1989 Belfast City Council election

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1989 Belfast City Council election
Flag of Belfast.svg
  1985 17 May 1989 (1989-05-17) 1993  

All 51 seats to Belfast City Council
26 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Party Ulster Unionist Sinn Féin SDLP
Seats won1488
Seat changeSteady2.svg 0Increase2.svg 1Increase2.svg 2

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
Party DUP Alliance Ind. Unionist
Seats won864
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 3Decrease2.svg 2Increase2.svg 2

 Seventh partyEighth partyNinth party
 
Party Workers' Party PUP Protestant Unionist
Seats won111
Seat changeSteady2.svg 0Steady2.svg 0Steady2.svg 0

Lord Mayor before election

Nigel Dodds
DUP

Lord Mayor

Reg Empey
Ulster Unionist

Elections to Belfast City Council were held on 17 May 1989 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 Reg Empey became the Lord Mayor.

Election results

Belfast Local Election Result 1989 [1]
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Ulster Unionist 1411Steady2.svg027.521.722,846Decrease2.svg2.7
  Sinn Féin 810Increase2.svg115.718.719,688Increase2.svg3.1
  SDLP 820Increase2.svg215.716.116,937Increase2.svg1.9
  DUP 803Decrease2.svg315.714.815,618Decrease2.svg5.1
  Alliance 602Decrease2.svg211.810.911,479Decrease2.svg0.6
  Ind. Unionist 420Increase2.svg27.86.77,013Increase2.svg3.2
  Workers' Party 100Steady2.svg02.05.35,571Increase2.svg1.5
  PUP 100Steady2.svg02.02.52,533Increase2.svg0.3
  Protestant Unionist 100Steady2.svg02.01.31,408Decrease2.svg1.3
  Ulster Democratic 000Steady2.svg00.00.9908Increase2.svg0.4
  Independent 000Steady2.svg00.00.7717Increase2.svg0.7
  Labour Party NI 000Steady2.svg00.00.2212New
  Communist 000Steady2.svg00.00.2175Steady2.svg0.0
  Green (NI) 000Steady2.svg00.00.0895New
  National Front 000Steady2.svg00.00.0227New

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

Districts summary

[1]

Results of the Belfast City Council election, 1989
by district
Ward %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
Total
Cllrs
UUP Sinn Féin SDLP DUP Alliance Workers' Party PUP Others
Balmoral34.920.0014.3119.3119.012.100.0010.405
Castle24.613.8019.2116.618.814.100.0022.926
Court19.812.300.0015.810.003.5024.2134.426
Laganbank31.627.7020.8112.0119.014.900.004.005
Lower Falls0.0061.0328.520.001.209.300.000.005
Oldpark22.8237.838.9015.813.3011.410.000.006
Pottinger25.725.800.0040.1212.115.000.0011.316
Upper Falls0.0049.5241.922.202.603.100.000.705
Victoria39.530.000.0023.7231.022.500.003.307
Total21.71418.7816.1814.8810.965.312.5110.0551

District results

Balmoral

1985: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance
1989: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP
1985-1989 Change: SDLP gain from DUP

Balmoral - 6 seats [2]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Ulster Unionist Mary Crooks*18.97%2,163      
Ulster Unionist Jim Kirkpatrick *15.94%1,8181,968.72     
DUP John Parkes*14.05%1,6021,631.76 1,997.76    
Alliance Mark Long9.69%1,1051,111 1,178.68 1,182.37 1,188.37 2,118.37 
SDLP Dorita Field 14.35%1,6361,637.08 1,708.32 1,708.73 1,708.85 1,778.63 1,888.89
Ind. Unionist William Dickson*10.32%1,1771,207.84 1,418.56 1,505.89 1,558.09 1,639.9 1,743.87
Alliance John Montgomery*9.30%1,0611,067.24 1,152.32 1,157.65 1,162.09   
DUP Caroline Bingham5.25%599626      
Workers' Party Shaun McKeown2.14%243243.72      
Electorate: 23,343  Valid: 11,404 (48.85%)  Spoilt: 314  Quota: 1,901  Turnout: 11,718 (50.20%)  

    Castle

    1985: 2 x UUP, 1 SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist
    1989: 2 x Independent Unionist, 1 x UUP, 1 SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance
    1985-1989 Change: Independent Unionist gain from UUP

    Castle - 6 seats [2]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12345678
    SDLP Alban Maginness *19.17%2,301       
    Ulster Unionist John Carson *18.26%2,192       
    DUP Nigel Dodds *14.82%1,779       
    Alliance Tom Campbell*8.77%1,0531,384.02 1,405.36 1,405.63 1,488.77 1,493.04 1,591.75 1,855.75
    Ind. Unionist Frank Millar *11.54%1,3851,386.62 1,455.7 1,460.44 1,475.44 1,559.34 1,561.16 1,618.15
    Ind. Unionist Nelson McCausland 9.69%1,1631,163 1,270.36 1,276.3 1,280.1 1,390.64 1,392.76 1,433.56
    Ulster Unionist Alfred Redpath*6.39%767771.05 993.25 996.76 1,003.74 1,053.35 1,061.95 1,118.56
    Workers' Party Anthony Kerr4.13%496612.37 619.85 620.24 714.69 724.37 864.13  
    Sinn Féin Bobby Lavery*3.77%453510.78 511.22 511.43 527.37 527.37   
    DUP Samuel Lowry1.80%216216.27 254.11 291.13 294.13    
    Green (NI) Maria O'Sullivan0.79%95139.28 140.16 140.19     
    Labour '87 Thomas Galloway0.86%103124.87 127.95 128.04     
    Electorate: 24,488  Valid: 12,003 (49.02%)  Spoilt: 323  Quota: 1,715  Turnout: 12,326 (50.33%)  

      Court

      1985: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Protestant Unionist, 1 x Independent Unionist
      1989: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Protestant Unionist, 1 x Independent Unionist
      1985-1989 Change: No change

      Court - 5 seats [2]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234567
      PUP Hugh Smyth *24.25%2,533      
      Protestant UnionistElizabeth Seawright13.48%1,4081,768.36     
      Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain *11.20%1,1701,253.16 1,289.54 1,294.54 1,334.82 1,468.84 1,669.84
      DUP Eric Smyth 9.63%1,0061,158.04 1,197.48 1,199.48 1,220.08 1,276.5 1,559.5
      Ind. Unionist Joseph Coggle*9.12%9531,134.02 1,212.9 1,217.9 1,253.74 1,349.08 1,439.04
      Ulster Unionist Herbert Ditty*8.59%897962.52 1,002.98 1,005.32 1,030.92 1,208.88 1,309.8
      Independent William Smith6.87%717809.4 847.82 849.82 932.84 979.16 1,008.36
      DUP Frederick Ashby*6.17%644673.82 688.1 688.1 703.78 762.72  
      Ind. Unionist Alfie Ferguson 4.87%509562.34 583.08 583.08 625.5   
      Workers' Party Peter Cullen3.51%367374.98 379.06 467.06    
      Sinn Féin Joe Austin2.30%240240.42 240.76     
      Electorate: 21,173  Valid: 10,444 (49.33%)  Spoilt: 381  Quota: 1,493  Turnout: 10,825 (51.13%)  

        Laganbank

        1985: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP
        1989: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP
        1985-1989 Change: No change

        Laganbank - 5 seats [2]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        123456789
        SDLP Alasdair McDonnell *14.43%1,4151,424 1,440 1,558 2,134    
        Ulster Unionist Dixie Gilmore *15.25%1,4961,497 1,567 1,579 1,579 1,580 2,080  
        Alliance Steve McBride 11.29%1,1071,110 1,147 1,243 1,282 1,490 1,497 1,500.84 1,602.84
        Ulster Unionist Jim Clarke 8.71%854859 901 903 903 903 1,128 1,445.76 1,448.76
        DUP Rhonda Paisley *10.56%1,0361,037 1,171 1,179 1,180 1,180 1,278 1,346.16 1,349.16
        Alliance Mary Thomas7.70%755757 780 898 937 1,126 1,130 1,131.92 1,209.92
        Sinn Féin James Clinton7.68%753775 776 799 811 836 837 837.96  
        Ulster Unionist Harry Fletcher7.68%753753 813 816 816 816    
        SDLP Gerard McKettrick6.41%629635 638 700      
        Workers' Party Kevin Smyth4.88%479503 553       
        Ind. Unionist Margaret Dickson2.02%198198        
        DUP Benjamin Horan1.35%132133        
        Labour '87 Paul Hainsworth1.11%109123        
        Communist Barry Bruton0.93%91        
        Electorate: 20,689  Valid: 9,807 (47.40%)  Spoilt: 372  Quota: 1,635  Turnout: 10,179 (49.20%)  

          Lower Falls

          1985: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
          1989: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP
          1985-1989 Change: SDLP gain from Alliance

          Lower Falls - 5 seats [2]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          12345
          SDLP Joe Hendron *23.51%2,748    
          Sinn Féin Fra McCann 19.73%2,307    
          Sinn Féin Elizabeth Fitzsimons*15.10%1,7651,786.7 1,816.25 1,849.69 1,885.5
          Sinn Féin Sean McKnight*12.22%1,4281,461.48 1,466.72 1,750.56 1,774.62
          SDLP Mary Muldoon5.03%5881,196.84 1,257.51 1,261.19 1,738.98
          Sinn Féin Richard May13.91%1,6261,634.68 1,637.68 1,651.92 1,679.45
          Workers' Party Mary McMahon9.35%1,0931,186 1,218.75 1,224.19  
          Alliance Derrick Crothers 1.15%135164.45    
          Electorate: 20,095  Valid: 11,690 (58.17%)  Spoilt: 570  Quota: 1,949  Turnout: 12,260 (61.01%)  

            Oldpark

            1985: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Workers' Party
            1989: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Workers' Party
            1985-1989 Change: UUP gain from DUP

            Oldpark - 6 seats [2]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            123456
            SDLP Brian Feeney*18.38%2,426     
            Workers' Party Seamus Lynch *12.42%1,6391,912.6    
            Ulster Unionist Fred Proctor*14.02%1,8501,850.96 1,976.96   
            Ulster Unionist William Gault9.05%780782.64 886.56 951.36 1,491.96 2,050.96
            Sinn Féin Gerard McGuigan*12.75%1,6821,706.96 1,723.84 1,723.84 1,723.84 1,725.84
            Sinn Féin Paddy McManus11.73%1,5481,572.24 1,585.2 1,586.1 1,588.1 1,592.82
            Sinn Féin William McGarry8.45%1,1151,153.16 1,187.2 1,187.2 1,188.44 1,206
            Ulster Democratic Patrick Bird6.34%837837.72 883.36 896.86 1,117.84  
            DUP Stanley Mulholland6.10%805805.24 839.4 851.1   
            Alliance George Jones3.36%443610.52     
            Ulster Democratic William Clark0.54%7171.24     
            Electorate: 25,895  Valid: 13,196 (50.96%)  Spoilt: 548  Quota: 1,886  Turnout: 13,744 (53.08%)  

              Pottinger

              1985: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
              1989: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 Independent Unionist
              1985-1989 Change: Independent Unionist gain from DUP

              Pottinger - 6 seats [2]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              123456
              DUP Sammy Wilson *25.88%2,780     
              Ulster Unionist Margaret Clarke*13.78%1,4801,524.55 1,537.55   
              Alliance Mervyn Jones*12.07%1,2961,309.05 1,314.3 1,326.75 1,599.75 
              DUP Jim Walker*4.59%4931,268.35 1,479.35 1,531.7 1,546.7 
              Ind. Unionist Dorothy Dunlop 10.98%1,1791,225.8 1,245.75 1,313.9 1,344.35 1,357.35
              Ulster Unionist Reg Empey *8.04%864921.15 942.1 1,210.2 1,220.2 1,226.2
              DUP Frank Leslie*7.15%768900.3 1,015 1,044.05 1,056.5 1,064.4
              Sinn Féin Joseph O'Donnell5.86%629629.45 631.9 631.9 677.9  
              Workers' Party Sean Flanagan5.04%541543.7 546.7 548.7   
              Ulster Unionist David McNutt3.91%420447 457.15    
              DUP John Norris2.45%263381.8     
              National Front Stuart McCullough0.25%2729.7     
              Electorate: 24,265  Valid: 10,740 (44.26%)  Spoilt: 508  Quota: 1,535  Turnout: 11,248 (46.35%)  

                Upper Falls

                1985: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
                1989: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP
                1985-1989 Change: Sinn Féin gain from Alliance

                Upper Falls - 5 seats [2]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                1234567
                SDLP Alex Attwood *26.53%3,292      
                Sinn Féin Alex Maskey *19.26%2,378      
                Sinn Féin Teresa Holland*18.77%2,329      
                SDLP Cormac Boomer*9.58%1,1892,202.46     
                Sinn Féin Mairtin O'Muilleoir 15.74%1,4351,462.74 1,739.64 1,976.47 2,000.75 2,004.3 2,004.67
                SDLP Peter Prendiville5.75%713815.98 819.1 820.97 834.35 935.6 962.75
                Alliance Dan McGuinness2.63%326363.24 365.71 368.35 374.73 384.88 505.88
                Workers' Party Jean Craig3.06%380409.64 411.72 413.48 432.48 443.83 488.83
                DUP Robert Morrow2.28%283283 283.39 283.72 283.72 283.97  
                Communist Kevin O'Donnell0.68%8487.04 89.77 90.54    
                Electorate: 22,975  Valid: 12,409 (54.01%)  Spoilt: 426  Quota: 2,069  Turnout: 12,835 (55.87%)  

                  Victoria

                  1985: 3 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 2 x DUP
                  1989: 3 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 2 x DUP
                  1985-1989 Change: No change

                  Victoria - 7 seats [2]
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  123456
                  Alliance John Alderdice 21.67%2,933     
                  Ulster Unionist Thomas Patton *21.02%2,845     
                  Ulster Unionist Ian Adamson 12.78%1,730     
                  DUP Wallace Browne *10.15%1,3741,407.97 1,512.97 1,523.34 1,585.51 1,890.51
                  DUP Robin Newton *8.65%1,1711,177.88 1,274.06 1,287.33 1,346.33 1,644.33
                  Alliance Danny Dow5.41%7321,405.38 1,475.94 1,617.36 1,685.17 1,696.17
                  Ulster Unionist Alan Montgomery5.67%767821.61 1,496.55 1,521.91 1,641.98 1,692.98
                  Alliance George Thompson*3.94%533937.2 963.66 1,041.39 1,110.23 1,117.23
                  DUP Irene Lewis4.93%667685.49 776.63 786.05 846.22  
                  Ind. Unionist Samuel Walker3.32%449469.64 520.46 555.74   
                  Workers' Party Hugh Jordan2.46%333359.23 378.97    
                  Electorate: 30,508  Valid: 13,534 (44.36%)  Spoilt: 367  Quota: 1,692  Turnout: 13,901 (45.57%)  

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                    References

                    1. 1 2 "Belfast Council results". 27 July 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
                    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Local Government Results 1989". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.