2023 Ards and North Down Borough Council election

Last updated

2023 Ards and North Down Borough Council election
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  2019 18 May 20232027 

All 40 council seats
21 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  Official portrait of Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson crop 2.jpg
Naomi Long 2021.png
Doug Beattie.png
Leader Jeffrey Donaldson Naomi Long Doug Beattie
Party DUP Alliance Ulster Unionist
Seats before14108
Seats won14128
Seat changeSteady2.svg 0Increase2.svg 2Steady2.svg 0
Popular vote16,52215,1379,393
Percentage29.0%26.6%16.5%
SwingDecrease2.svg4.4%Increase2.svg 4.4%Decrease2.svg 1.3%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
GPNI
Colum Eastwood MLA.JPG
Leader Mal O'Hara Colum Eastwood
Party Independent Green (NI) SDLP
Seats before331
Seats won321
Seat changeSteady2.svg 0Decrease2.svg 1Steady2.svg 0
Popular vote6,3513,3812,115
Percentage11.2%5.9%3.7%
SwingIncrease2.svg 2.6%Decrease2.svg 4.3%Increase2.svg 0.5%

Ards and North Down Borough Council Election 2023.svg
Ards and North Down 2023 Council Election Results by DEA (Shaded by plurality of FPVs)

Council control before election

No overall control

Council control after election

TBC

The 2023 election to Ards and North Down Borough Council was held on 18 May 2023, alongside other local elections in Northern Ireland, two weeks after local elections in England. [1] The Northern Ireland elections were delayed by 2 weeks to avoid overlapping with the coronation of King Charles III. [2]

Contents

They returned 40 members to the council via Single Transferable Vote.

Background

Ards and North Down is the only council in Northern Ireland on which Sinn Féin have never won a seat. [3]

Election results

2023 Ards and North Down Borough Council election result
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  DUP 1411Steady2.svg 035.0029.0216,522Decrease2.svg4.36
  Alliance 1231Increase2.svg 230.0026.5915,137Increase2.svg 4.36
  Ulster Unionist 800Steady2.svg 020.0016.509,393Decrease2.svg 1.31
  Independent 311Steady2.svg 07.5011.166,351Increase2.svg 2.55
  Green (NI) 201Decrease2.svg 15.005.943,381Decrease2.svg 4.23
  SDLP 100Steady2.svg 02.503.722,115Increase2.svg 0.49
  TUV 001Decrease2.svg 10.004.832,748Increase2.svg 3.45
  Sinn Féin 000Steady2.svg 00.001.66945Increase2.svg 1.13
  NI Conservatives 000Steady2.svg 00.000.59337Decrease2.svg 0.72
Total4056,929

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

District summary

Results of the 2023 Ards and North Down Borough Council election by District Electoral Area
District Electoral Area (DEA) %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
Total
cllrs
DUP Alliance UUP Green SDLP TUV Sinn Féin Independents and others
Ards Peninsula44.713Steady2.svg13.781Steady2.svg8.051Steady2.svg1.620 Steady2.svg13.931Steady2.svg6.450 Steady2.svg10.290 Steady2.svg1.180 Steady2.svg6
Bangor Central16.731Decrease2.svg 128.752Increase2.svg 114.551Steady2.svg6.900 Decrease2.svg 10.000 Steady2.svg5.370 Steady2.svg0.000 Steady2.svg27.692Increase2.svg 16
Bangor East and Donaghadee23.392Steady2.svg23.902Increase2.svg 134.182Steady2.svg4.180 Steady2.svg0.000 Steady2.svg0.000 Steady2.svg0.000 Steady2.svg14.350 Decrease2.svg 16
Bangor West25.722Increase2.svg 130.091Decrease2.svg 113.331Steady2.svg11.331Steady2.svg4.570 Steady2.svg5.090 Steady2.svg0.000 Steady2.svg9.870 Steady2.svg5
Comber38.482Steady2.svg28.832Increase2.svg 119.311Steady2.svg2.720 Steady2.svg0.00 Steady2.svg5.610 Decrease2.svg 10.000 Steady2.svg5.000 Steady2.svg5
Holywood and Clandeboye19.811Steady2.svg41.032Steady2.svg12.801Steady2.svg14.671Steady2.svg6.970 Steady2.svg4.710 Steady2.svg0.000 Steady2.svg0.000 Steady2.svg5
Newtownards32.383Steady2.svg23.512Steady2.svg13.541Steady2.svg2.430 Steady2.svg0.000 Steady2.svg6.440 Steady2.svg0.000 Steady2.svg21.701Steady2.svg7
Total29.0214Steady2.svg26.5912Increase2.svg 216.508Steady2.svg5.942Decrease2.svg 13.721Steady2.svg4.830Decrease2.svg 11.660Steady2.svg11.753Steady2.svg40

District results

Ards Peninsula

2019: 3 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance

2023: 3 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance

2019–2023 Change: No change

Ards Peninsula - 6 seats [4]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
DUP Robert Adair*21.33%1,959    
Alliance Lorna McAlpine*13.78%1,2661,273.92 1,383.92  
SDLP Joe Boyle*13.93%1,2791,288.24 1,308.57 1,314.57 
DUP Nigel Edmund*6.89%633996.99 1,003.32 1,174.22 1,675.22
DUP Davy Kerr9.00%827990.68 1,014.99 1,165.61 1,314.61
Ulster Unionist Pete Wray8.05%739773.98 810.31 949.27 1,069.06
Sinn Féin Noel Sands10.29%945946.65 963.65 964.65 965.65
DUP Eddie Thompson*7.48%687720.00 725.33 852.62  
TUV Tom Thompson6.45%592616.09 628.09   
Green (NI) Gilian McNaull1.62%149149.99    
Independent Boyd Ireland1.18%108111.63    
Electorate: 19,000  Valid: 9,184 (48.34%)  Spoilt: 111  Quota: 1,313  Turnout: 9,925 (52.24%)  

    Bangor Central

    2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Green, 1 x Independent

    2023: 2 x Alliance, 2 x Independent, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP

    2019–2023 Change: Alliance and Independent gain from DUP and Green

    Bangor Central - 6 seats [4]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456789
    Alliance Karen Douglas*16.31%1,378        
    Independent Wesley Irvine*16.20%1,369        
    DUP Alistair Cathcart*12.46%1,0531,053.84 1,061.84 1,091.36 1,107.68 1,397.68   
    Ulster Unionist Craig Blaney*10.85%917920.48 935.48 965.96 1,205.28 1,225.28   
    Alliance Chris McCracken7.88%666699.24 705.36 707.16 718.76 719.88 722.76 1,154.88 1,436.88
    Independent Ray McKimm*10.47%885891.48 906.48 933.84 958.52 962.36 975.8 1,003.44 1,218.44
    TUV Peter Wilson5.37%454454.36 463.48 492.88 505.36 552.2 712.52 713.52 729.52
    Green (NI) Stephen Dunlop*6.90%583598.84 600.84 605.4 615.88 622.48 631.12 666  
    Alliance Alex Harbinson4.56%385485.92 492.04 494.44 503.92 504.16 507.04   
    DUP Dean McSorley4.27%361361.12 366.12 381.84 388.16     
    Ulster Unionist Rachel McCord3.70%313315.76 328.76 341.12      
    NI Conservatives Tim Mullen1.02%8686.36        
    Electorate: 19,376  Valid: 8,450 (43.61%)  Spoilt: 105  Quota: 1,208  Turnout: 8,555 (44.15%)  

      Bangor East and Donaghadee

      2019: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent

      2023: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 2 x Alliance

      2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from Independent

      Bangor East and Donaghadee - 6 seats [4]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      12345678
      Ulster Unionist Mark Brooks*23.21%1,972       
      Alliance Hannah Irwin*17.01%1,445       
      DUP James Cochrane15.01%1,275       
      Ulster Unionist David Chambers*10.97%9321,323.95      
      Alliance Gillian McCollum6.89%585630.63 839.59 864.14 1,110.04 1,128.24 1,208.73 1,208.85
      DUP Janice MacArthur*8.38%712816.52 817.64 837.20 853.25 901.13 1,062.63 1,110.67
      Independent Bill Keery*7.54%641668.30 671.66 697.22 731.42 751.58 1,019.71 1,021.15
      Independent Tom Smith*5.41%460590.26 592.34 612.46 646.29 669.67   
      Green (NI) Ciara Henry4.18%355394.30 408.25      
      NI Conservatives Paul Leeman1.40%119132.65 133.13      
      Electorate: 18,066  Valid: 8,496 (47.03%)  Spoilt: 94  Quota: 1,214  Turnout: 8,590 (47.55%)  

        Bangor West

        2019: 2 x Alliance, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Green

        2023: 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Green

        2019–2023 Change: DUP gain from Alliance

        Bangor West - 5 seats [4]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        12345678910
        Alliance Christine Creighton18.06%1,175         
        DUP Jennifer Gilmour*15.88%1,0331,063 1,063.77 1,068.77 1,205.77     
        Ulster Unionist Stephen Hollywood13.33%867902 903.75 911.96 976.10 996.12 1,003.33 1,185.33  
        DUP Peter Martin9.84%640649 649.35 650.35 732.42 828.88 830.95 1,045.93 1,113.13 
        Green (NI) Barry McKee*11.33%737752 758.23 880.63 884.77 884.77 913.47 978.61 1,002.97 1,019.77
        Alliance Alison McWhinney5.96%388392 440.02 548.91 551.91 551.91 961.60 997.02 1,005.42 1,008.78
        Independent Susan Prentice7.84%510522 522.77 529.77 585.77 589.41 598.48    
        Alliance Huw Stacy6.07%395398 417.67 460.81 460.81 460.81     
        TUV John Gordon5.09%331348 348.35 350.35        
        SDLP Tony McCann4.57%297298 301.92        
        NI Conservatives Colin Breen2.03%132         
        Electorate: 14,486  Valid: 6,505 (44.91%)  Spoilt: 83  Quota: 1,085  Turnout: 6,588 (45.48%)  

          Comber

          2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x TUV

          2023: 2 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP

          2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from TUV

          Comber - 5 seats [4]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          12345
          DUP Libby Douglas [5] 20.60%1,501    
          Ulster Unionist Philip Smith*19.31%1,407    
          DUP Trevor Cummings*17.88%1,303    
          Alliance Patricia Morgan*14.84%1,0811,087.38 1,127.54 1,204.6 1,219.6
          Alliance Rachel Ashe13.99%1,0191,032.64 1,074.72 1,160.8 1,215.2
          TUV Sam Patterson5.61%409595.56 651.24 677.36 922.12
          Independent Stephen Cooper*4.42%322374.14 399.58 452.36  
          Green (NI) Cory Quinn2.72%197207.56 219.56   
          Independent John Sloan0.58%4752.5 66.42   
          Electorate: 15,112  Valid: 7,286 (48.21%)  Spoilt: 95  Quota: 1,215  Turnout: 7,381 (48.84%)  

            Holywood and Clandeboye

            2019: 2 x Alliance, 1 x DUP, 1 x Green, 1 x UUP

            2023: 2 x Alliance, 1 x DUP, 1 x Green, 1 x UUP

            2019–2023 Change: No change

            Holywood and Clandeboye - 5 seats [4]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            12345
            DUP Alan Graham14.39%1,1121,300   
            Ulster Unionist Linzi McLaren12.80%9891,056 1,344  
            Alliance Martin McRandal*15.81%1,2221,226 1,237 1,385 
            Green (NI) Rachel Woods*14.67%1,1341,144 1,186 1,361 
            Alliance David Rossiter13.90%1,0741,076 1,083 1,179 1,256.39
            Alliance Helen Corbett11.32%875891 900 1,004 1,021.75
            SDLP Déirdre Vaughan6.97%539541 549   
            DUP Carl McClean*5.42%419483    
            TUV Diane Adams4.71%364    
            Electorate: 15,973  Valid: 7,728 (48.38%)  Spoilt: 87  Quota: 1,289  Turnout: 7,815 (48.93%)  

              Newtownards

              2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent

              2023: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent

              2019–2023 Change: No change

              Newtownards - 7 seats [4]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              12345678
              Independent Steven Irvine*15.76%1,463       
              DUP Naomi Armstrong*14.75%1,370       
              Ulster Unionist Richard Smart*13.54%1,257       
              Alliance Alan McDowell*13.31%1,236       
              DUP Stephen McIlveen*11.38%1,0571,111.78 1,154.98 1,161.98    
              Alliance Vicky Moore*10.20%947959.32 961.42 1,126.21 1,159.33 1,230.97  
              DUP Colin Kennedy*6.25%580628.4 764.75 768.49 797.83 798.25 801.43 981.25
              TUV Eddie Allen6.44%598670.16 681.26 686.68 700.36 700.72 702.4 872.68
              Independent Ian Cox5.68%527618.3 625.5 672.21 685.08 685.56 701.16  
              Green (NI) Maurice Macartney2.43%226233.04 234.39      
              Independent Ben King0.26%2436.54 36.84      
              Electorate: 21,723  Valid: 9,285 (42.74%)  Spoilt: 167  Quota: 1,161  Turnout: 9,452 (43.51%)  

                Changes during the term

                † Co-options

                Date co-optedElectoral AreaPartyOutgoingCo-opteeReason
                25 September 2023Bangor Central Alliance Karen DouglasAlex HarbinsonDouglas resigned. [6]
                30 October 2023Holywood and Clandeboye Green (NI) Rachel Woods Lauren KendallWoods resigned. [7]

                Notes

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                  2. "NI council election moved to avoid coronation clash". BBC News. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
                  3. Ainsworth, Paul (2023-05-04). "Independents aim to return in Ards and North Down, while Sinn Féin hopes to score first ever seat". The Irish News. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
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                  7. "New Councillor - Holywood and Clandeboye District Electoral Area".