2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election
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All 108 seats to theNorthern Ireland Assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Turnout | 55.7% (6.6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Election results. Voters elect 6 assembly members from the 18 constituencies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The2011 Northern Ireland Assembly electiontook place on Thursday, 5 May, following the dissolution of theNorthern Ireland Assemblyat midnight on 24 March 2011. It was the fourth election to take place since the devolved assembly was established in 1998.
It was held on the same day as elections for Northern Ireland's 26local councils,theScottish ParliamentandWelsh Assemblyelections, a number of local elections in England and theUnited Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum.As in the past, the 2011 election to the Assembly was conducted using thesingle transferable vote(STV) system ofproportional representation.The 108 seats were contested in 18 constituencies by218 candidates,including 15 independents and the nominees of14 separate political parties.
1,210,009 individuals were registered to vote in the 2011 Assembly election (representing an increase of 9.2% compared to the 2007 Assembly election).[1][2]Turnout in the 2011 Assembly election was 55.7%, a decline of almost seven percentage points from the previous Assembly election and down over 14 percentage points from the first election to the Assembly in 1998.
As in the 2007 election, theDemocratic Unionist Party(DUP) andSinn Féin(SF) remained the two largest parties in the Assembly, with the DUP winning 38 and Sinn Féin winning 29 of the Assembly's 108 seats. TheUlster Unionist Party(UUP) won 16 seats, theSocial Democratic and Labour Party(SDLP) 14 and theAlliance8, while one seat each was won by theGreen Party,Traditional Unionist Voice(TUV) and anindependentcandidate.
Following the results of the election,Peter Robinsonof the DUP andMartin McGuinnessof Sinn Féin were nominated and subsequently re-elected asFirst Minister and deputy First Ministeron 12 May 2011. The sole change to theNorthern Ireland Executivewas that the UUP lost a ministerial post to the Alliance.
Overview[edit]
The election was the first since the devolution of policing and justice powers to the assembly. In contrast to previous elections, it was relatively uncontroversial. The turnout was one of the lowest ever in a Northern Ireland election. Sinn Féinand theDemocratic Unionist Partyboth continued to make gains, although the DUP vote share was slightly down. The election was a disaster for theUlster Unionist Party,which came behind theSocial Democratic and Labour Partyin terms of first preference vote, although the UUP won more seats. The Ulster Unionist vote collapsed in Belfast, where it was eclipsed by theAlliance Party's, and in a number of other constituencies considered safe such as North Down.[3]The election was also poor for the SDLP, which lost two seats.
The Alliance Party performed well, gaining a second seat inEast Belfast(which a formerProgressive Unionist Partymember lost and the PUP failed to regain), while increasing the Alliance vote share significantly.Traditional Unionist Voicesecured a single seat in North Antrim; its vote share was down from the May 2010 elections to the UK Parliament. Despite their first preference vote halving, the Green Party held their sole seat in North Down while thePeople before Profit Alliancenarrowly failed to take the final seat in theFoyle constituency.The only member elected as an independent in 2007 (inWest Tyrone) retired, leaving a single independent in the new Assembly (after three independents first elected on other tickets had retired or lost re-election), compared to five at the end of the previous one.
Results[edit]
As in the previous Assembly, the DUP's voting strength was reduced by one with the re-election on 12 May ofWillie Hay(DUP, Foyle) to the non-partisan office of Speaker.[4][5]
Ten seats on theNorthern Ireland Executivewere filled by the new Assembly on 16 May according to party strength under thed'Hondt methodofproportional representation.
In addition, in separate votes on 12 and 16 May, the Assembly as a whole re-elected party leadersDavid Ford(Alliance),Peter Robinson(DUP) andMartin McGuinness(Sinn Féin) to their seats on the Executive as, respectively,Minister of JusticeandFirst Minister and deputy First Minister.Thus the Executive's total membership, as in the past, is 13.[6][7]
Numbers as reported by Wednesday, 11 May 2011.
Party | Votes | % | +/– | Seats | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assembly | +/– | Executive | +/– | ||||||
Democratic Unionist Party | 198,436 | 29.99 | -0.1 | 38 | +2 | 4 | – | ||
Sinn Féin | 178,222 | 26.93 | +0.7 | 29 | +1 | 3 | – | ||
Social Democratic and Labour Party | 94,286 | 14.25 | -1.0 | 14 | -2 | 1 | – | ||
Ulster Unionist Party | 87,531 | 13.23 | -1.7 | 16 | -2 | 1 | -1 | ||
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland | 50,875 | 7.69 | +2.5 | 8 | +1 | 1 | +1 | ||
Traditional Unionist Voice | 16,480 | 2.49 | New | 1 | +1 | – | – | ||
Green Party in Northern Ireland | 6,031 | 0.91 | -0.8 | 1 | – | – | – | ||
People Before Profit Alliance | 5,438 | 0.82 | +0.7 | – | – | – | – | ||
United Kingdom Independence Party | 4,152 | 0.63 | +0.4 | – | – | – | – | ||
Progressive Unionist Party | 1,493 | 0.23 | -0.4 | – | -1 | – | – | ||
British National Party | 1,252 | 0.19 | New | – | – | – | – | ||
Workers' Party | 1,155 | 0.17 | +0.1 | – | – | – | – | ||
Socialist Party | 819 | 0.12 | +0.1 | – | – | – | – | ||
Pro Capitalism | 29 | 0.00 | New | – | – | – | – | ||
Independent | 15,535 | 2.35 | -0.5 | 1 | – | – | – | ||
Total | 661,734 | 100.00 | – | 108 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
Source:[8] |
Constituency results[edit]
Distribution of seats by constituency[edit]
Party affiliation of the six Assembly members returned by each constituency.[9][10][11]The first column indicates the party of the Member of theHouse of Commons(MP) returned by the corresponding parliamentary constituency in thegeneral election of 6 May 2010(under the "first past the post"method).[12]
(The constituencies are arranged here in rough geographical order aroundLough Neaghfrom Antrim to Londonderry. To see them in Alpha betical order, click the small square icon after "Constituency"; to restore this geographical order, click the icon after "No." at the left.)
No. | 2010 MP | Constituency | Candi- dates |
Total seats |
Green |
Sinn Féin |
SDLP |
Alli- ance |
UUP |
DUP |
TUV |
Ind. |
Seat gained by |
Seat lost by |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | DUP | North Antrim | 11 | 6 | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 1 | - | TUV | SDLP |
2 | DUP | East Antrim | 13 | 6 | - | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | - | - | SF | UUP |
3 | DUP | South Antrim | 10 | 6 | - | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | - | - | DUP | SDLP |
4 | DUP | Belfast North | 11 | 6 | - | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 | - | - | DUP | UUP |
5 | SF
|
Belfast West | 14 | 6 | - | 5 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
6 | SDLP | Belfast South | 14 | 6 | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
7 | APNI | Belfast East | 17 | 6 | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 3 | - | - | APNI | PUP |
8 | Ind. | North Down | 13 | 6 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | - | - | DUP | UUP |
9 | DUP | Strangford | 11 | 6 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | - | - | UUP | DUP |
10 | DUP | Lagan Valley | 11 | 6 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | - | - | DUP | SF |
11 | DUP | Upper Bann | 12 | 6 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
12 | SDLP | South Down | 11 | 6 | - | 2 | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
13 | SF
|
Newry and Armagh | 11 | 6 | - | 3 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
14 | SF
|
Fermanagh & South Tyrone | 11 | 6 | - | 3 | - | - | 1 | 2 | - | - | SF | SDLP |
15 | SF
|
West Tyrone | 11 | 6 | - | 3 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | SDLP
UUP
|
Ind
DUP
|
16 | SF
|
Mid Ulster | 13 | 6 | - | 3 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
17 | SDLP | Foyle | 12 | 6 | - | 2 | 3 | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
18 | DUP | East Londonderry | 12 | 6 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 | - | 1 | Ind | UUP |
18 | Total | 218 | 108 | 1 | 29 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 38 | 1 | 1 | |||
Change since dissolution | - | - | - | +2 | –2 | +1 | - | +2 | +1 | –4 | ||||
Assembly at dissolution | - | 108 | 1 | 27 | 16 | 7 | 16 | 36 | - | 5 | - | |||
Change during Assembly term | - | - | - | –1 | - | - | –2 | - | - | +4 | –1Prog. U. | |||
Elected on 7 March 2007 | 256 | 108 | 1 | 28 | 16 | 7 | 18 | 36 | - | 1 | 1Prog. U. | |||
Elected on 23 November 2003 | 108 | - | 24 | 18 | 6 | 27 | 30 | - | 1 | 1Prog. U. | 1UKUP | |||
Elected on 25 June 1998 | 108 | - | 18 | 24 | 6 | 28 | 20 | - | 4 | 2Prog. U. | 5UKUP,2NIWC |
- Three of the four independents elected in 1998 ran asIndependent Unionists
- NIWC=Northern Ireland Women's Coalition;Prog. U.=Progressive Unionist Party;TUV=Traditional Unionist Voice;UKUP=United Kingdom Unionist Party
[edit]
Percentage of each constituency's first-preference votes.[13]Four highest percentages in each constituency shaded; absolute majoritiesunderlined.The constituencies are arranged in the geographic order described for the table above; click the icon next to "Constituency" to see them in Alpha betical order.
- [The totals given here are the sum of all valid ballots cast in each constituency, and the percentages are based on such totals. The turnout percentages in the last column, however, are based upon all ballots cast, which also include anything from twenty to a thousand invalid ballots in each constituency. The total valid ballots' percentage of the eligible electorate can correspondingly differ by 0.1% to 2% from the turnout percentage.]
No. | 2015 MP |
MP's % of 2015 vote |
Constituency | Green |
Sinn Féin |
SDLP |
Alli- ance |
UUP |
DUP |
TUV |
Ind. |
Others. |
Total votes |
Eligible elector- ate |
Turn- out % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | DUP | 46.4% | North Antrim | 15.3 | 9.1 | 4.6 | 11.7 | 47.6 | 11.6 | 40,313 | 74,760 | 54.8% | |||
2 | DUP | 45.9% | East Antrim | 2.3 | 8.2 | 4.6 | 15.5 | 16.9 | 46.2 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 29,023 | 61,617 | 47.8% | |
3 | DUP | 33.9% | South Antrim | 14.5 | 10.6 | 14.2 | 17.8 | 38.3 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 32,164 | 65,231 | 50.1% | ||
4 | DUP | 40.0% | Belfast North | 31.9 | 12.0 | 6.3 | 8.2 | 37.1 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 33,470 | 68,119 | 50.3% | ||
5 | SF | 71.1% | Belfast West | 66.1 | 13.2 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 0.4 | 34,647 | 61,520 | 57.9% | ||
6 | SDLP | 41.0% | Belfast South | 2.8 | 12.5 | 23.9 | 19.8 | 13.6 | 24.3 | 3.2 | 32,308 | 62,484 | 52.4% | ||
7 | All. | 37.2% | Belfast East | 1.8 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 26.3 | 9.7 | 44.1 | 2.2 | 6.6 | 5.4 | 32,347 | 61,263 | 53.6% |
8 | Ind. | 63.3% | North Down | 7.9 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 18.6 | 10.4 | 44.2 | 2.2 | 13.0 | 28,098 | 62,170 | 45.9% | |
9 | DUP | 45.9% | Strangford | 3.0 | 8.5 | 14.4 | 20.4 | 48.8 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 29,668 | 62,178 | 48.5% | ||
10 | DUP | 49.8% | Lagan Valley | 1.7 | 3.4 | 6.1 | 12.4 | 20.4 | 53.1 | 2.9 | 35,487 | 67,532 | 53.1% | ||
11 | DUP | 33.8% | Upper Bann | 27.2 | 11.4 | 6.5 | 24.6 | 27.1 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 42,362 | 77,905 | 55.3% | ||
12 | SDLP | 48.5% | South Down | 2.7 | 30.9 | 35.8 | 2.1 | 10.6 | 12.5 | 5.6 | 41,726 | 73,240 | 58.1% | ||
13 | SF | 42.0% | Newry & Armagh | 40.8 | 23.5 | 1.6 | 18.7 | 13.1 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 46,514 | 77,544 | 61.3% | |
14 | SF | 45.5% | Fermanagh & S. Tyrone | 40.3 | 9.6 | 1.8 | 19.3 | 24.4 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 47,999 | 70,985 | 69.0% | ||
15 | SF | 48.4% | West Tyrone | 50.2 | 8.6 | 2.2 | 10.3 | 23.1 | 5.7 | 39,303 | 62,970 | 64.0% | |||
16 | SF | 52.0% | Mid Ulster | 49.2 | 14.7 | 0.9 | 10.3 | 16.7 | 4.9 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 42,738 | 66,602 | 65.3% | |
17 | SDLP | 44.7% | Foyle | 34.0 | 35.3 | 0.9 | 18.4 | 8.0 | 3.4 | 38,847 | 68,663 | 56.6% | |||
18 | DUP | 34.6% | East Londonderry | 21.1 | 14.9 | 5.5 | 8.4 | 36.9 | 4.5 | 8.6 | 34,722 | 65,226 | 54.1% | ||
18 | Northern Ireland | 0.9 | 26.9 | 14.2 | 7.7 | 13.2 | 30.0 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 661,736 | 1,210,009 | 55.6% | ||
Change since 2007 | –0.8 | +0.8 | –1.0 | +2.5 | –1.7 | –0.1 | +2.5 | –1.6 | –0.5 | –28,577 | +102,105 | –7.2% | |||
Election of March 2007 | 1.7 | 26.2 | 15.2 | 5.2 | 14.9 | 30.1 | — | 3.8 | 2.8 | 690,313 | 1,107,904 | 62.9% | |||
Election of Nov. 2003 | 0.4 | 23.5 | 17.0 | 3.7 | 22.7 | 25.7 | — | 5.6 | 2.8 | 692,026 | 1,097,526 | 63.1% | |||
Election of June 1998 | 0.1 | 17.6 | 22.0 | 6.5 | 21.3 | 18.1 | — | 10.9 | 3.5 | 823,565 | 1,178,556 | 69.9% |
- Independent Unionistvote in 1998 (2.8%) included in the Independent column (not "others" ).TUV=Traditional Unionist Voice.
Votes cast for minor parties and independents[edit]
Out of the 22 candidates from the seven parties which won no seats in 2011, the four candidates who won more than 1,000 first-preference votes (and more than 4% of the total first preferences) in their respective constituencies were:
- Eamonn McCannof thePeople Before Profit AllianceinFoyle:3,120 (8.0%),
- Henry Reillyof theUK Independence PartyinSouth Down:2,332 (5.6%),
- Gerry Carrollof People Before Profit inBelfast West:1,661 (4.8%), and
- Brian Ervineof theProgressive Unionist PartyinBelfast East:1,493 (4.6%)[14]
Three-fifths, or 8,606 (60%), of the 14,338 first preferences cast for the seven minor parties went to these four candidates.
Of the 15 independent candidates, running in 9 separate constituencies, the 8 who won more than 1,000 first-preference votes (and over 2.5% of the first-preference total) were:
- David McClarty,MLA,formerlyUlster Unionist,re-elected inEast Londonderry:3,003 (8.6%),
- Alan McFarland,MLA, formerly Ulster Unionist, defeated inNorth Down:1,879 (6.7%),
- Alan Chambers, also losing inNorth Down:1,765 (6.3%),
- Dawn Purvis,MLA, formerly Progressive Unionist, defeated inBelfast East(see above): 1,702 (5.3%),
- Paul McFadden inFoyle:1,280 (3.3%),
- Raymond McCordinBelfast North:1,176 (3.5%),
- Paddy McGowaninWest Tyrone:1,145 (2.9%), and
- Eugene McMenamin,also inWest Tyrone:1,096 (2.8%)
A majority (8,395 or 54%) of the 15,535 first-preference votes cast for independents went to the first four of these candidates, three of whom had been elected by other parties in 2007. David McClarty was the only successful independent candidate.
Seats changing hands[edit]
- TheAlliancegained a seat inBelfast East(fromDawn Purvis,an independent elected as a Progressive Unionist). Net gain +1.
- TheDemocratic Unionist Partygained seats from the UUP inBelfast NorthandNorth Down,but lost one to the UUP inStrangford.The DUP also gained seats in theLagan Valley(from SF) andSouth Antrim(from SDLP), but lost a seat inWest Tyrone(to UUP or SDLP). Net gain +2.
- Anindependentelected in 2007 fromWest Tyronedid not run again in 2011 (seat won by SDLP or DUP). An Ulster Unionist elected in 2007 fromEast Londonderry,who was not re-nominated by his party, won election in 2011 as an independent. (After his re-election, he decided to remain an independent outside the UUP.)[15][16]Three other independents elected in 2007 by different parties were not returned in 2011: a former Ulster Unionist inNorth Down(to DUP), a former Progressive Unionist inBelfast East(to Alliance), and a former Sinn Féin member inFermanagh & South Tyrone(regained by SF). No net change from 2007; net change from the outgoing Assembly:–4.
- TheProgressive Unionist Partyelected a single member in 2007 fromEast Belfastwho resigned from the party in 2010 (and whose seat was gained by the Alliance in 2011). The PUP failed to elect its only candidate in 2011. Net change from 2007 –1; no net change from the outgoing Assembly.
- Sinn Féingained seats inEast Antrim(from UUP) andFermanagh & South Tyrone(from SDLP), but lost one in theLagan Valley(to DUP). It also regained a second seat inFermanagh & South Tyronethat had been held by an independent originally elected as Sinn Féin. Net gain +2 from the outgoing Assembly and +1 from 2007.
- TheSocial Democratic & Labour Partygained a seat fromWest Tyrone(from Ind. or DUP) but lost seats inFermanagh & South Tyrone(to SF),North Antrim(to Traditional Unionist Voice) andSouth Antrim(to DUP). Net loss –2.
- Traditional Unionist Voicewon its first and only seat, inNorth Antrim(from the SDLP). Net gain +1.
- TheUlster Unionist Partygained seats inStrangford(from DUP) andWest Tyrone(from DUP or Ind.), but lost seats inBelfast North(to DUP) andEast Antrim(to SF). Another two members elected as Ulster Unionists inNorth DownandEast Londonderryleft the UUP before the 2011 election. Net loss from 2007: –2. (No net change from the outgoing Assembly.)
Turnover in members since 2007[edit]
Thirty-one members of the previous Assembly during all of part of its term (2007–2011) did not offer themselves for re-election in May 2011. Another eight who did seek re-election were unsuccessful.
Members who left during the previous Assembly's term[edit]
Several of the 14 members who retired early from the Northern Ireland Assembly did so either after being elected or re-elected to theBritish House of Commonson6 May 2010(as MPs), or else in anticipation of being elected to theDáil Éireann(lower house of the Irish parliament) on25 February 2011(as a TD). [Three retired or retiring members arePrivy Counsellors of the United Kingdom(PC).]
Name | Title in 2011 |
Party | Assembly constituency |
Left Assembly | Successor | Successor returned? |
George Dawson | [deceased] | DUP | East Antrim | 7 May 2007 | Alastair Ian Ross | yes |
David Burnside | UUP | South Antrim | 1 June 2009 | Danny Kinahan | yes | |
Francie Brolly | Sinn Féin | East Londonderry | 11 December 2009 | Billy Leonard | did not run(SF hold) | |
Iris Robinson | DUP | Strangford | 12 January 2010 | Jonathan Bell | yes | |
Carmel Hanna | SDLP | Belfast South | 15 January 2010 | Conall McDevitt | yes | |
Jeffrey Donaldson | MP,PC | DUP | Lagan Valley | 10 June 2010 | Paul Givan | yes |
Ian Paisley (junior) | MP | DUP | North Antrim | 21 June 2010 | Paul Frew | yes |
David Simpson | MP | DUP | Upper Bann | 1 July 2010 | Sidney Anderson | yes |
William McCrea | MP | DUP | South Antrim | 1 July 2010 | Paul Girvan | yes |
Naomi Long | MP | Alliance | Belfast East | 5 July 2010 | Chris Lyttle | yes |
Jim Shannon | MP | DUP | Strangford | 1 August 2010 | Simpson Gibson | did not run(UUP gain) |
Nigel Dodds | MP, PC | DUP | Belfast North | 10 September 2010 | William Humphrey | yes |
Mark Durkan | MP | SDLP | Foyle | 9 November 2010 | Pól Callaghan | not elected(SDLP hold) |
Gerry Adams | TD | Sinn Féin | Belfast West | 7 December 2010 | Pat Sheehan | yes |
Changes in membership at the election[edit]
These are the 25 changes in membership that occurred between the third Assembly's dissolution in March 2011 and the fourth Assembly's election in May. Seventeen sitting members did not present themselves for re-election and another eight were defeated at the polls. One re-elected member had been elected with a different affiliation in 2007.
The numbers indicate the percentage of votes each member received in the first round of counting under theSingle Transferable Votein the 2011 election, and the round which decided his or her election or defeat.
In some constituencies (Foyle, West Tyrone and Fermanagh & South Tyrone), it is not possible to couple a single outgoing member by party with a single successor. The pairs of outgoing and incoming members in those seats are presented in arbitrary order.
Changes in membership without a change in party[edit]
Most of these changes occurred due to a member's retirement, although one defeated member of the SDLP, in Foyle, was succeeded by another member of the SDLP.
Outgoing member(s) | Party | 1st pref. |
Round |
Constituency | New member(s) | Party | 1st pref. |
Round |
Billy Armstrong(retiring) | Ulster Unionist | — | — | Mid Ulster | Sandra Overend | UUP | 10.3% | 6 |
P. J. Bradley(retiring) | SDLP | — | — | South Down | Karen McKevitt | SDLP | 9.0% | 9 |
Pól Callaghan [replacedMark Durkan,MP] Mary Bradley(retiring) |
SDLP | 6.8% — |
4 — |
Foyle | Mark H. Durkan Colum Eastwood |
SDLP | 12.8% 7.6% |
4 7 |
Wallace Browne(retiring) Baron Browne of Belmont |
Democratic Unionist | — | — | Belfast East | Sammy Douglas | DUP | 8.3% | 11 |
Robert Coulter(retiring) | Ulster Unionist | — | — | North Antrim | Robin Swann | UUP | 6.2% | 9 |
Reg Empey(retiring) Lord Empey |
Ulster Unionist | — | — | Belfast East | Michael Copeland | UUP | 6.8% | 11 |
Billy Leonard(retiring) [replacedFrancie Brolly] |
Sinn Féin(suspended) | — | — | East Londonderry | Cathal Ó hOisín | Sinn Féin | 13.5% | 6 |
Claire McGill(retiring) | Sinn Féin | — | — | West Tyrone | Michaela Boyle | Sinn Féin | 12.9% | 4 |
Seán Neeson(retiring) | Alliance | — | — | East Antrim | Stewart Dickson | Alliance | 10.0% | 9 |
Ian Paisley,PC (retiring) Lord Bannside |
Democratic Unionist | — | — | North Antrim | David McIlveen | DUP | 8.1% | 8 |
George Savage(retiring) | Ulster Unionist | — | — | Upper Bann | Jo-Anne Dobson | UUP | 7.9% | 7 |
Brian Wilson(retiring) | Green Party in Northern Ireland | — | — | North Down | Steven Agnew | Green | 7.9% | 11 |
Seats changing hands between the parties[edit]
Note that the party changes in Lagan Valley, Strangford and East Antrim cancelled each other out.
Outgoing member(s) | Party | 1st pref |
Round |
Constituency |
New member(s) |
Party | 1st pref |
Round |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allan Bresland Kieran Deeny(retiring) |
Democratic Unionist Independent |
10.3% — |
0 — |
West Tyrone | Ross Hussey Joe Byrne |
UUP SDLP |
10.4% 8.5% |
5 |
Thomas Burns | SDLP | 10.6% | 0 | South Antrim | Pam Lewis | DUP | 8.9% | 4 |
Fred Cobain | Ulster Unionist | 8.2% | 7 | Belfast North | Paula Bradley | DUP | 10.4% | 6 |
Tommy Gallagher Gerry McHugh(retiring) |
SDLP Ind. (elected as SF) |
9.6% — |
6 — |
Fermanagh & South Tyrone |
Seán Lynch Phil Flanagan |
Sinn Féin | 10.7% 10.6% |
6 |
David McClarty | Ind. (elected as UUP) | 8.6% | 7 | East Londonderry | David McClarty | Independent | 8.6% | 7 |
Alan McFarland | Ind. (elected as UUP) | 6.7% | 9 | North Down | Gordon Dunne | DUP | 13.3% | 2 |
Declan O'Loan | SDLP | 9.1% | 9 | North Antrim | Jim Allister | Trad. U. Voice | 10.1% | 9 |
Dawn Purvis | Ind. (elected asProg. U.) | 5.3% | 11 | Belfast East | Judith Cochrane | Alliance | 13.4% | 7 |
Paul Butler(retiring) | Sinn Féin | — | — | Lagan Valley | Brenda Hale | DUP | 8.2% | 7 |
Simpson Gibson(retiring) [replacedJim Shannon] |
Democratic Unionist | — | — | Strangford | Mike Nesbitt | UUP | 11.0% | 6 |
Ken Robinson(retiring) | Ulster Unionist | — | — | East Antrim | Oliver McMullan | Sinn Féin | 8.2% | 10 |
Member returning with a different affiliation[edit]
David McClarty,originally elected fromEast Londonderryas an Ulster Unionist, although not re-nominated by the UUP in 2011, stood successfully for re-election as an independent. This reduced the UUP's strength from 2007, while keeping independent strength in the Assembly at one (asKieran Deeny,the retiring independent member, was not succeeded in West Tyrone by another independent). McClarty decided not to re-join the UUP after his re-election.[16]
Speaker[edit]
The presiding officer of the Northern Ireland's Assembly (like those forScotlandandWales,but unlike those for theUnited Kingdomor theRepublic of Ireland) does not remain impartial during the election period. The sitting Speaker, in this instanceWilliam Hay(DUP,Foyle), must revert to his or her party colours and campaign for a seat on its manifesto. Once re-elected as an MLA (as Hay was), he or she becomes eligible for re-election as Speaker to resume unbiased authority over the Assembly.[17]The regional media reported thatSinn Féin'sFrancie Molloy,an outgoing Deputy Speaker, had hoped to win election as Speaker when the 2011 Assembly first met;[18]in the event, following inter-party negotiations, Hay was re-elected and Molloy was nominated by his party for, and elected to, a newly created position of Principal Deputy Speaker with a presumed right of succession.[5]
Party leaders in the Assembly[edit]
Electoral administration[edit]
Eligibility and proof of identity[edit]
European Union(EU) andCommonwealthcitizens aged 18 or over on election day were entitled to vote. The deadline for voters to register to vote in 5 May elections was midnight on 14 April 2011. All voters had to present one piece of photographic identification in order to cast a vote at the polling station: accepted forms of ID were anElectoral Identity Card,aphotographic Northern Ireland or Great Britain driving licence,aEuropean Union member state passport,aTranslink60+ SmartPass, a Translink Senior SmartPass, a Translink Blind Person's SmartPass or a Translink War Disabled SmartPass.[19]Voters who didn't have an accepted type of photographic ID had until 22 April 2011 to apply for anElectoral Identity Cardfrom theElectoral Office.Ajudicial reviewbrought by candidates in the simultaneous local government elections, challenging the non-acceptance of EU national identity cards as a proof of identity, failed on 4 May 2011.[20]
Speed of counting of votes[edit]
In the days following the 2011 Assembly election concerns were raised by politicians and others about the time it took for ballots to be verified and counted. The first result came in at 7:00 p.m. on Friday 6 May, nine hours after counting began and 21 hours after polls closed.[21]The announcement of the final results for some constituencies came two days after the polls closed. In contrast, the first result for elections held in Scotland on the same day as the Assembly election came in at 12:54 a.m., just under three hours after counting began, and the final result came in at 5:21 p.m. on the same day (Friday 6 May). In response to the criticisms about the speed of counting, Northern Ireland's Chief Electoral Officer, Graham Shields, defended the process, saying that it was "about accuracy, not about speed", adding that "This is a complicated process and people have to accept that. We will take as long as it takes to get it right."[22]
See also[edit]
- Candidates nominated to run for the 2011 election of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- 4th Northern Ireland Assembly
- 2011 Irish general election
- 2011 Northern Ireland local elections
- 2011 National Assembly for Wales election
- 2011 Scottish Parliament general election
- 2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum
Footnotes[edit]
- ^Sinn Féin's president at the time wasGerry Adams;however he already held a seat in the Republic of Ireland. McGuinness was Sinn Féin's "party leader in the North".
References[edit]
- ^"Electoral Office for Northern Ireland: Eligible Electorate Statistics"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 21 July 2011.Retrieved7 May2011.
- ^"Electoral Office for Northern Ireland: Registered Voter Statistics"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 21 July 2011.Retrieved7 May2011.
- ^Henry McDonald (6 May 2011)."Ulster Unionists head for fourth place".The Guardian.London.Archivedfrom the original on 9 November 2013.Retrieved3 June2011.
- ^"Allister outraged as Speaker retakes post with help of Sinn Fein"Archived17 May 2011 at theWayback Machine,by Noel McAdam,The Belfast Telegraph,13 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011
- ^ab"Sinn Fein's Francie Molloy likely to be Stormont Speaker in 2014"Archived20 October 2012 at theWayback Machine,by Noel McAdam,The Belfast Telegraph,13 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011
- ^"New Executive ministers to be appointed on MondayArchived22 November 2018 at theWayback Machine",BBC News,16 May 2011
- ^"Stormont Assembly votes in new team of Ministers"Archived23 October 2012 at theWayback Machine,by Dan Keenan,The Irish Times,17 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011
- ^"NI Assembly Elections 2011 - First Preference Votes Per Party".Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.2011.Archivedfrom the original on 1 April 2017.Retrieved19 May2017.
- ^"Latest 2011 Election results".UTV. Archived fromthe originalon 19 April 2013.Retrieved12 May2011.
- ^"Election 2011 - Northern Ireland - Constituencies".BBC.Archivedfrom the original on 12 April 2013.Retrieved12 May2011.
- ^NI Assembly Election 2011 ResultsArchived11 May 2011 at theWayback Machine,TheElectoral Office for Northern Ireland,retrieved Monday 9 May 2011
- ^Westminster General Election (NI) Thursday 6 May 2010Archived14 May 2011 at theWayback Machine,compiled by Martin Melaugh,CAINWeb Service. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
- ^Compiled by looking up each constituency at this site:"Full Northern Ireland Results"Archived12 April 2013 at theWayback Machine,BBC News, 11 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011
- ^Four weeks after the election, in which he was the Progressive Unionists' only candidate, Brian Ervine announced that he would resign as party leader."PUP leader Brian Ervine to stand down"Archived22 November 2018 at theWayback Machine,BBC News, 2 June 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011
- ^"McClarty: withdraw Sinn Fein ‘scum’ remark or it's no deal, Tom"Archived13 May 2011 at theWayback Machine,by Liam Clarke,The Belfast Telegraph,published and retrieved on Wednesday 11 May 2011.
- ^ab"David McClarty says he will remain an independent MLA"Archived22 November 2018 at theWayback Machine,BBC, 11 May 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011
- ^"Lord Alderdice calls for Stormont Speaker rules change".BBC. 25 January 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 28 February 2011.Retrieved27 January2011.
- ^"First day of new assembly term".BBC. 12 May 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 18 May 2011.Retrieved17 May2011.
- ^"Electoral Office for Northern Ireland: Electoral Identity Card"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 21 July 2011.Retrieved5 January2011.
- ^"UTV news report".Archived fromthe originalon 28 September 2012.Retrieved21 May2011.
- ^"NI Stormont Assembly election results: day two as it happened".BBC News.7 May 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 10 May 2011.Retrieved12 May2011.
- ^"Electoral chief defends staff over results delays".BBC. 6 May 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 10 May 2011.Retrieved12 May2011.
External links[edit]
Official sites[edit]
News reports[edit]
- Summary and comparison of the principal parties' views on the main issues atthe BBCandUlster TV
- "A view from around the 18 Assembly constituencies",The Belfast Telegraph,Saturday, 7 May 2011(retrieved 11 May 2011)
Party web sites, manifestoes and election broadcasts[edit]
The party election broadcasts (PEBs) in this table are at the BBC News site. Almost every individual party web site below also shows a copy of or a link to at least one of the party's own election broadcasts.
Party leaders' debates[edit]
- Televised debatebetween the leaders of the Alliance, DUP, Sinn Féin, SDLP and UUP on BBC Northern Ireland for 90 minutes on Tuesday 3 May (this link includes a written synopsis)