1973 Londonderry City Council election

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1973 Londonderry City Council election
Londonderry COA.svg
←  1967 30 May 1973 1977  →
All 27 seats to Londonderry City Council
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Leader Raymond McClean Jack Allen Ivor Canavan
Party SDLP United Loyalist Alliance
Leader's seatLondonderry DLondonderry ELondonderry E
Seats beforeN/A12N/A
Seats won1094
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 10Decrease2.svg 3Increase2.svg 4
 Fourth partyFifth party
 
Leader Fergus McAteer Michael Montgomery
Party Nationalist Republican Clubs
Leader's seatLondonderry ELondonderry C
Seats before8N/A
Seats won31
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 5Increase2.svg 1
1973 Londonderry City Council election (most voted party by electoral area).svg
Map of the results by electoral area. Electoral areas are shaded according to the party that received the most votes. Circles represent the political affiliation of councillors elected for each electoral area.
Council control before election

Londonderry Development Commission

Council control after election

No overall control

The 1973 Londonderry City Council election took place on 30 May 1973 to elect members of Londonderry City Council in Northern Ireland. This was on the same day as other Northern Irish local elections. The campaign was significant in that, following changes to the election process and districts, Irish nationalist parties were able to take control of the council for the first time.

Contents

Background

The election was the first held since the Londonderry Corporation had been reorganised under the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 following accusations of gerrymandering from the Corporation. [1] The vote was also the first to use the single transferable vote method of election for Londonderry council elections. [2]

During the elections, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party joined forces as The United Loyalist Group for the Londonderry City Council elections. [3] The group also claimed the backing of the Loyalist Association of Workers, the Ulster Protestant Volunteers, and the Ulster Special Constabulary Association. It was jointly chaired by Gerard Glover, chair of the City of Londonderry and Foyle Unionist Association, and Gordon Hegarty, a parliamentary agent for the DUP. It was initially unclear whether the coalition had the backing of the UUP headquarters, but Jim Bailie, the party secretary, stated that "I am sure whatever they are doing is all right by me". The group had a four point programme: total defeat of the Irish Republican Army, control of the police to be given to the Northern Ireland Assembly, increased representation of Northern Ireland in the Westminster Parliament, and opposition to a Council of Ireland. [4] The group took over the local headquarters of the UUP, on Kennedy Place. [5]

The nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) contested Londonderry City Council elections for the first time since being established in 1970 in protest against abstentionism policies from the Nationalist Party. [6] It stood 19 candidates, the most of any party in the election. [5]

The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland stood 15 candidates, while the Derry Republican Club, backed by the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) stood 12, as did the United Loyalists. The Nationalist Party stood 10, including Fergus McAteer, son of the party leader, while there was a single Northern Ireland Labour Party candidate. Independent candidates included Brendan Duddy, a local fish-and-chip shop owner, and Finbar O'Doherty, a law student. [5]

Campaign

During the campaign, the British Army reduced its foot patrols in the city, arguing that this would help create an atmosphere in which people would feel confident to go and vote. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) did not conduct any bombings in the week leading up to the vote, an unusually long lull for the period. [7] The group also went door-to-door, calling for a boycott of the election. [5]

The day before the election, the PIRA and OIRA announced a surprising joint initiative of protest marches, strikes and the creation of "no-go areas" for police, in protest at internment, but coming at such a late point in the campaign, the Irish Times contended that it would have little effect on the vote. [5]

The Republican Clubs published a half-page advert in the Derry Journal , claiming that both the SDLP and the Nationalist Party had broken pledges not to contest local elections until all internees had been released. John Hume, deputy leader of the SDLP, claimed that the party's pledge was specific to the period when the Parliament of Northern Ireland had existed. [7] The Alliance Party accused Hume of having only visited Shantallow twice since he was elected to represent it in 1969, but Hume argued that he had visited it on numerous occasions, and had three volunteers running an advice centre in the district. Hume claimed that the Alliance Party's candidates were unionists and were "yesterday's men". [7]

The Nationalist Party argued that the SDLP was standing too many candidates, risking splitting the nationalist vote and thereby allowing the unionists to win more seats. It campaigned for the council to work closely with tenants' and other community groups, and for the council to move away from party politics. [8]

Hume claimed that the SDLP would do "very well", but would not be drawn on whether it would achieve a majority on the council, while Hegarty of the United Loyalists thought that it would win 10 seats. The Alliance Party focused its campaign on relieving unemployment and building new leisure, health, and community facilities, and believed it would win 7 or 8 seats. The Republican Club would not speculate on how many seats it would win, but Mickey Doherty claimed that it would take a "fairly substantial vote and surprise a lot of people". [5]

Election results

The Irish Times reported the city as having particularly high turnout, initially estimated as between 65 and 70%. [9] [10] The count was the slowest in the whole of Northern Ireland. [11]

Below is a list of the results: [12]

PartySeats±First Pref. votesFPv%±%
SDLP 1011,00832.4
United Loyalist912,48336.8
Alliance 44,93014.5
Nationalist 32,8508.4
Republican Clubs 12,0916.2
Independent 04251.3
NI Labour 0880.3
Independent Republican 0710.2
Totals2734,625100.0—

[12]

Districts summary

[12]

Results of the Londonderry City Council election, 1973
by district
Ward %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
 %
Cllrs
Total
Cllrs
SDLP Alliance Nationalist RC Others
Area A32.2212.211.702.6051.336
Area B18.3117.014.302.2058.235
Area C49.3313.4021.4115.910.006
Area D40.1213.4111.318.6026.615
Area E31.1215.819.216.1037.826
Total32.41014.548.436.2138.5927

Districts results

Area A

1973: 3 x United Loyalist, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance

Londonderry Area A - 6 seats [13]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456789
United LoyalistThomas Craig15.66%1,294        
United LoyalistRobert Bond13.63%1,1261,160.56 1,163.72 1,163.72 1,172.96 1,189.96   
SDLP George Peoples10.64%879879.08 884.08 912.08 965.08 1,018.08 1,192.08  
United LoyalistRobinson11.62%9601,014.64 1,020.64 1,020.64 1,033.96 1,034.04 1,035.04 1,783.04 
Alliance Arthur Barr5.10%421421.8 450.8 458.8 580.04 880.36 904.36 921.32 997.32
SDLP Thomas Doherty6.49%536536.08 547.08 569.08 655.16 679.16 968.16 970.16 970.16
SDLP Courtrey9.11%753753 754 776 809 866 915 915 916
United LoyalistGordon Hegarty9.28%767777.64 778.64 779.72 782.8 786.88 788.96   
SDLP Millar5.95%492492.08 494.08 505.08 552.08 564.08    
Alliance Gormley5.02%415415.56 428.56 443.56 499.56     
Republican Clubs Gillespie2.59%214214.08 214.08 251.08      
Alliance Morrison2.12%175175.88 183.88 184.88      
Nationalist Mulhern1.72%142142.08 146.08       
NI Labour Grace Stevenson1.07%8888.16        
Electorate: 10,497  Valid: 8,262 (78.71%)  Spoilt: 94  Quota: 1,181  Turnout: 8,356 (79.60%)  

    Area B

    1973: 3 x United Loyalist, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance

    Londonderry Area B - 5 seats [13]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456789
    United Loyalist Glenn Barr 22.11%1,659        
    Alliance Herbert Faulkner11.37%853867.4 868.4 869.4 953.64 959.6 1,203.6 1,251.6 
    SDLP Michael Fegan12.53%940940.72 943.72 967.72 969.72 1,009.96 1,047.96 1,726.96 
    United LoyalistAnna Hay11.66%8751,030.04 1,030.04 1,030.04 1,033.04 1,035.28 1,087.52 1,088.52 ????
    United LoyalistT. G. Heathley11.65%8741,039.36 1,039.36 1,039.36 1,044.36 1,044.6 1,045.6 1,046.6 ????
    United LoyalistJeffrey12.80%9601,017.12 1,017.12 1,017.12 1,018.6 1,019.6 1,019.6 1,021.6 ????
    SDLP Morrison5.77%433433 434 454 458 463 485   
    Nationalist McCloskey2.11%158158 160 211 213 348 360   
    Alliance Kelly3.43%257257.24 258.24 264.24 325.24 530.24    
    Nationalist Boyle2.21%166167.68 168.68 194.68 194.68     
    Alliance Sinclair2.19%164164.96 165.96 166.96      
    Republican Clubs Moran1.21%9191 151       
    Republican Clubs Shotter0.96%7272        
    Electorate: 10,377  Valid: 7,502 (72.29%)  Spoilt: 104  Quota: 1,251  Turnout: 7,606 (73.30%)  

      Area C

      1973: 3 x SDLP, 1 x Nationalist, 1 x Republican Clubs

      Londonderry Area C - 5 seats [13]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      123456789
      Nationalist Gerard Barr13.87%698703 705 717 729 1,020   
      SDLP Patrick Devine14.46%728728 731 731 804 821 859.4  
      SDLP Hugh Doherty10.43%525528 533 540 603 619 637.4 650.15 865.15
      SDLP Leonard Green9.60%483484 489 490 559 577 592.2 596.28 849.28
      Republican Clubs Michael Montgomery7.97%401467 469 731 738 762 838.8 840.84 840.84
      Alliance Kelly8.66%436436 644 649 656 665 673.8 674.82 703.82
      SDLP Nelis7.43%374378 382 384 520 544 565.6 566.11  
      Nationalist John McCrystal7.51%378381 384 399 410     
      SDLP Joseph Moran7.35%370375 378 382      
      Republican Clubs Liam Gallagher5.40%272310 312       
      Alliance Gerard O'Grady4.75%239241        
      Republican Clubs P. C. Quinn2.56%129        
      Electorate: 9,324  Valid: 5,033 (53.98%)  Spoilt: 206  Quota: 839  Turnout: 5,239 (56.19%)  

        Area D

        1973: 2 x SDLP, 1 x United Loyalist, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Nationalist

        Londonderry Area D - 5 seats [13]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        123456789101112
        United LoyalistMarlene Jefferson23.42%1,041           
        SDLP Raymond McClean 18.18%808           
        SDLP Feeney14.47%643644 666.4 666.48 668.64 675.72 689.8 696.88 745.64   
        Alliance Joe Cosgrove9.18%408518 519.68 532.76 534.76 535.76 552 555 567.16 577.24 797.44 797.44
        Nationalist James Hegarty7.67%341344 346 346 346 351 361.08 373.16 375.56 518.8 529.12 607.04
        Republican Clubs Mickey Doherty5.15%229231 231 231 260 281 286.08 381.16 385.16 401.32 402.32 419.92
        SDLP William O'Connoll4.81%214215 235.88 235.96 236.04 239.04 246.12 248.12 318.52 325.4 339.8  
        Alliance Mulhern3.49%155273 274.04 295.2 296.2 297.2 308.28 308.28 310.44 317.68   
        Nationalist Charles McDaid3.67%163165 166.52 166.52 171.68 178.68 187.76 195.84 196.92    
        SDLP O'Hara2.68%119119 131.64 131.64 131.72 133.72 140.96 142.04     
        Republican Clubs Lynch2.16%9697 97.32 97.32 116.32 128.32 133.4      
        Independent O'Neill1.51%6780 80.96 83.96 84.04 92.12       
        Independent Republican Finbar O'Doherty1.60%7171 71.16 71.16 71.16        
        Republican Clubs McCool1.33%5959 59.56 59.56         
        Alliance McKenna0.70%3139 39.4          
        Electorate: 6,982  Valid: 4,445 (63.66%)  Spoilt: 122  Quota: 741  Turnout: 4,567 (65.41%)  

          Area E

          1973: 2 x United Loyalist, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Nationalist

          Londonderry Area E - 6 seats [13]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          12345678910111213141516
          United Loyalist Jack Allen 17.45%1,519               
          Alliance Ivor Canavan 8.25%718719.98 720.98 766.98 791.16 791.16 792.16 804.16 830.16 1,029.32 1,032.32 1,332.04    
          United LoyalistAlbert McCartney10.26%8931,100.9 1,100.9 1,102.44 1,102.62 1,103.62 1,103.62 1,105.62 1,105.62 1,111.34 1,111.34 1,149.78 1,193.78 1,195.78 1,715.78 
          SDLP Dan Casey11.43%995995.36 996.36 998.36 1,012.36 1,012.36 1,013.36 1,205.36 1,055.36 1,064.72 1,141.72 1,149.9 1,158.9 1,189.9 1,192.7 1,192.7
          Nationalist Fergus McAteer 6.58%573573.36 588.36 589.36 599.36 611.36 618.36 741.36 802.36 808.54 835.54 839.54 847.04 1,089.04 1,091.9 1,091.9
          SDLP Michael Durey8.08%703703 704 712 716 717 721 738 773 781 888 892 898 955 956.86 958.86
          SDLP Craig8.38%729729.9 729.9 731.9 744.9 747.9 753.9 766.9 794.9 806.44 894.44 900.44 906.94 940.94 941.62 943.62
          United LoyalistWalker5.92%515565.04 565.04 565.22 566.22 567.22 568.22 568.22 568.22 568.22 568.4 584.84 597.84 598.02   
          Republican Clubs S. Gallagher2.54%221221.18 222.18 222.18 223.18 320.18 478.36 488.36 523.36 523.36 545.36 546.36 547.36    
          Alliance Edith Roulston3.45%300303.96 303.96 328.14 329.14 329.14 329.14 329.14 342.14 393.5 397.5      
          SDLP A. Gallagher3.26%284284.18 284.18 284.18 286.18 287.18 290.18 296.18 331.18 336.18       
          Alliance Brian Brown2.83%246249.06 249.06 270.06 287.5 288.5 288.68 292.68 304.68        
          Independent Brendan Duddy2.78%242242 243 244 262 264 269 287         
          Nationalist Doherty2.39%208208 209 213 221 222 223          
          Republican Clubs P. Gallagher1.86%162162 163 163 164.18 188.36           
          Republican Clubs Sweeney1.67%145145.18 145.18 145.18 146.18            
          Independent Bergin1.33%116117.98 117.98 117.98             
          Alliance Commander1.29%112112.9 113.9              
          Nationalist Geraldine O'Driscoll0.26%2323               
          Electorate: 12,899  Valid: 8,704 (67.48%)  Spoilt: 153  Quota: 1,244  Turnout: 8,857 (68.66%)  

            Aftermath

            Even though the United Loyalists won the most votes, the SDLP won the most councillors with ten being elected to the United Loyalists' nine. [12] The nonsectarian Alliance Party of Northern Ireland won four, the Nationalist Party won three and one was won by the Republican Clubs. [12] The result gave parties supported by the city's Catholic community a majority on the council for the first time. [14] The SDLP were disappointed not to win a majority on the council. John Hume blamed this on transfers going to other parties, noting the United Loyalist voters in the Bogside had transferred to the Alliance Party, while Republican Club voters in Londonderry E had transferred to the Nationalist Party. [15]

            The new council elected Raymond McClean of the SDLP as Mayor of Londonderry, only the second Catholic mayor in the city's history, while Jack Allen of the United Loyalists was elected as deputy mayor. [16]

            Following the election, there had been disputes within the United Loyalists. Some members of the UUP once said to the DUP's Anna Hay, who had been elected to Londonderry B [12] and was the mother of the future Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly William Hay, that they had only "lent" her her seat due to the UUP being historically the stronger unionist party at the time. [17]

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            References

            1. ↑ Hopley, Cherry-Lynne. "Beginning of the Troubles - Northern Ireland 1969". Academia.edu. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
            2. ↑ Collins, Neil (2004). Political Issues in Ireland Today (3rd ed.). Manchester University Press. p. 65. ISBN   0719065712.
            3. ↑ Ó Dochartaigh, Niall (2004). From civil rights to armalites (2nd ed.). Springer. p. 261. ISBN   0230006043.
            4. ↑ "Derry unionists unite to fight elections". Irish Times. 11 April 1973.
            5. ↑ Campbell, Sarah (4 February 2015). "New Nationalism? The S.D.L.P. and the creation of a socialist and labour party in Northern Ireland, 1969–75". Irish Historical Studies. 38 (151): 422–438. doi:10.1017/S0021121400001577. ISSN   0021-1214. S2CID   162974539 . Retrieved 20 June 2020– via University of Cambridge.
            6. 1 2 3 "SDLP target again in election feud". Irish Times. 30 May 1973.
            7. ↑ "Nationalists restrict aims in Derry". Irish Times. 11 May 1973.
            8. ↑ "About 2m vote in north and south". Irish Times. 31 May 1973.
            9. ↑ "North-South vote of about 2 million". Irish Times. 31 May 1973.
            10. ↑ "Unionists back to strength". Irish Times. 1 June 1973.
            11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Local Government Elections 1973 - 1981: Londonderry". ARK. 29 October 2003. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
            12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Local Government Results 1973". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
            13. ↑ Russell, Richard (2014). Modernity, Community and Plurality in Brian Friel's drama. Syracuse University Press. p. 153. ISBN   978-0815652342.
            14. ↑ "Unionists top the council poll". Irish Times. 2 June 1973.
            15. ↑ "Catholic mayor for Derry". Irish Times. 13 June 1973.
            16. ↑ Newsroom, The (25 November 2010). "William recalls Council 'Hay' days". Londonderry Sentinel. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
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