1938 Northern Ireland general election

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The 1938 Northern Ireland general election was held on 9 February 1938. Like all previous elections to the Parliament of Northern Ireland, it produced a large majority for the Ulster Unionist Party, who won three-quarters of the seats.

Quick facts All 52 seats to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland 27 seats were needed for a majority, First party ...
1938 Northern Ireland general election

← 1933
9 February 1938
1945 â†’

All 52 seats to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland
27 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Viscount Craigavon Thomas Campbell
Party UUP Nationalist
Leader since 7 June 1921 18 January 1934
Leader's seat North Down Belfast Central
Last election 36 seats, 43.5% 9 seats, 13.2%
Seats won 39[a] 8[b]
Seat change Increase3 Decrease1
Popular vote 187,684[c] 16,167[c]
Percentage 56.8% 4.9%
Swing Increase13.3% Decrease8.3%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader William Wilton Harry Midgley
Party Ind. Unionist Party NI Labour
Leader since 1937 1933
Leader's seat Belfast Oldpark (Defeated) Belfast Dock (Defeated)
Last election Did not stand 2 seats, 8.5%
Seats won 1 1[d]
Seat change Increase1 Decrease1
Popular vote 28,459[c] 18,775[c]
Percentage 8.6% 5.7%
Swing New party Decrease2.8%

Election results by constituency

Prime Minister before election

James Craig
UUP

Prime Minister after election

James Craig
UUP

Close

The newly formed Ulster Progressive Unionist Association came second in vote share, but won no seats. 21 MPs were elected unopposed (40%), the vast majority of whom were Ulster Unionists.

Results

↓
39 8 2 3
UUP Nationalist IU Oth
More information Party, Candidates ...
1938 Northern Ireland general election
Party Candidates Votes
Stood Elected Gained Unseated Net % of total % No. Net %
  UUP 43 39[a] 3 0 +3 75.0 56.8 187,684 +13.3
  Progressive Unionist 10 0 0 0 0 — 12.4 41,028 N/A
  Ind. Unionist Party 6 1 1 0 +1 1.9 8.6 28,459 N/A
  Ind. Unionist 5 2 1 2 -1 3.8 6.8 22,354 -14.5
  NI Labour 7 1[d] 1 2 -1 1.9 5.7 18,775 -2.8
  Nationalist 9 8[b] 0 1 -1 15.4 4.9 16,167 -8.3
  Independent 3 0 0 0 0 — 2.2 7,482 +2.0
  Independent Labour 1 1 1 0 +1 1.9 1.7 5,480 N/A
  Ind. Progressive Unionist 1 0 0 0 0 — 0.9 2,926 N/A
Close

Electorate: 825,101 (464,860 in contested seats); Turnout: 71.1% (330,355).

Seat changes

Votes summary

Popular vote
Ulster Unionist
 
56.81%
Progressive Unionist
 
12.42%
Ind. Unionist Association
 
8.61%
Ind. Unionist
 
6.77%
Labour
 
5.68%
Nationalist Party
 
4.89%
Independent
 
2.26%
Independent Labour
 
1.66%
Ind. Progressive Unionist
 
0.89%

Seats summary

Parliamentary seats
Ulster Unionist
 
75.00%
Nationalist Party
 
15.38%
Ind. Unionist
 
3.85%
Labour
 
1.92%
Ind. Unionist Association
 
1.92%
Independent Labour
 
1.92%

Contested seats

Only 31 of the 52 seats (60%) were actually contested.

More information Party, Popular vote ...
1938 Northern Ireland general election (contested seats)
Party Popular vote Candidates
Votes % Stood Elected %
Ulster Unionist 187,684 56.8 29 25 80.6
Progressive Unionist 41,028 12.4 10 0 —
Ind. Unionist Party 28,459 8.6 6 1 3.2
Ind. Unionist 22,354 6.8 5 2 6.5
Labour 18,775 5.7 6 0 —
Nationalist 16,167 4.9 3 2 6.5
Independent 7,482 2.2 3 0 —
Ind. Labour 5,480 1.7 1 1 3.2
Ind. Progressive Unionist 2,926 0.9 1 0 —
Total 330,355 71.1 64 31 —
Close

Uncontested seats

In 21 of the 52 seats (40%), only one candidate stood and they were elected unopposed without any votes cast. The vast majority of the MPs elected without a contest were Ulster Unionists.

More information Party, Popular vote ...
1938 Northern Ireland general election (uncontested seats)
Party Popular vote Candidates
Votes % Stood Elected %
Ulster Unionist Unopposed 14 14 66.7
Nationalist Unopposed 6 6 28.6
Labour Unopposed 1 1 4.8
Total 21 21 100
Close

References

Notes

  1. Includes 14 members elected unopposed.
  2. Includes 6 members elected unopposed.
  3. Voting only took place in 31 of 52 seats.
    The other 21 MPs were unopposed.
  4. The only Labour MP was elected unopposed.

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