2023 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election

Last updated
2023 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election
Flag placeholder.svg
  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
Last election15911
Seats won14136
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 4Decrease2.svg 5
Popular vote19,18716,0647,877
Percentage34.0%28.5%14.0%
SwingDecrease2.svg2.7%Increase2.svg 4.9%Decrease2.svg 3.6%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  Michelle O'Neill (cropped from Martin McGuinness, Michelle O'Neill, Mary Lou McDonald and Gerry Adams).jpg
Colum Eastwood MLA.JPG
Leader Michelle O'Neill [n 1] Colum Eastwood
Party Sinn Féin SDLP Independent
Last election220
Seats won421
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 2Steady2.svg 0Increase2.svg 1
Popular vote6,1933,7741,017
Percentage11.0%6.7%1.8%
SwingIncrease2.svg 5.6%Decrease2.svg 2.0%Increase2.svg 0.1%

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Election 2023.svg
Lisburn and Castlereagh 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 Lisburn and Castlereagh City 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

The election returned 40 members to the council via Single Transferable Vote. This consisted of 14 Democratic Unionist Party members (who topped the polls in three districts: Castlereagh East, Downshire East and Lisburn South), 13 Alliance Party members (who topped the polls in two districts: Castlereagh South and Downshire West), 6 Ulster Unionist Party members, 4 Sinn Féin members (who topped the polls in two districts: Killultagh and Lisburn North), 2 Social Democratic and Labour Party members and 1 Independent member.

Election results

2023 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election result [3]
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  DUP 1401Decrease2.svg 135.0034.0219,187Decrease2.svg2.69
  Alliance 1340Increase2.svg 432.5028.4816,064Increase2.svg 4.84
  Ulster Unionist 605Decrease2.svg 515.0013.977,877Decrease2.svg 3.61
  Sinn Féin 420Increase2.svg 210.0010.986,193Increase2.svg 5.57
  SDLP 200Steady2.svg 05.006.693,774Decrease2.svg 1.99
  Independent 110Increase2.svg 12.501.801,017Increase2.svg 0.05
  TUV 000Steady2.svg 00.002.331,317Increase2.svg 0.01
  Green (NI) 001Decrease2.svg 10.001.73975Decrease2.svg 0.02
Total4056,404

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

Districts summary

Results of the 2023 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election
by district
District Electoral Area (DEA) %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
Total
cllrs
DUP Alliance UUP Sinn Féin SDLP Independents and others
Castlereagh East50.923Steady2.svg30.782Steady2.svg9.031Steady2.svg0.000 Steady2.svg0.000 Steady2.svg9.280 Steady2.svg6
Castlereagh South15.051Steady2.svg32.363Increase2.svg 17.460 Decrease2.svg 121.612Increase2.svg 117.051Steady2.svg6.920 Decrease2.svg 17
Downshire East41.342Steady2.svg30.062Increase2.svg 117.471Decrease2.svg 10.000 Steady2.svg4.510 Steady2.svg5.730 Steady2.svg5
Downshire West40.192Steady2.svg36.622Increase2.svg 117.261Decrease2.svg 14.210 Steady2.svg0.000 Steady2.svg1.730 Steady2.svg5
Killultagh33.492Steady2.svg22.221Steady2.svg15.661Steady2.svg23.361Steady2.svg4.340 Steady2.svg0.930 Steady2.svg5
Lisburn North26.471Decrease2.svg 123.611Steady2.svg13.651Decrease2.svg 114.671Increase2.svg 111.071Steady2.svg10.541Increase2.svg 16
Lisburn South38.203Steady2.svg23.812Increase2.svg 119.951Decrease2.svg 16.580 Steady2.svg6.300 Steady2.svg5.160 Steady2.svg6
Total34.0214Decrease2.svg 128.4813Increase2.svg 413.976Decrease2.svg 510.984Increase2.svg 26.692Steady2.svg5.871Steady2.svg40

District results

Castlereagh East

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

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

2019–2023 Change: No change

Castlereagh East - 6 seats [4]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
DUP Sharon Skillen*21.04%1,655    
Alliance Martin Gregg*17.50%1,377    
DUP Samantha Burns11.17%8791,165.72   
Alliance Sharon Lowry*13.28%1,0451,057.16 1,192.16  
DUP John Laverty*11.31%890960.72 966.68 980.62 1,130.62
Ulster Unionist Hazel Legge*9.03%710735.28 763.92 959.08 1,086.60
DUP David Drysdale*7.40%582678 682.96 703.70 931.76
TUV Andrew Girvin6.79%534558.32 566.64 589.76  
Green (NI) Terry Winchcombe2.49%195199.48    
Electorate: 16,289  Valid: 7,867 (48.30%)  Spoilt: 90  Quota: 1,124  Turnout: 7,957 (48.85%)  

    Castlereagh South

    2019: 2 x Alliance, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x Green

    2023: 3 x Alliance, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP

    2019–2023 Change: Alliance and Sinn Féin gain from Green and UUP

    Castlereagh South - 7 seats [4]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12345678
    Alliance Michelle Guy*14.26%1,452       
    DUP Brian Higginson9.88%1,0061,009 1,009.60 1,507.72    
    Alliance Nancy Eaton10.96%1,1161,121 1,183.16 1,186.16 1,188.76 1,416.76  
    SDLP John Gallen*10.61%1,0351,035 1,042.08 1,044.08 1,046.16 1,147.12 1,613.12 
    Sinn Féin Ryan Carlin*11.82%1,2041,207 1,213.24 1,214.24 1,214.76 1,260.76 1,314.76 
    Alliance Martin McKeever7.14%727734 793.88 795.88 803.12 926.04 1,048.76 1,269.89
    Sinn Féin Daniel Bassett9.79%997998 1,000.88 1,000.88 1,000.88 1,036.24 1,095.60 1,192.80
    Ulster Unionist Michael Henderson*7.46%760764 768.92 786.92 1,001.68 1,039.08 1,059.60 1,077.42
    SDLP Simon Lee*6.44%656662 683.36 686.36 688.44 761.64   
    Green (NI) Jacinta Hamley6.44%656667 675.16 675.16 677.76    
    DUP William Traynor5.17%527528 528.18      
    Independent Andrew Miller0.48%49       
    Electorate: 18,120  Valid: 10,185 (56.21%)  Spoilt: 95  Quota: 1,274  Turnout: 10,280 (56.73%)  

      Downshire East

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

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

      2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from UUP

      Downshire East - 5 seats [4]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      123456
      DUP Andrew Gowan*26.01%1,798     
      DUP Uel Mackin*15.33%1,0601,576.96    
      Alliance Aaron McIntyre*15.94%1,1021,123.96 1,139.00 1,253.00  
      Alliance Kurtis Dickson14.12%976981.04 985.84 1,147.84  
      Ulster Unionist James Baird*10.50%726768.48 938.40 945.76 959.76 1,154.76
      Ulster Unionist Alex Swan*6.97%482498.92 600.36 605.36 626.36 749.36
      TUV Stewart Ferris5.73%396428.76 564.12 566.48 570.48  
      SDLP John Drake4.51%312314.52 317.08    
      Electorate: 12,763  Valid: 6,914 (54.17%)  Spoilt: 62  Quota: 1,143  Turnout: 6,976 (54.66%)  

        Downshire West

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

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

        2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from UUP

        Downshire West - 5 seats [4]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        123456
        Alliance Owen Gawith*23.58%1,693     
        Alliance Gretta Thompson13.04%9361,353.02    
        Ulster Unionist Alan Martin8.69%624641.98 693.33 776.91 1,315.91 
        DUP Caleb McCready*13.87%9961,014.56 1,020.85 1,032.40 1,059.86 1,093.46
        DUP Allan Ewart*13.53%971975.06 987.35 992.81 1,039.51 1,082.56
        DUP William Leathem12.79%918921.48 925.48 928.21 947.26 988.56
        Ulster Unionist Liz McCord8.57%615621.38 691.12 739.42   
        Sinn Féin Siobhán Murphy4.21%302310.70     
        Green (NI) Luke Robinson1.73%124135.02     
        Electorate: 13,284  Valid: 7,179 (54.04%)  Spoilt: 72  Quota: 1,197  Turnout: 7,251 (54.58%)  

          Killultagh

          2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin

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

          2019–2023 Change: No change

          Killultagh - 5 seats [4] [5]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          123456
          Sinn Féin Gary McCleave*23.36%1,958     
          Alliance Claire Kemp22.22%1,862     
          DUP Thomas Beckett*18.01%1,509     
          DUP James Tinsley*15.48%1,2971,297.68 1,312.26 1,325.80 1,415.05 
          Ulster Unionist Ross McLernon*7.80%654657.74 732.80 765.65 776.78 1,398.14
          SDLP Jack Patton4.34%364888.28 1,145.86 1,178.05 1,178.47 1,192.49
          Ulster Unionist Laura Turner7.86%659664.10 728.63 748.84 752.69  
          Independent Stuart Brown0.93%7893.64 136.57    
          Electorate: 15,956  Valid: 8,381 (52.53%)  Spoilt: 68  Quota: 1,397  Turnout: 8,449 (52.95%)  

            Lisburn North

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

            2023: 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent

            2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin and Independent gain from DUP and UUP

            Lisburn North - 6 seats [4] [6]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            12345
            Sinn Féin Paul Burke14.67%1,239    
            DUP Jonathan Craig *14.45%1,220    
            Alliance Nicola Parker13.47%1,1371,147 1,900  
            SDLP Pat Catney 11.07%935941 1,002 1,360 
            Ulster Unionist Nicholas Trimble*7.43%6271,035 1,070 1,242 
            Independent Gary Hynds10.54%890933 946 1,045 1,162
            DUP Scott Carson*12.02%1,0151,049 1,053 1,066 1,071
            Alliance Stephen Martin*10.14%856874    
            Ulster Unionist Linsey Gibson6.22%525    
            Electorate: 16,680  Valid: 8,444 (50.62%)  Spoilt: 89  Quota: 1,207  Turnout: 8,553 (51.28%)  

              Lisburn South

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

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

              2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from UUP

              Lisburn South - 6 seats [4]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              12345678
              DUP Andrew Ewing*15.19%1,139       
              Alliance Amanda Grehan*14.82%1,111       
              DUP Alan Givan*13.85%1,0381,089.60      
              Alliance Peter Kennedy8.99%674674.24 677.30 707.33 707.55 949.27 1,324.27 
              Ulster Unionist Tim Mitchell*11.61%870871.44 962.86 963.58 965.12 971.12 1,007.29 1,065.29
              DUP Paul Porter*9.16%687696 900.42 900.81 915.15 921.15 931.23 937.23
              Ulster Unionist Jenny Palmer*8.34%625628.42 692.90 693.59 694.27 706.42 727.48 745.48
              Sinn Féin Aisling Flynn6.58%493493.42 494.42 494.90 494.94 671.09   
              SDLP Dee French6.30%472472.42 476.42 477.32 477.34    
              TUV Stewart McEvoy5.16%387388.44       
              Electorate: 16,838  Valid: 7,496 (44.52%)  Spoilt: 99  Quota: 1,071  Turnout: 7,595 (45.11%)  

                Notes

                1. The leader of Sinn Féin is Mary Lou McDonald, who sits as a TD in the Irish Dáil Éireann for Dublin Central. O'Neill is the leader of the party in Northern Ireland.

                Related Research Articles

                <span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisburn City Council</span> Former city council in Counties Antrim and Down

                Lisburn City Council was the local authority for an area partly in County Antrim and partly in County Down in Northern Ireland. As of May 2015 it was merged with Castlereagh Borough Council as part of the reform of local government in Northern Ireland to become Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

                <span class="mw-page-title-main">Balmoral (District Electoral Area)</span>

                Balmoral is the most southern of ten district electoral areas (DEA) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The district elects five members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Belvoir; Finaghy; Malone; Musgrave; Windsor; and Upper Malone. Balmoral, along with neighbouring Botanic, forms the greater part of the Belfast South constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.

                <span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle (District Electoral Area)</span> District Electoral Area in Belfast, Northern Ireland

                Castle is one of the ten district electoral areas in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Located in the north of the city, the district elects six members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Bellevue, Cavehill, Chichester Park, Duncairn, Fortwilliam and Innisfayle. Castle, along with Oldpark district and parts of the Court district and Newtownabbey Borough Council, forms the Belfast North constituency for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament. The district is bounded to the east by the Victoria Channel, to the north by Newtownabbey Borough Council and Belfast Lough, to the south by North Street and to the west by the Cavehill Road.

                Titanic is one of the ten district electoral areas (DEA) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Located in the east of the city, the district elects six members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Ballymacarrett, Beersbridge, Bloomfield, Connswater, Sydenham and Woodstock. Titanic, along with wards from the neighbouring Ormiston and Lisnasharragh DEAs, together with parts of Lisburn and Castlereagh District Council, form the Belfast East constituency for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.

                <span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Northern Ireland local elections</span> Local elections

                Local elections were held in Northern Ireland on Thursday 2 May 2019. The last elections were held in 2014. 819 candidates contested 462 seats across Northern Ireland's 11 local government districts. 1,305,384 people aged 18 and over were eligible to vote, and 52.7% of the electorate turned out.

                <span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Newry, Mourne and Down District Council election</span> 2019 Northern Ireland local election

                The 2019 election to the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, part of the Northern Ireland local elections that were held on 2 May 2019 returned 41 members to the council via Single Transferable Vote.

                <span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council election</span>

                Elections to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, part of the Northern Ireland local elections on 2 May 2019, returned 40 members to the council using Single Transferable Vote. The Democratic Unionist Party were the largest party in both first-preference votes and seats.

                <span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council election</span> Local government election in Northern Ireland

                The second election to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, part of the Northern Ireland local elections on 2 May 2019, returned 40 members to the council via Single Transferable Vote. The Democratic Unionist Party won a plurality of first-preference votes and seats.

                <span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election</span>

                The 2019 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election was the second election to Lisburn and Castlereagh city Council, part of the Northern Ireland local elections on 2 May 2019, which returned 40 members to the Lisburn and Castlereagh city Council via Single Transferable Vote.

                <span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council election</span>

                Elections to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, part of the Northern Ireland local elections on 2 May 2019, returned 41 members to the council using Single Transferable Vote. The Democratic Unionist Party were the largest party in both first-preference votes and seats.

                Elections to Lisburn City Council were held on 5 May 2011 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used five district electoral areas to elect a total of 30 councillors.

                Elections to Lisburn Borough Council were held on 7 June 2001 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used five district electoral areas to elect a total of 30 councillors.

                Elections to Lisburn Borough Council were held on 21 May 1997 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used five district electoral areas to elect a total of 30 councillors.

                <span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Belfast City Council election</span> Local election in Northern Ireland

                The 2023 election to Belfast City Council was held on 18 May 2023, alongside other local elections in Northern Ireland, two weeks after local elections in England. The Northern Ireland elections were delayed by 2 weeks to avoid overlapping with the coronation of King Charles III.

                <span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council election</span> Northern Ireland local election

                The 2023 election to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council was scheduled to be held on 18 May 2023, alongside other local elections in Northern Ireland, two weeks after local elections in England. The Northern Ireland elections were delayed by 2 weeks to avoid overlapping with the coronation of King Charles III.

                <span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Newry, Mourne and Down District Council election</span> Northern Ireland local election

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

                Castlereagh South is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Lisburn and Castlereagh, Northern Ireland. The district elects five members to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and contains the wards of Beechill, Cairnshill, Carryduff East, Carryduff West, Galwally, Knockbracken and Newtownbreda. Castlereagh South forms part of the Belfast South constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.

                Lisburn North is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Lisburn and Castlereagh, Northern Ireland. The district elects six members to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and contains the wards of Derryaghy, Harmony Hill, Hilden, Lambeg, Magheralave and Wallace Park. Lisburn North forms part of the Lagan Valley constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.

                Killultagh is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Lisburn and Castlereagh, Northern Ireland. The district elects five members to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and contains the wards of Ballinderry, Glenavy, Maghaberry, Stonyford and White Mountain. Killultagh forms part of the Lagan Valley constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament, and part of the South Antrim constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.

                Downshire West is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Lisburn and Castlereagh, Northern Ireland. The district elects five members to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and contains the wards of Blaris, Hillsborough, Lagan, Maze and Moira. Downshire West forms part of the Lagan Valley constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.

                References

                1. "Local government elections in Northern Ireland". www.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
                2. "NI council election moved to avoid coronation clash". BBC News. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
                3. "Lisburn and Castlereagh result - Northern Ireland Council Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
                4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Northern Ireland council election: List of all the candidates in the May 2023 poll". Belfast Live. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
                5. "Killultagh Election Results 2023". Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
                6. "Lisburn North Election Results 2023". Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. Retrieved 19 May 2023.