with textiles. He was also a lay preacher with the Church of Ireland. He joined the Ulster Unionist Party and was elected in Down at the Northern Ireland general election, 1921. He held the seat in...
was elected unopposed.
At the 1949
Northern Ireland general election, 1949
-References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1949...
, 1953
Northern Ireland general election, 1953
-References:*...
and 1958 Northern Ireland general elections
Northern Ireland general election, 1958
-References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1958...
, John Edgar Bailey
John Edgar Bailey
John Edgar Bailey was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.A farmer by profession, he was educated at private school and was a member of Down County Council. He was elected to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland from the West Down seat in 1938, and represented the constituency until his...
was elected unopposed.
At the 1959 by-election and the Northern Ireland general election, 1962
Northern Ireland general election, 1962
-Seats summary:-References:*...
, David John Little
David John Little
David John Little QC was an Ulster Unionist Party politician in the Parliament of Northern Ireland, a barrister and county court judge....
was elected unopposed.
At the 1965 by-election and the Northern Ireland general election, 1965
Northern Ireland general election, 1965
-Seats summary:-References:*...
, John Dobson
John Dobson (UK politician)
John Dobson is a former solicitor and unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Lurgan, Dobson studied at Lurgan College and Trinity College Dublin. He joined the Ulster Unionist Party and was elected to Banbridge Urban District Council in 1961, serving until 1967. In 1965, he was elected...
was elected unopposed.