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List of political parties in Northern Ireland

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List of political parties in Northern Ireland

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Although Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom, it has a quite distinct party system from the rest of the country, as the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats do not contest elections there (though the Liberal Democrats have links with the Alliance Party), and the Conservative Party has received only limited support in recent elections. Party affiliation is generally based on religious and ethnic background.

The Northern Ireland Assembly is elected by single transferable vote and the composition of the Northern Ireland Executive is by power sharing determined by the D'Hondt system, among the members elected to the assembly. Northern Ireland also elects 18 MPs to the House of Commons, and there are elections to 11 local government districts.

Some parties, such as Sinn Féin and the Workers' Party, are organised on an all-Ireland basis. Others such as the Conservative Party are organised on an all-United Kingdom basis. There are many Northern Ireland-specific parties and these, on the whole, predominate.

The distinction between "unionist/loyalist", "nationalist/republican" and "other" is not always easy with some parties and individuals. Some have defined themselves less by their position on the "Border Question" than on other political issues.

For example, the former Republican Labour Party/Social Democratic and Labour Party MP Gerry Fitt's career suggests he was first and foremost a socialist rather than a nationalist and he eventually left the SDLP claiming it had drifted from its founding intentions. Similarly the Workers' Party has its roots in the republican Official IRA but nowadays is considered to be a non-violent socialist and nationalist party. Several parties strive to be avowedly non-sectarian and would not consider themselves to be either unionist or nationalist. The Northern Ireland Assembly requires MLAs to designate themselves either "Unionist", "Nationalist" or "Other". This is a designation that is particularly resented by those who designate as "Other", as they have no input on who becomes First or Deputy First Minister.

There are some who see the terms "Unionist"/"Loyalist" and "Nationalist"/"Republican" as being of more relevance to the community that the party seeks to represent rather than the position on the border question. Several of the "Other" parties strive to be non-sectarian but have a clear position on the border.

Political parties with elected representation at a local, national, or UK level

Party details

PartyFoundedPolitical
positionIdeologyDesignationLeader(s)Local
governmentNorthern Ireland AssemblyHouse of Commons
(NI Seats)House of LordsSinn Féin}}"Democratic Unionist Party}}"Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}"Ulster Unionist Party}}"Social Democratic and Labour Party}}"Traditional Unionist Voice}}"People Before Profit}}"Green Party Northern Ireland}}"Progressive Unionist Party}}"Northern Ireland Conservatives}}"Labour Party in Northern Ireland}}"Liberal Democrats (UK)}}"
[[File:Sinn Féin wordmark.svg200px]]
Sinn Féin1905Centre-left to
left-wingIrish republicanism
Democratic socialism
Left-wing nationalismNationalistMichelle O'Neill(abstentionist)
Democratic Unionist Party1971Right-wingBritish unionism
British nationalism
National conservatism
Right-wing populism
EuroscepticismUnionistGavin Robinson
[[File:Alliance Party of Northern Ireland logo.svg201x201px]]
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland1970Centreurl=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/events/northern_ireland/parties/70610.stmtitle=Parties Northern Ireland Political Partiespublisher=BBC Newsdate=1998-10-14access-date=2015-08-27archive-date=12 September 2015archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912125627/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/events/northern_ireland/parties/70610.stmurl-status=live}}
Nonsectarianism
Pro-EuropeanismOtherNaomi Long
Ulster Unionist Party1905Centre-right{{plainlistUnionistMike Nesbitt
[[File:Social Democratic and Labour Party Logo 2020.png200px]]
Social Democratic and Labour Party1970Centre-leftNationalistClaire Hanna
[[File:Logo of the Traditional Unionist Voice.svg140px]]
Traditional Unionist Voice2007Right-wing{{plainlistclass=nowrapUnionistJim Allister
[[File:People Before Profit logo.svg120px]]
People Before Profit2005Left-wing{{refnTrotskyism{{refnOtherRichard Boyd Barrett
[[File:Green Party NI logo.svg140px]]
Green Party NI1985Centre-left to
left-wingauthor=Brendan Hughesurl=http://www.irishnews.com/news/2016/02/22/news/eu-referendum-where-Northern-Ireland-parties-stand-425039/title=EU referendum: Where Northern Ireland parties standpublisher=Irish Newsdate=2016-02-22access-date=2017-03-04archive-date=29 October 2020archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029073908/https://www.irishnews.com/news/2016/02/22/news/eu-referendum-where-northern-ireland-parties-stand-425039/url-status=live}}OtherMalachai O'Hara
[[File:Progressive Unionist Party logo.svg140px]]
Progressive Unionist Party1985Centre-left to
left-wingBritish unionism
Ulster loyalism
Democratic socialism
Social democracyUnionistRussell Watton
Northern Ireland Conservatives1989Centre-right to right-wingBritish unionism
Conservatism
Economic liberalismUnionistPaul Leeman
[[File:2023 LPNI Logo.png160px]]
Labour Party in Northern Ireland2003Centre-leftSocial democracyUnionistErskine Holmes
Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats1988Centre to
centre-leftLiberalism
Social liberalism
Nonsectarianism
Pro-EuropeanismUnionistStephen Glenn

Party representation

PartyRepresentation (as of 3 October 2023)UK ParliamentAssemblyLocal councilsHouse of CommonsHouse of LordsSinn Féin}}"Democratic Unionist Party}}"Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}"Ulster Unionist Party}}"Social Democratic and Labour Party}}"Traditional Unionist Voice}}"People Before Profit}}"Green Party Northern Ireland}}"Progressive Unionist Party}}"Aontú}}"Northern Ireland Conservatives}}"Labour Party in Northern Ireland}}"Liberal Democrats (UK)}}"
Sinn Féin7027144
Democratic Unionist Party5625122
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland1Lord Alderdice]], leader of the Alliance from 1987–98, has sat in the Lords since 1996, taking the Lib Dem whip.1767
Ulster Unionist Party12954
Social Democratic and Labour Party2Margaret Ritchie]], leader of the SDLP from 2010–11, has sat in the Lords since 2019, resigning from the party to do so.839
Traditional Unionist Voice10110
People Before Profit0012
Green Party Northern Ireland0005
Progressive Unionist Party0001
Aontú0000
Northern Ireland Conservatives0200
Labour Party in Northern Ireland0100
Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats0100

Other registered parties

Unionist and loyalist

PartyFoundedPolitical
positionIdeologyLeader(s)Heritage Party (UK)}}"
Heritage Party2020Right-wingEuroscepticism
British unionism
British nationalism
Social conservatism
Right-wing populism
[[File:David Kurten.jpg90px]]David Kurten

Nationalist and republican

PartyFoundedPolitical
positionIdeologyLeader(s)Aontú}}"Communist Party of Ireland}}"Fianna Fáil}}"Republican Network for Unity}}"Workers' Party (Ireland)}}"
Aontú
English: Unity2019Irish republicanism
Social conservatism[[File:Peadar Tóibín (official portrait) (cropped).jpg80px]]Peadar Tóibín
[[File:Communist Party of Ireland.svg130px]]
Communist Party of Ireland
Irish: An Páirtí Cumannach na hÉireann1933
1970 (refoundation)Far-leftCommunism
Marxism-LeninismJimmy Corcoran (General Secretary)
[[File:Logo of the Fianna Fáil.svg205px]]
Fianna Fáil
English: Warriors of Fál or
Soldiers of Destiny1926Centre to
centre-rightIrish republicanism
Conservative liberalism
Christian democracy[[File:Micheál Martin TD (cropped).jpg80px]]Micheál Martin
[[File:IRSP logo, circa 2022.png90px]]
Irish Republican Socialist Party1974Far-leftCommunism
Marxism-Leninism
Irish republicanism
Dissident republicanism
Hard euroscepticismArd Chomhairle
English: National Executive
Republican Network for Unity2007Left-wingIrish republicanism
Dissident republicanism
Socialism
Saoradh
English: Liberation2016Far-leftIrish republicanism
Dissident republicanism
Revolutionary socialism
Hard Euroscepticism
Anti-imperialismStephen Murney
Workers' Party
Irish: An Páirtí na nOibrithe1970Far-leftCommunism
Marxism-Leninism
Irish republicanismCollective leadership

Others

PartyFoundedPolitical
positionIdeologyLeader(s)NotesCross-Community Labour Alternative}}"Socialist Party (Ireland)}}"
Cross-Community Labour Alternative2015Left-wingDemocratic socialism
Anti-capitalism
NonsectarianismOwen McCracken
Socialist Party1996Left-wing to far-lefturl=http://socialistparty.ie/2016/06/ireland-brexit-and-why-the-eu-must-be-opposed/title=Ireland, Brexit and why the EU must be opposedpublisher=Socialist Partydate=28 June 2016access-date=10 February 2017}}Collective leadership

Unregistered parties

Candidates for unregistered parties may choose either to be listed as "Non-Party", or to leave the section blank on the ballot paper, in the same manner as independent candidates.

Nationalist and Republican

  • 32 County Sovereignty Movement - Does not contest elections, operates as a pressure group
  • Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland - Does not contest elections
  • Fine Gael
  • National Party
  • Republican Sinn Féin (RSF)

Unionist

  • Reform UK
  • Advance UK

Inactive parties

Unionist and loyalist

  • Belfast Labour Party
  • British Ulster Dominion Party
  • Commonwealth Labour Party
  • Independent Unionist Association
  • Labour Unionist Party
  • NI21
  • UKIP Northern Ireland
  • Northern Ireland Unionist Party - deregistered 2008
  • Protestant Coalition
  • Ulster Defence Party* (UDP)
  • Protestant Unionist Party (evolved into the DUP)
  • Ulster Constitution Party
  • Ulster Democratic Party
  • Ulster Loyalist Democratic Party
  • Ulster Popular Unionist Party
  • Ulster Progressive Unionist Association
  • Ulster Protestant League
  • Ulster Resistance
  • Ulster Unionist Labour Association
  • Unionist Party of Northern Ireland
  • United Kingdom Unionist Party - deregistered 2008
  • United Ulster Unionist Council
  • United Ulster Unionist Party
  • United Unionist Coalition (UUC)
  • Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party
  • Volunteer Political Party

Nationalist and Republican

  • All Ireland Anti-Partition League
  • Federation of Labour
  • Fianna Uladh
  • Irish Anti-Partition League
  • Independent Socialist Party
  • Irish Independence Party
  • National Democratic Party
  • National League of the North
  • National Unity
  • Nationalist Party
  • Northern Council for Unity
  • Official Sinn Féin (now Workers' Party)
  • People's Democracy
  • Red Republican Party
  • Republican Congress
  • Republican Labour Party
  • Saor Éire
  • Socialist Republican Party
  • Unity

Others

  • Commonwealth Labour Party
  • Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist-Leninist)
  • Communist Party of Northern Ireland
  • Irish Labour Party (contests elections in the Republic)
  • Labour coalition
  • Labour Party of Northern Ireland
  • Northern Ireland Labour Party
  • Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
  • Newtownabbey Labour Party
  • Newtownabbey Ratepayers Association
  • Natural Law Party
  • Social Democratic Party - The post-1988 rump of the party stood in a Northern Ireland by-election in 1990; the party as a whole existed and was more prominent in Great Britain from 1981 to 1988 although the post-1990 rump group still exists.
  • Ulster Independence Movement
  • Ulster Liberal Party
  • Ulster Movement for Self-Determination
  • United Labour Party (Northern Ireland)
  • Ulster Third Way - deregistered 2005
  • Veritas - Dissolved June 2015
  • Vote for Yourself Party - disbanded April 2009, de-registered 8 June 2009
  • World Socialist Party (Ireland) - Dissolved in the 1990s

Flowchart of all political parties in Northern Ireland

A flowchart illustrating all the political parties that have existed throughout the history of Northern Ireland and leading up to its formation.

Party leaders

Party leaders serving 10 years or more are

LeaderYearsParty/PeriodConstituency
Ian Paisley42yProtestant Unionist Party 1966–1971
Democratic Unionist Party 1971–2008Bannside, North Antrim
Ruairí Ó Brádaigh36ySinn Féin 1970–1983
Republican Sinn Féin 1986–2009
Gerry Adams35ySinn Féin 1983–2018West Belfast, Louth
William Norton28yIrish Labour 1932–1960
Tomás Mac Giolla26ySinn Féin 1962–1970
Official Sinn Féin 1970–1977
Sinn Féin The Workers' Party 1977–1982
Workers' Party 1982–1988
Hugh Smyth23yProgressive Unionist Party 1979–2002
John Hume22ySocial Democratic and Labour Party 1979–2001Foyle
Albert McElroy19yUlster Liberal Party 1956–1975 (?)
Lord Craigavon19yUlster Unionist Party 1921–1940Down, North Down
John Redmond18yIrish Parliamentary Party 1900–1918Waterford City
Lord Brookeborough17yUlster Unionist Party 1946–1963Lisnaskea
James Molyneaux16yUlster Unionist Party 1979–1995South Antrim, Lagan Valley
Joseph Devlin16yNationalist Party 1918–1934Belfast Falls, Fermanagh and Tyrone, Belfast Central
Gerry Fitt15yRepublican Labour Party 1964–1970
Social Democratic and Labour Party 1970–1979Belfast West, Belfast Dock
James Kilfedder15yUlster Popular Unionist Party 1980–1995North Down
David Ford15yAlliance Party 2001–2016South Antrim
Margaret Buckley13ySinn Féin 1937–1950
Robert McCartney13yUK Unionist Party 1995–2008North Down
James McSparran13yNationalist Party 1945–1958Mourne
Oliver Napier12yAlliance Party 1972–1984Belfast East
Thomas Joseph Campbell11yNationalist Party 1934–1945Belfast Central
Sir Edward Carson11yUlster Unionist Party 1910–1921Dublin University, Belfast Duncairn
John Alderdice11yAlliance Party 1987–1998Belfast East
David Trimble10yUlster Unionist Party 1995–2005Upper Bann

Notes

References

;Sources

References

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