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1973 Northern Ireland local elections
| Field | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| election_name | 1973 Northern Ireland local elections | ||
| type | parliamentary | ||
| country | Northern Ireland | ||
| ongoing | no | ||
| next_election | 1977 Northern Ireland local elections | ||
| next_year | 1977 | ||
| seats_for_election | All 526 seats to 26 local authorities | ||
| election_date | 30 May 1973 | ||
| leader1 | Brian Faulkner | ||
| party1 | Ulster Unionist Party | ||
| seats1 | 216 | ||
| popular_vote1 | 278,084 | ||
| percentage1 | 40.2% | ||
| <!-- SDLP --> | image2 | ||
| leader2 | Gerry Fitt | ||
| party2 | Social Democratic and Labour Party | ||
| seats2 | 82 | ||
| popular_vote2 | 92,600 | ||
| percentage2 | 13.4% | ||
| <!-- Alliance --> | image4 | ||
| leader4 | Oliver Napier | ||
| party4 | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland | ||
| seats4 | 63 | ||
| popular_vote4 | 94,474 | ||
| percentage4 | 13.7% | ||
| <!-- Democratic Unionist --> | image5 | [[File:Ian Paisley 1970.png | 160x160px]] |
| leader5 | Ian Paisley | ||
| party5 | Democratic Unionist Party | ||
| seats5 | 21 | ||
| popular_vote5 | 27,578 | ||
| percentage5 | 4.0% | ||
| map | {{Switcher |
| [[File:Northern Ireland local elections, 1973 (Council Control).svg|250px]] | Council control | [[File:Northern Ireland local elections, 1973 (Largest party).svg|250px]] | Party with the most seats | [[File:1973 Northern Ireland local elections by DEA.png|250px]] | Party with the most first preference votes by District Electoral Area (darker colours indicate majority)
Local government in Northern Ireland was reorganised in 1973 by the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 and the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972. The county councils, county borough and municipal borough corporations and urban and rural district councils were replaced by twenty-six local government districts.
Elections took place for all the seats on the district councils on 30 May 1973. Elections were by proportional representation, using the single transferable vote system. The district councils came into their powers on 1 October.
Results
Overall
| Party | Councillors | Votes | Notes | Total | +/- | % share | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 216 | N/A | 40.2 | 278,084 | ||||
| 63 | N/A | 13.7 | 92,600 | ||||
| 82 | N/A | 13.4 | 94,474 | ||||
| Loyalist coalitions | 53 | N/A | 9.6 | 66,027 | |||
| 55 | N/A | 7.8 | 53,448 | ||||
| 21 | N/A | 4.0 | 27,578 | ||||
| 11 | N/A | 3.3 | 22,591 | ||||
| 4 | N/A | 2.5 | 17,274 | ||||
| 6 | N/A | 1.5 | 10,639 | ||||
| 6 | N/A | 1.5 | 10,281 | ||||
| 5 | N/A | 1.4 | 9,993 | ||||
| 4 | N/A | 0.5 | 3,784 | ||||
| 0 | N/A | 0.4 | 2,594 | ||||
| 0 | N/A | 0.1 | 704 | ||||
| 0 | N/A | 0.1 | 599 | ||||
| 0 | N/A | 0.1 | 363 | ||||
| 0 | N/A | 0.0 | 290 | ||||
| Total | 526 | 100.0% | 691,323 |
On 21 March 1973, Ian Paisley, William Craig and Laurence Orr announced the creation of a united front to oppose the White Paper, a British government document that had proposed a power-sharing administration and a Council of Ireland to replace the Parliament of Northern Ireland.
Craig and Paisley had initially announced that their parties would not be contesting the local elections - but in practice, candidates from their parties did run, under their own party banners, but in many cases they opted to run under various 'loyalist' labels instead alongside anti-White Paper UUP members, non-party unionists, and localist unionists. The 'loyalist' labels included 'Loyalist', 'United Loyalist', 'Loyalist Coalition', 'Unionist Unity', 'United Unionist' and 'United Loyalist Coalition'.
Depending on the area, the candidates under the various 'loyalist' labels were supported by a coalition of some or all of Vanguard, the DUP, anti-White Paper UUP members, the Loyalist Association of Workers, the Orange Order, the Ulster Defence Association, the Loyalist Defence Volunteers, the Ulster Special Constabulary Association, and the Ulster Protestant Volunteers. In some cases, candidates under the DUP and Vanguard banners were running in the same areas as candidates under the various 'loyalist' labels.
In this election, many UUP candidates used the label "Unionist", while others used the label "Official Unionist". Candidates under both labels were identified as being UUP candidates by contemporary sources, with the difference in some places signifying whether the candidate supported the "official" party line on the White Paper.
Party seats by council
| Council | UUP(U) | SDLP | AP | LOY | DUP | RC | NILP | VUPP | Unity | Nat | Ind | Ind | Total | U | N | O | Largest bloc | Largest party | Total | 217 | 82 | 63 | 53 | 21 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 55 | 5 | 527 | 301 | 103 | 122 | Unionist majority of council seats | UUP plurality of council seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antrim | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 4 | Unionist majority | UUP majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Belfast City | 25 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 51 | 32 | 9 | 10 | Unionist majority | UUP plurality | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ards | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 12 | 1 | 4 | Unionist majority | UUP majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Armagh | 11 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 13 | 5 | 2 | Unionist majority | UUP majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ballymena | 9 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 21 | 15 | 0 | 6 | Unionist majority | UUP plurality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ballymoney | *6* | 2 | 1 | 1 | *6* | 16 | *7* | 2 | *7* | Unionist/Other plurality | UUP/Ind plurality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Banbridge | 12 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 3 | Unionist majority | UUP majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrickfergus | 5 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 4 | Unionist majority | Loyalist plurality | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Castlereagh | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 13 | 0 | 6 | Unionist majority | UUP majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coleraine | 13 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 14 | 1 | 5 | Unionist majority | UUP majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cookstown | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | Unionist majority | UUP majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Craigavon | 10 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 18 | 2 | 5 | Unionist majority | UUP plurality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Down | 8 | *8* | 2 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 9 | 8 | 3 | Unionist plurality | UUP/SDLP plurality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dungannon | 11 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | Unionist majority | UUP majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fermanagh | 8 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 2 | Unionist plurality | UUP majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Larne | 1 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 6 | Unionist majority | Loyalist majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Limavady | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | Unionist majority | Loyalist majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lisburn | 14 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 23 | 19 | 1 | 3 | Unionist majority | UUP majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Londonderry | 10 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 9 | 14 | 4 | Nationalist majority | SDLP plurality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Magherafelt | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 1 | Nationalist plurality | SDLP plurality | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moyle | 5 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 9 | Other majority | Ind majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Newry and Mourne | 3 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 30 | 3 | 15 | 12 | Nationalist plurality | SDLP plurality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Newtownabbey | 12 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 17 | 0 | 4 | Unionist majority | UUP majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Down | 9 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 13 | 0 | 7 | Unionist majority | UUP plurality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Omagh | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 6 | Unionist plurality | UUP plurality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strabane | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | Unionist plurality | UUP plurality |
Votes by council
| UUP(U) | SDLP | AP | LOY | DUP | RC | NILP | VUPP | Unity | Nat | Rep Lab | CPI | Liberal | Irish Labour | Ind | Ind | Ind | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council | |||||||||||||||||
| Antrim | 7,038 | 343 | 2,291 | 748 | 287 | 866 | 2,663 | ||||||||||
| Belfast City | 83,658 | 18,827 | 22,081 | 11,097 | 3,860 | 6,584 | 9,046 | 2,594 | 211 | 172 | 878 | 5,964 | |||||
| Ards | 11,499 | 1,180 | 3,133 | 1,608 | 1,114 | 1,510 | 167 | 895 | |||||||||
| Armagh | 10,405 | 5,200 | 1,785 | 2,601 | 1,070 | 583 | 153 | 1,130 | |||||||||
| Ballymena | 8,688 | 1,469 | 5,607 | 438 | 1,276 | 5,466 | |||||||||||
| Ballymoney | 3,775 | 824 | 679 | 687 | 2,850 | ||||||||||||
| Banbridge | 9,622 | 1,183 | 850 | 170 | 2,972 | ||||||||||||
| Carrickfergus | 3,440 | 2,716 | 4,402 | 472 | 1,129 | ||||||||||||
| Castlereagh | 14,282 | 6,248 | 5,215 | 1,564 | 344 | 904 | |||||||||||
| Coleraine | 12,451 | 1,483 | 2,869 | 325 | 659 | 200 | 2,677 | 1,121 | |||||||||
| Cookstown | 6,428 | 2,671 | 925 | 1,652 | 1,741 | 1,276 | |||||||||||
| Craigavon | 11,589 | 2,092 | 5,014 | 3,096 | 2,940 | 1,879 | 363 | 3,246 | 1,205 | ||||||||
| Down | 8,930 | 8,101 | 2,847 | 563 | 1,639 | 1,046 | |||||||||||
| Dungannon | 11,422 | 4,913 | 1,348 | 1,350 | 225 | 2,297 | 1,047 | 162 | |||||||||
| Fermanagh | 8,412 | 3,540 | 2,285 | 2,008 | 1,495 | 7,212 | 3,406 | 1,496 | |||||||||
| Larne | 1,036 | 543 | 3,411 | 6,411 | 182 | 1,814 | |||||||||||
| Limavady | 3,485 | 1,305 | 5,535 | 483 | 810 | ||||||||||||
| Lisburn | 15,979 | 1,721 | 5,916 | 5,482 | 749 | 2,166 | 445 | 204 | |||||||||
| Londonderry | 11,008 | 4,930 | 12,483 | 2,091 | 88 | 2,850 | 425 | 71 | |||||||||
| Magherafelt | 4,978 | 5,520 | 788 | 1,749 | 1,562 | 1,083 | 377 | 1,074 | |||||||||
| Moyle | 1,814 | 799 | 334 | 77 | 3,644 | ||||||||||||
| Newry and Mourne | 3,757 | 10,291 | 3,939 | 3,160 | 288 | 290 | 7,054 | 381 | |||||||||
| Newtownabbey | 14,070 | 508 | 5,565 | 2,252 | 4,158 | 1,793 | 1,090 | ||||||||||
| North Down | 12,292 | 7,691 | 4,638 | 148 | 1,282 | ||||||||||||
| Omagh | 5,399 | 3,279 | 2,298 | 2,508 | 740 | 242 | 934 | 3,250 | 147 | ||||||||
| Strabane | 7,120 | 5,089 | 1,757 | 1,048 | 709 | 2,575 | |||||||||||
| Total | 278,084 | 92,600 | 94,474 | 66,027 | 27,578 | 22,591 | 17,274 | 10,639 | 10,281 | 3,784 | 2,594 | 211 | 704 | 290 | 53,600 | 9,993 | 599 |
Notes
References
References
- [http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/flg73.htm Local Government Elections 1973 (Ark Social & Political Archive)]
- ''Big Roman Catholic turnout in poll despite threats'', The Times, 31 May 1973
- ''Party accused over Ulster poll'', The Times, 31 May 1973
- ''Unionist supporters elect many hard-line men in Ulster local government poll'', The Times, 2 June 1973
- [http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/flg73.htm Local Government Elections 1973], Northern Ireland Elections
- (6 June 1973). "Londonderry Sentinel - Omagh: Mixed bag result".
- (4 May 1973). "Belfast News-Letter - Line-up for the election".
- (29 May 1973). "Belfast Telegraph - Polling Guide".
- (4 May 1973). "Belfast Telegraph - Few Quit Poll".
- (21 March 1973). "No To White Paper".
- (8 May 1973). "Derry Journal - A New Phase".
- (4 May 1973). "Belfast News-Letter - Larne Unionists to split".
- (13 April 1973). "Derry Journal - Derry "Loyalists" Unite".
- (4 May 1973). "Banbridge Chronicle - The Line Up For The Election".
- (31 May 1973). "Belfast Telegraph".
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