1977 Belfast City Council election

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1977 Belfast City Council election
Flag of Belfast.svg
←  1973 18 May 1977 1981  →
All 51 seats to Belfast City Council
26 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Party UUP Alliance SDLP
Seats won15138
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 10Increase2.svg 5Increase2.svg 1
 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
Party DUP Republican Clubs Unionist Party NI
Seats won732
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 5Increase2.svg 1Increase2.svg 2
 Seventh partyEighth partyNinth party
 
Party Ind. Unionist Independent Others
Seats won210
Seat changeSteady2.svg 0Increase2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 5
Lord Mayor before election

Myles Humphreys
UUP

Lord Mayor

James Stewart
UUP

Elections to Belfast City Council were held on 18 May 1977 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used nine district electoral areas to elect a total of 51 councillors, most representing the more heavily populated north and west.

Contents

The UUP remained the largest party, and James Stewart became Lord Mayor. The narrow unionist majority of one on the council resulted in David Cook from Alliance becoming Lord Mayor in 1978, the first non-unionist Lord Mayor since 1898.

Election results

Belfast Local Election Result 1977 [1]
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  UUP 15111Decrease2.svg1029.426.830,087Decrease2.svg23.9
  Alliance 1350Increase2.svg525.518.620,929Increase2.svg5.2
  SDLP 810Increase2.svg115.718.920,920Increase2.svg7.5
  DUP 750Increase2.svg513.713.314,926Increase2.svg11.0
  Republican Clubs 310Increase2.svg15.94.75,238Increase2.svg0.7
  Unionist Party NI 220Increase2.svg23.95.05,584New
  Ind. Unionist 200Steady2.svg03.94.14,567Increase2.svg1.1
  Independent 110Increase2.svg12.02.63,431Increase2.svg2.6
  NI Labour 002Decrease2.svg20.02.62,959Decrease2.svg2.9
  UUUP 000Steady2.svg00.02.32,557New
  Vanguard 001Decrease2.svg10.00.7780Decrease2.svg0.1
  Communist 000Steady2.svg00.00.1115Steady2.svg0.0
  British Ulster Dominion Party 000Steady2.svg00.00.1114New
  Independent Socialist 000Steady2.svg00.00.1107Increase2.svg0.1

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

Districts summary

[1]

Results of the Belfast City Council election, 1977
by district
Ward %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
Total
Cllrs
UUP Alliance SDLP DUP RC UPNI Others
Area A29.2220.128.5121.521.705.9013.107
Area B33.0330.720.0011.010.0015.1110.207
Area C25.3233.836.4010.200.0010.0114.306
Area D0.0013.5169.240.0016.410.000.906
Area E35.129.010.0018.310.000.0037.626
Area F31.2210.7127.8114.7114.410.001.206
Area G29.223.2129.9121.1113.210.003.406
Area H29.8216.9221.1111.710.002.8017.717
Total26.81518.61318.6813.374.735.0213.0351

District results

Area A

1973: 4 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Vanguard, 1 x NILP
1977: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP
1973-1977 Change: DUP (two seats), Alliance and SDLP gain from UUP (two seats), Vanguard and NILP

Area A - 7 seats [2]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456789101112131415
Alliance Basil Glass 16.03%2,580              
UUP Grace Bannister *14.70%2,367              
DUP Raymond McCrea 11.88%1,9121,914.31 1,918.6 1,918.66 1,918.66 1,918.66 1,963.81 2,076.21       
UUP William Blair*6.37%1,0261,035.66 1,270.56 1,275.07 1,276.07 1,290.28 1,349.33 1,465.68 1,466.9 1,709.49 1,774.11 2,358.11   
DUP Robert Newman9.62%1,5491,549.63 1,552.33 1,552.33 1,554.33 1,601.78 1,618.78 1,631.23 1,682.47 1,708.38 1,724.38 1,764.02 1,798.02 2,368.02 
Alliance Denis Loretto4.14%6671,109.47 1,115.17 1,130.01 1,152.43 1,156.85 1,168.42 1,174.29 1,174.29 1,187.64 1,542.09 1,602.75 1,649.75 1,711.71 1,723.71
SDLP Alasdair McDonnell 8.47%1,3641,397.6 1,398.2 1,408.56 1,566.55 1,567.55 1,571.55 1,571.55 1,571.55 1,573.55 1,633.23 1,636.23 1,638.23 1,643.44 1,644.44
Unionist Party NI Thomas Jordan5.93%954970.8 979.5 979.5 981.5 988.65 1,002.88 1,015.48 1,016.7 1,055.08 1,122.16 1,195.53 1,300.53 1,481.48 1,609.48
UUUP Benjamin Horan*4.20%676679.99 687.79 687.79 687.79 897.24 954.05 960.26 963.92 990.78 1,013.78 1,100.7 1,202.7   
UUP Thomas Gildea*3.00%483486.78 524.88 527.88 527.88 534.03 573.53 651.89 656.16 936.8 978.4     
NI Labour Brian Garrett3.69%594610.17 614.37 667.21 697.63 699.84 715.84 719.14 719.14 728.14      
UUP Walter Shannon2.81%452454.52 475.07 476.07 476.07 480.43 489.03 654.82 656.04       
UUP Alfred Shaw2.35%378379.89 393.84 396.84 396.84 400.14 409.74         
Ind. Unionist William Elliott*2.35%379380.05 385.75 387.38 387.38 388.38          
UUUP Philip Moles2.14%345345.84 347.79 347.79 349           
Republican Clubs Terence McGrattan1.73%278280.73 280.88 280.88            
NI Labour Derek Peters0.58%9395.94 96.54             
Electorate: 24,230  Valid: 16,097 (66.43%)  Spoilt: 801  Quota: 2,013  Turnout: 16,898 (69.74%)  

    Area B

    1973: 5 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x United Loyalist
    1977: 3 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UPNI, 1 x DUP
    1973-1977 Change: Alliance, UPNI and DUP gain from UUP (two seats) and United Loyalist

    Area B - 7 seats [2]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456789101112
    Unionist Party NI Joshua Cardwell *15.11%2,722           
    Alliance Oliver Napier 15.00%2,703           
    UUP Thomas Patton *12.26%2,2092,268.58          
    Alliance Michael Brown*7.55%2,0452,120.6 2,350.44         
    UUP John Allen*10.56%1,9031,994.08 2,004.79 2,008.51 2,010.4 2,196.94 2,249.22 2,662.22    
    DUP Henry Evans5.87%1,0581,069.52 1,070.88 1,090.88 1,090.88 1,095.41 1,105.58 1,114.2 1,118.2 1,947.41 2,707.41 
    UUP Dorothy Dunlop 3.45%622683.02 691.69 697.77 699.45 934.73 963.93 1,274.06 1,620.06 1,637.13 1,979.01 2,337.01
    Alliance David Wonnacott4.33%781812.5 984.88 989.41 1,073.62 1,083.29 1,487.12 1,524.51 1,535.51 1,541.4 1,573.3 1,595.3
    UUUP Reg Empey 5.44%9811,013.22 1,016.11 1,182.4 1,182.75 1,211.09 1,227.99 1,249.29 1,264.29 1,374.54   
    DUP Thomas McIntyre5.11%920927.2 928.05 957.23 957.23 966.59 977.77 982.56 984.56    
    UUP William Corry*3.69%664716.02 722.31 725.67 726.3 817.75 833.09      
    NI Labour William Gunning3.50%631645.76 659.02 660.2 662.93 664.11       
    UUP Joseph Hanna3.00%541562.78 565.16 571.86 572.56        
    UUUP Stanley Morgan1.32%237245.1 246.29          
    Electorate: 37,176  Valid: 18,017 (48.46%)  Spoilt: 724  Quota: 2,253  Turnout: 18,741 (50.41%)  

      Area C

      1973: 4 x UUP, 2 x Alliance
      1977: 3 x Alliance, 2 x UUP, 1 x UPNI
      1973-1977 Change: Alliance and UPNI gain from UUP (two seats)

      Area C - 6 seats [2]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      123456789101112
      Alliance David Cook *18.93%2,748           
      UUP Andrew Cairns8.86%1,2871,290.6 1,293.6 1,321.84 1,340.84 1,346.84 1,387.08 1,547.8 1,579.8 1,981.52 1,981.52 2,330.52
      Alliance William Jeffrey6.14%8921,368.64 1,368.64 1,372.88 1,389.88 1,514.04 1,537.28 1,551.48 1,554.48 1,571.96 2,037.16 2,076.12
      Alliance Muriel Pritchard*8.78%1,2741,394.24 1,398.24 1,401.24 1,435.72 1,529.12 1,543.12 1,554.8 1,557.8 1,582 2,002.28 2,047.44
      UUP Mary Crooks 7.87%1,1421,148.72 1,151.72 1,180.72 1,212.72 1,217.2 1,307.44 1,445.68 1,496.68 1,824.92 1,833.92 2,035.64
      Unionist Party NI Victor Brennan9.96%1,4461,455.84 1,458.84 1,479.84 1,493.84 1,519.56 1,568.56 1,609.04 1,623.04 1,702 1,727 1,928.44
      DUP Alexander McMeekin6.01%872872 884 957 976.24 978.24 990.24 1,010.24 1,493.24 1,523.48 1,525.48 1,650.72
      Vanguard Raymond Jordan5.37%780784.32 788.32 825.56 876.56 882.56 914.56 963.8 1,022.8 1,068.04 1,072.04  
      SDLP Mary Scott6.36%923937.4 938.4 938.4 950.4 992.4 994.4 996.4 997.4 999.4   
      UUP John William Kennedy*4.34%630634.08 635.08 657.08 665.08 672.08 726.08 952.04 975.04    
      DUP William Spence4.16%604604 607 629 667 673 691 697     
      UUP John Gilmore4.26%619624.76 626.76 639.76 652.76 660.76 682.76      
      Ind. Unionist John Webster*2.34%340340.96 343.96 349.2 369.2 371.2       
      NI Labour Ronald Macartney2.27%330335.76 335.76 336.76 348.76        
      Independent William Weir2.16%313313.72 314.72 319.72         
      UUUP Reginald Johnston1.37%199199.96 276.96          
      UUUP James Robinson0.82%119119           
      Electorate: 29,635  Valid: 14,518 (48.99%)  Spoilt: 523  Quota: 2,075  Turnout: 15,041 (50.75%)  

        Area D

        1973: 4 x SDLP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
        1977: 4 x SDLP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
        1973-1977 Change: No change

        Area D - 6 seats [2]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        12345678
        SDLP Paddy Devlin *53.13%7,087       
        SDLP Cormac Boomer6.79%9052,925.84      
        SDLP Liam Hunter3.58%4771,741.64 2,290.74     
        SDLP Mary Sullivan5.70%7601,669.72 2,006.4     
        Alliance Dan McGuinness9.26%1,2351,612.72 1,664.78 1,827.8 1,891.3 1,915.19  
        Republican Clubs Bernard McDonagh7.06%9421,119.08 1,129.34 1,158.22 1,178.72 1,189.17 1,496.57 1,607.82
        Republican Clubs Martin Lynch5.42%723862.08 873.48 905.02 944.58 955.79 1,228.61 1,338.67
        Alliance Robert Turkington4.31%575660.88 667.34 745.62 762.5 785.68 824.15  
        Republican Clubs Kevin Smyth3.95%527622 629.98 660 675.04 682.45   
        Independent Socialist Gerard Campbell0.80%107187.56 212.64 235.44     
        Electorate: 35,266  Valid: 13,338 (37.82%)  Spoilt: 1,594  Quota: 1,906  Turnout: 14,932 (42.34%)  

          Area E

          1973: 1 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x NILP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x United Loyalist, 1 x Independent Unionist
          1977: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent, 1 x Independent Unionist
          1973-1977 Change: UUP and Independent gain from NILP and United Loyalist

          Area E - 6 seats [2]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          123456789
          UUP Billy Bell 24.38%3,297        
          Independent James Weir16.15%2,184        
          DUP Fred Proctor*12.98%1,7551,860.84 1,873.52 1,874.36 1,898.12 2,512.12   
          Alliance Samuel Egerton9.04%1,2231,263.32 1,352.32 1,497.22 1,506.88 1,513.84 1,518.84 1,561.28 2,084.28
          UUP Alfie Ferguson 2.71%3661,106.04 1,118.98 1,123.04 1,323.24 1,366.76 1,497.76 1,566.38 1,748.98
          Ind. Unionist Hugh Smyth *8.43%1,1401,174.44 1,179.44 1,180.42 1,214.98 1,240.58 1,353.58 1,657.4 1,714.82
          UUP David Smylie*4.93%667798.46 811.88 812.16 1,062.46 1,109.5 1,249.5 1,390.36 1,501.78
          NI Labour George Chambers5.98%809872.84 930.52 998.84 1,022.92 1,031.32 1,051.32 1,108.2  
          Independent Hugh Stockman5.31%718741.94 767.36 785.98 801.98 822.08 891.08   
          DUP Bill Lavery5.29%715760.78 765.88 767.42 784.94     
          UUP James Sands3.05%412577.48 859.58 590.56      
          Independent Peter Emerson 1.75%236248.6        
          Electorate: 30,109  Valid: 13,522 (44.91%)  Spoilt: 706  Quota: 1,932  Turnout: 14,228 (47.25%)  

            Area F

            1973: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Republican Clubs
            1977: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
            1973-1977 Change: Alliance gain from UUP

            Area F - 6 seats [2]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            123456789
            SDLP Owen Allen18.81%1,886        
            UUP James Stewart *16.76%1,681        
            Republican Clubs Jim Sullivan *10.96%1,0991,113.16 1,113.31 1,131.55 1,433.35    
            UUP Harry Fletcher*10.78%1,0811,082.92 1,185.22 1,193.67 1,194.67 1,504.97   
            DUP William Dickson 9.46%949958.36 975.01 981.61 982.61 1,009.76 1,474.76  
            Alliance Will Glendinning 10.74%1,0771,142.04 1,152.09 1,173.96 1,188.27 1,211.97 1,221.92 1,287.92 1,316.92
            SDLP Thomas Lappin8.97%8991,232.84 1,233.29 1,247.49 1,265.24 1,267.48 1,270.38 1,273.38 1,277.38
            DUP John Parkes5.24%525525.72 534.27 538.57 538.57 575.67    
            UUP Thomas Murphy*3.68%369369.48 470.88 480.88 480,88     
            Republican Clubs Sean O'Hare3.45%346355.12 355.87 369.11      
            Communist James Stewart 1.15%115117.4 119.2       
            Electorate: 21,177  Valid: 10,027 (47.35%)  Spoilt: 1,013  Quota: 1,433  Turnout: 11,040 (52.13%)  

              Area G

              1973: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist
              1977: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
              1973-1977 Change: DUP and Republican Clubs gain from UUP and Independent Unionist

              Area G - 6 seats [2]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              1234567
              SDLP Gerry Fitt *29.81%3,006      
              Republican Clubs Seamus Lynch 13.12%1,3232,124.04     
              Alliance Mary McKeown*3.17%3201,051.6 1,632.54    
              DUP Frederick Ashby13.66%1,3771,380.72 1,381.34 1,383.2 1,445.2  
              UUP Herbert Ditty*10.34%1,0431,049.2 1,050.44 1,057.88 1,093.74 1,203.74 1,519.74
              UUP Cecil Walker 7.73%779779.62 782.72 792.64 812.74 1,027.38 1,318.68
              DUP George Haffey7.36%742743.24 743.24 743.86 772.86 889.1 968.72
              UUP Margaret Laird*5.87%592598.82 598.82 605.64 662.36 774.98  
              UUP Samuel Millar*5.11%515515.62 518.72 532.36 618.84   
              Ind. Unionist Hugh Kidd*3.84%387396.92 398.16 406.22    
              Electorate: 20,959  Valid: 10,084 (48.11%)  Spoilt: 886  Quota: 1,441  Turnout: 10,970 (52.34%)  

                Area H

                1973: 5 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP
                1977: 2 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Independent Unionist
                1977-1981 Change: Alliance, DUP and Independent Unionist gain from UUP (three seats)

                Area H - 7 seats [2]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                123456789101112
                SDLP Paschal O'Hare 14.52%2,414           
                Ind. Unionist Frank Millar *13.96%2,321           
                UUP John Carson *13.53%2,250           
                UUP Myles Humphreys *11.68%1,9421,942.14 2,000.11 2,016.76 2,073.53 2,360.53      
                Alliance John Cushnahan 11.21%1,8651,881.1 1,883.19 1,885.3 1,887.4 1,896.08 1,901.08 1,902.19 2,104.19   
                DUP William Annon 9.06%1,5071,507.14 1,561.59 1,590.34 1,597.55 1,608.82 1,613.82 2,041.03 2,048.37 2,064.18 2,290.18 
                Alliance Robert Jamison5.68%944951.14 956.75 959.75 961.15 977.02 990.02 995.79 1,116.18 1,323.08 1,680.41 1,770.41
                SDLP Alban Maginness 6.61%1,0991,406.44 1,406.99 1,407.99 1,408.2 1,408.2 1,409.2 1,409.42 1,444.26 1,445.26 1,451.31 1,461.31
                UUP Mary Creighton*1.99%331331 367.85 399.16 469.65 577.41 821.41 848.99 925.06 1,160.88   
                Unionist Party NI Joseph Gibson2.78%462462.14 472.48 482.7 486.69 506.04 515.04 522.41 546.63    
                NI Labour Alan Carr3.02%502504.24 508.97 513.41 515.23 517.34 518.34 519.74     
                DUP Cynthia McDowell2.65%441441 472.13 484.46 486.77 492.07 495.07      
                UUP James Kennett2.64%439439 455.17 458.83 466.39        
                Dominion Party Alexander Beattie0.69%114114 124.78          
                Electorate: 35,074  Valid: 16,631 (47.42%)  Spoilt: 684  Quota: 2,079  Turnout: 17,315 (49.37%)  

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                  References

                  1. 1 2 "Local Government Elections 1973 - 1981: Belfast" . Retrieved 8 July 2021.
                  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Local Government Results 1977". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
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