1997 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland

On 1 May 1997, the 1997 United Kingdom general election was held in Northern Ireland, to elect all 659 members of the House of Commons, including the 18 Northern Ireland seats. This was an increase of one seat in Northern Ireland, where the House of Commons as a whole had increased from 650 to 659 seats.

1,177,969 people were eligible to vote, up 53,069 from the 1992 general election. 67.39% of eligible voters turned out (when including spoiled ballots), down 2.6 percentage points from the last general election.^[1]

The Labour Party led by Tony Blair won a large majority with 418 of 659 seats, returning to office after 18 years of Conservative Party government. In Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin gained two seats, beginning a steady growth in support in elections to the House of Commons.

Less than a year after this election, on 10 April 1998, the Good Friday Agreement was signed, providing for a Northern Ireland Assembly and devolved government through the Northern Ireland Executive.