1997 Belfast City Council election

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1997 Belfast City Council election
Flag of Belfast.svg
  1993 21 May 1997 (1997-05-21) 2001  

All 51 seats to Belfast City Council
26 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Party Sinn Féin Ulster Unionist SDLP
Seats won13137
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 3Decrease2.svg 2Decrease2.svg 2

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
Party DUP Alliance PUP
Seats won763
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 2Increase2.svg 1Increase2.svg 2

 Seventh partyEighth party
 
Party Ulster Democratic Ind. Unionist
Seats won11
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 1

Lord Mayor before election

Ian Adamson
Ulster Unionist

Lord Mayor

Alban Maginness
SDLP

Elections to Belfast City Council were held on 21 May 1997 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

Unionists lost overall control of Belfast City Council for the first time in its history, with Alliance holding the balance of power between unionists and nationalists. Alban Maginness from the SDLP became the first nationalist Lord Mayor.

Election results

Belfast Local Election Result 1997 [1]
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Sinn Féin 1330Increase2.svg325.527.629,379Increase2.svg4.9
  Ulster Unionist 1302Decrease2.svg225.520.121,404Decrease2.svg1.9
  SDLP 713Decrease2.svg213.715.616,653Decrease2.svg0.3
  DUP 702Decrease2.svg213.712.112,914Decrease2.svg5.0
  Alliance 610Increase2.svg111.89.29,781Decrease2.svg2.0
  PUP 320Increase2.svg25.99.29,758Increase2.svg7.7
  Ulster Democratic 110Increase2.svg12.02.42,532New
  Ind. Unionist 101Decrease2.svg12.00.9955Decrease2.svg1.5
  NI Women's Coalition 000Steady2.svg00.01.01,090New
  Workers' Party 000Steady2.svg00.01.01,015Decrease2.svg1.8
  Green (NI) 000Steady2.svg00.00.5548Decrease2.svg2.0
  NI Conservatives 000Steady2.svg00.00.3327Decrease2.svg2.0
  Independent 000Steady2.svg00.00.179Decrease2.svg0.2
  Labour coalition 000Steady2.svg00.00.019Decrease2.svg0.6

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

Districts summary

[1]

Results of the Belfast City Council election, 1997
by district
Ward %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
Total
Cllrs
Sinn Féin UUP SDLP DUP Alliance PUP UDP Others
Balmoral0.0031.5226.1213.9117.013.504.603.406
Castle11.4127.0220.9124.6111.910.001.802.406
Court0.0027.820.0019.011.5032.8112.916.005
Laganbank15.1125.1227.425.1012.217.000.008.105
Lower Falls79.740.0016.210.000.400.000.003.705
Oldpark44.8316.3116.314.701.2011.213.002.506
Pottinger8.6029.322.7026.527.7120.911.502.806
Upper Falls68.140.0029.111.400.600.000.000.805
Victoria0.0031.720.0031.0231.220.000.005.907
Total27.61320.11315.6712.179.269.232.413.8051

District results

Balmoral

1993: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
1997: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP
1993-1997 Change: SDLP gain from DUP

Balmoral - 6 seats [2]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678910
Ulster Unionist Mary Crooks*20.49%2,329         
SDLP Carmel Hanna 16.85%1,916         
DUP Harry Smith*8.13%924969.9 969.9 979.3 983.3 1,034.5 1,129.5 1,690.5  
Ulster Unionist Bob Stoker 8.35%9491,070.5 1,070.5 1,083.9 1,088.2 1,169.2 1,448.9 1,550.8 1,936.8 
SDLP Catherine Molloy9.21%1,0471,048.2 1,310.55 1,328.55 1,415.2 1,422.5 1,423.65 1,424.25 1,426.65 1,430.65
Alliance Tom Ekin 8.54%971986.3 994.4 1,017 1,086.05 1,099.35 1,119.95 1,127.15 1,227.55 1,305.55
Alliance Philip McGarry*8.43%958974.2 984.55 1,004.15 1,052.35 1,074.25 1,080.85 1,087.35 1,166.25 1,203.25
Ulster Unionist Gordon Lucy2.67%304688.6 688.6 719.3 723.2 763.2 848.5 908.9   
DUP Joan Parkes5.75%654712.5 712.5 719 721 779.9 804.5    
Ulster Democratic Heather Calvert4.57%520534.1 534.25 535.55 549.15 662.05     
PUP Gordon McCrea3.49%397415 415 422 433      
NI Women's Coalition Nuala Bradley2.08%236238.4 241.7 267.75       
Green (NI) Mary Ringland0.81%9295.3 95.75        
NI Conservatives Hubert Mullan0.62%7180 80.15        
Electorate: 22,826  Valid: 11,368 (49.80%)  Spoilt: 245  Quota: 1,625  Turnout: 11,613 (50.88%)  

    Castle

    1993: 2 x UUP, 2 SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Independent Unionist
    1997: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Féin
    1993-1997 Change: Alliance and Sinn Féin gain from UUP and SDLP, Independent Unionist joins UUP

    Castle - 6 seats [2]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12345678
    DUP Nigel Dodds *17.41%2,081       
    SDLP Alban Maginness *14.90%1,781       
    Alliance Tom Campbell11.86%1,4171,420.06 1,423.46 1,518.18 1,527.68 1,917.68  
    Sinn Féin Danny Lavery11.40%1,3621,362.18 1,368.38 1,397.74 1,397.92 1,616.08 1,619.28 1,715.28
    Ulster Unionist David Browne *9.49%1,1341,169.1 1,169.18 1,192.54 1,300.26 1,301.62 1,633.3 1,638.3
    Ulster Unionist Nelson McCausland *8.91%1,0651,114.86 1,114.9 1,124.26 1,253.26 1,256.62 1,456.04 1,462.04
    Ulster Unionist John Carson*8.58%1,0251,060.28 1,060.52 1,073.52 1,169.38 1,192.62 1,390.04 1,430.04
    PUP Jim Crothers6.51%778797.8 797.8 821.2 911.18 920.46   
    SDLP Jonathan Stevenson*6.02%720720 777.92 832.48 832.48    
    DUP Robert Ferris0.71%85304.96 304.96 309.14     
    Ulster Democratic Raymond Gilliland1.81%216220.14 220.14 224.32     
    NI Women's Coalition Eileen Calder1.25%149150.08 151.12      
    Green (NI) Alan Warren0.61%7373 73.24      
    Workers' Party Paul Treanor0.44%5353.18 53.9      
    Ulster Independence Norman McClelland0.01%88.18 8.18      
    Natural Law Andrea Gribben0.01%55 5.04      
    Electorate: 21,949  Valid: 11,952 (54.45%)  Spoilt: 288  Quota: 1,708  Turnout: 12,240 (55.77%)  

      Court

      1993: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Independent Unionist
      1997: 2 x UUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x UDP
      1993-1997 Change: UDP gain from Independent Unionist

      Court - 5 seats [2]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      12345678
      PUP Hugh Smyth *32.83%3,070       
      DUP Eric Smyth *16.82%1,573       
      Ulster Democratic Frank McCoubrey 12.83%1,2001,545.28 1,552.32 1,553.48 1,581.48   
      Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain *11.21%1,0481,240.92 1,248.52 1,249.78 1,297.29 1,326.32 1,369.48 1,699.48
      Ulster Unionist Chris McGimpsey*8.56%8001,039.2 1,053.28 1,054.7 1,088.81 1,121.22 1,184.77 1,362.25
      Ind. Unionist Joseph Coggle*4.35%407755.92 763.04 764.22 838.38 868.22 936.49 1,084.08
      Ulster Unionist Glenn Bradley5.49%513617 627.6 628.27 662.05 679.85 839.12  
      Ulster Unionist Denis Robinson2.53%237349.84 350.84 351.62 372.7 405.17   
      NI Women's Coalition Linda Walker1.60%150208.76 308.52 309.02 325.22    
      DUP Margaret Ferris2.22%208291.72 296.76 303.48     
      Alliance John Roberts1.54%144165.32       
      Electorate: 17,089  Valid: 9,350 (54.71%)  Spoilt: 243  Quota: 1,559  Turnout: 9,593 (56.14%)  

        Laganbank

        1993: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
        1997: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance
        1993-1997 Change: Sinn Féin gain from SDLP

        Laganbank - 5 seats [2]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        1234567
        SDLP Alasdair McDonnell *17.59%1,614      
        Ulster Unionist Jim Clarke *14.57%1,3371,339 1,343 1,343 1,554  
        Ulster Unionist Michael McGimpsey *10.53%966966 974 974.1 1,141.1 1,158.2 1,594.2
        Sinn Féin Sean Hayes15.13%1,3881,388 1,402 1,408.25 1,408.25 1,456.4 1,461.45
        Alliance Steve McBride *12.18%1,1181,120 1,186 1,192.4 1,198.4 1,399.2 1,458.25
        SDLP Peter O'Reilly*9.83%902906 957 1,018.05 1,018.05 1,148.5 1,166.5
        PUP Ernie Purvis7.02%644645 659 659.35 716.35 744.35  
        NI Women's Coalition Annie Campbell4.42%406413 484 486.95 488.95   
        DUP Jim Kirkpatrick*5.15%473475 477 477.05    
        Workers' Party Paddy Lynn1.74%160161      
        Green (NI) Andrew Frew1.50%138145      
        Natural Law James Anderson0.02%18      
        Independent Vincent McKenna0.01%12      
        Electorate: 19,797  Valid: 9,176 (46.35%)  Spoilt: 243  Quota: 1,530  Turnout: 9,419 (47.58%)  

          Lower Falls

          1993: 4 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP
          1997: 4 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP
          1993-1997 Change: No change

          Lower Falls - 5 seats [2]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          1234
          Sinn Féin Fra McCann *19.65%2,420   
          Sinn Féin Sean McKnight18.56%2,286   
          SDLP Margaret Walsh14.32%1,7641,775.4 2,248.7 
          Sinn Féin Tom Hartley *16.42%2,0222,047.05 2,061.05 
          Sinn Féin Marie Moore*14.70%1,8101,822.15 1,829.15 2,033.65
          Sinn Féin Janice Austin10.34%1,2741,581.35 1,606.25 1,625.75
          Workers' Party John Lowry3.80%468468.75   
          SDLP Mary White1.84%227227.9   
          Alliance Keith Jacques0.37%4545.3   
          Electorate: 19,372  Valid: 12,316 (63.58%)  Spoilt: 390  Quota: 2,053  Turnout: 12,706 (65.59%)  

            Oldpark

            1993: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP
            1997: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x PUP
            1993-1997 Change: PUP gain from UUP

            Oldpark - 6 seats [2]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            12345678910
            Sinn Féin Mick Conlon16.40%2,317         
            Sinn Féin Bobby Lavery*15.79%2,230         
            Sinn Féin Paddy McManus*12.55%1,7732,034        
            SDLP Martin Morgan*13.74%1,9411,949.28 2,082.12       
            PUP Billy Hutchinson 11.20%1,5821,582.12 1,583.2 1,583.36 1,592.36 1,613.36 1,658.9 1,879.9 1,924.84 2,070.84
            Ulster Unionist Fred Proctor*9.32%1,3161,316 1,316 1,316 1,316 1,340 1,361 1,431 1,447.8 1,675.8
            Ulster Unionist Fred Rodgers*8.13%986986 986 986 986 1,004 1,031 1,082 1,096.83 1,397.69
            DUP David Smylie4.66%659659 659 659 659 659 674 737 743.86  
            SDLP Dympna O'Hara2.58%365366.92 402.83 462.51 505.35 561.57 645.27 646.27   
            Ulster Democratic Paddy Bird3.02%427427 427.27 427.27 429.39 434.39 451.39    
            Green (NI) Peter Emerson 1.73%245246.8 273.8 275.08 286.56 333.72     
            Alliance Mark Long1.25%177177.36 179.79 181.23 198.47      
            Workers' Party Steven Doran0.77%109110.92 119.83 120.31       
            Electorate: 25,054  Valid: 14,127 (56.39%)  Spoilt: 458  Quota: 2,019  Turnout: 14,585 (58.21%)  

              Pottinger

              1993: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
              1997: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Alliance
              1993-1997 Change: PUP gain from DUP

              Pottinger - 6 seats [2]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              123456789101112
              Ulster Unionist Reg Empey *20.32%2,309           
              DUP Sammy Wilson *19.94%2,265           
              PUP David Ervine 18.57%2,110           
              Ulster Unionist Margaret Clarke6.76%7681,265.55 1,309.63 1,340.83 1,345 1,347.62 1,358.2 1,385.31 1,387.1 1,625.38  
              DUP Robert Cleland*5.33%605636.62 822.22 847.18 852.58 852.58 856.87 889.14 889.43 928.08 1,324.88 1,536.14
              Alliance Mervyn Jones*7.66%870886.74 892.83 906.51 913.8 937.04 1,004.94 1,013.63 1,218.16 1,237.87 1,241.33 1,306.26
              Sinn Féin Dominic Corr8.61%978978 978 978 978 992 996 996 1,100.29 1,100.29 1,100.29 1,102.25
              PUP Alexander Gordon2.31%262281.84 298.37 615.65 622.49 625.97 641.61 692.25 699.49 723.33 763.61  
              DUP Frank Leslie1.25%142160.91 487.45 504.49 506.78 506.78 510.91 545.02 546.02 567.76   
              Ulster Unionist Alexander Blair*2.21%251320.75 338.73 356.49 360.07 372.31 377.1 395.04 398.35    
              SDLP Marga Foley2.72%309310.55 311.42 312.14 315.14 349.14 384.38 384.38     
              Ulster Democratic Robert Girvan1.49%169188.53 210.57 255.69 263.55 267.03 271.03      
              NI Women's Coalition Pearl Sagar1.31%149151.48 153.22 160.66 173.95 182.43       
              Workers' Party Joseph Bell1.01%115115.62 115.91 118.79 124.34        
              Ulster Independence Josephine Challis0.18%2123.48 24.93 26.13         
              Labour Coalition Sean McGouran0.17%1919 20.45 20.69         
              Natural Law David Collins0.17%1919.31 19.6 19.84         
              Electorate: 21,854  Valid: 12,968 (59.34%)  Spoilt: 458  Quota: 1,853  Turnout: 13,426 (61.43%)  

                Upper Falls

                1993: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP
                1997: 4 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP
                1993-1997 Change: Sinn Féin gain from SDLP

                Upper Falls - 5 seats [2]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                1234
                SDLP Alex Attwood *20.42%2,855   
                Sinn Féin Alex Maskey *20.08%2,807   
                Sinn Féin Michael Browne18.45%2,580   
                Sinn Féin Martin Livingstone17.12%2,394   
                Sinn Féin Chrissie McAuley12.43%1,7381,754.02 2,181.23 2,401.37
                SDLP Patricia Lewsley*4.26%596982.82 998.63 1,003.22
                SDLP Stephen McGowan4.41%616707.98 719.54 721.7
                DUP David McNerlin1.44%201201 201.17 201.26
                Workers' Party James McAllister0.79%110113.96 117.7 119.23
                Alliance Dan McGuinness0.61%8591.3 93.34 93.61
                Electorate: 22,561  Valid: 13,982 (61.97%)  Spoilt: 345  Quota: 2,331  Turnout: 14,327 (63.50%)  

                  Victoria

                  1993: 3 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 2 x DUP
                  1997: 2 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 2 x DUP, 1 x Independent Unionist
                  1993-1997 Change: Independent Unionist gain from UUP

                  Victoria - 7 seats [2]
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  123456789
                  Alliance David Alderdice 18.87%2,419        
                  Ulster Unionist Ian Adamson *18.46%2,367        
                  Alliance Danny Dow*7.99%1,0241,609.14       
                  Ulster Unionist Jim Rodgers *11.76%1,5081,532.14 1,921.58      
                  DUP Wallace Browne *11.58%1,4851,498.94 1,564.54 1,569.22 1,590.52 1,747.52   
                  DUP Robin Newton *8.08%1,0361,044.5 1,052.82 1,055.94 1,070.52 1,336.04 1,477.94 1,522.22 1,658.22
                  Ind. Unionist Alan Crowe4.05%519544.16 710.24 736.5 803.68 831.18 1,023.4 1,237.5 1,242.5
                  PUP John McQuillan7.14%915924.86 937.98 940.32 956.96 1,001.88 1,040.16 1,149.92 1,151.92
                  Alliance Glyn Roberts4.31%553675.74 698.78 702.94 761.48 771.26 842.62   
                  Ulster Unionist Peter Weir 1.50%192196.76 245.72 509.88 569.64 582.76    
                  DUP Margaret McKenzie4.08%523524.36 533 535.08 558.74     
                  NI Conservatives Lesley Donaldson2.00%256270.96 293.04 295.9      
                  Natural Law Thomas Mullins0.19%2527.38 27.7 27.96      
                  Electorate: 28,936  Valid: 12,822 (44.31%)  Spoilt: 351  Quota: 1,603  Turnout: 13,173 (45.52%)  

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                    References

                    1. 1 2 "Belfast Council results". 27 July 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
                    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Local Government Results 1997". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.