Belfast West (Assembly constituency)

Constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Belfast West is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Created1973
Seats6 (1998–2016)
5 (2017–)
MLAs
  •   Danny Baker (SF)
  •   Gerry Carroll (PBP)
  •   Órlaithí Flynn (SF)
  •   Aisling Reilly (SF)
  •   Pat Sheehan (SF)
City councilBelfast City Council
Quick facts Current constituency, Created ...
Belfast West
Parliamentary constituency
for the Northern Ireland Assembly
West Belfast shown within Northern Ireland
Current constituency
Created1973
Seats6 (1998–2016)
5 (2017–)
MLAs
  •   Danny Baker (SF)
  •   Gerry Carroll (PBP)
  •   Órlaithí Flynn (SF)
  •   Aisling Reilly (SF)
  •   Pat Sheehan (SF)
City councilBelfast City Council
Boundaries
Close

It was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election in 1973, which elected the then Northern Ireland Assembly. It usually shares boundaries with the Belfast West UK Parliament constituency. However, the boundaries of the two constituencies were slightly different from 1973 to 1974, 1983 to 1986 and 2010 to 2011 (because the Assembly boundaries had not caught up with Parliamentary boundary changes) and from 1996 to 1997, when members of the Northern Ireland Forum had been elected from the newly drawn Parliamentary constituencies but the 51st Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected in 1992 under the 1983–95 constituency boundaries, was still in session.

Members were then elected from the constituency to the 1975 Constitutional Convention, the 1982 Assembly, the 1996 Forum and then to the current Assembly from 1998.

For further details of the history and boundaries of the constituency, see Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency).

Members

More information Election, MLA (party) ...
Election MLA
(party)		 MLA
(party)		 MLA
(party)		 MLA
(party)		 MLA
(party)		 MLA
(party)
1973 Paddy Devlin
(SDLP)		 Desmond Gillespie
(SDLP)		 Hugh Smyth
(Independent Unionist)		 Bob Cooper
(Alliance Party)		 John Laird
(UUP)		 Jean Coulter
(Vanguard/UUP)
1975 Joe Hendron
(SDLP)
1982 4 seats
1982–1996		 Gerry Adams
(Sinn Féin)		 Will Glendinning
(Alliance)		 Thomas Passmore
(UUP)		 4 seats
1982–1996
1996 5 seats
1996–1998		 Alex Maskey
(Sinn Féin)		 Dodie McGuinness
(Sinn Féin)		 Annie Armstrong
(Sinn Féin)
1998 Alex Attwood
(SDLP)		 Bairbre de Brún
(Sinn Féin)		 Sue Ramsey
(Sinn Féin)
2003 Diane Dodds
(DUP)		 Fra McCann
(Sinn Féin)		 Michael Ferguson
(Sinn Féin)
November 2004
co-option		 Sue Ramsey
(Sinn Féin)
September 2006
death		 Vacant
2007 Paul Maskey
(Sinn Féin)		 Jennifer McCann
(Sinn Féin)
December 2010
co-option		 Pat Sheehan
(Sinn Féin)
2011
July 2012
co-option		 Rosie McCorley
(Sinn Féin)
November 2014
co-option		 Alex Maskey
(Sinn Féin)
2016 Gerry Carroll
(PBP)
December 2016
co-option		 Órlaithí Flynn
(Sinn Féin)
2017 5 seats
2017–present
October 2021
co-option		 Aisling Reilly
(Sinn Féin)
2022 Danny Baker
(Sinn Féin)
Close

Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns. For details of the order in which seats were won at each election, see the detailed results of that election.

Elections

Northern Ireland Assembly

2027

More information Party, Candidate ...
2027 Assembly election: Belfast West – 5 seats
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1
Independent Paul Doherty[1]
DUP Frank McCoubrey[2]
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2022

More information Party, Candidate ...
2022 Assembly election: Belfast West – 5 seats[3]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567891011
Sinn Féin Danny Baker 20.64% 9,011                    
Sinn Féin Órlaithí Flynn 15.44% 6,743 7,087 7,093 7,109 7,136 7,159 7,159 7,160 7,228 7,407  
Sinn Féin Aisling Reilly 13.01% 5,681 6,709 6,720 6,727 6,745 6,759 6,761 6,761 6,812 7,131 7,664
Sinn Féin Pat Sheehan 14.59% 6,370 6,422 6,426 6,431 6,440 6,449 6,449 6,450 6,477 6,735 7,186
People Before Profit Gerry Carroll 7.51% 3,279 3,394 3,414 3,492 3,563 3,667 3,688 3,698 3,936 4,479 6,023
DUP Frank McCoubrey 9.54% 4,166 4,167 4,174 4,174 4,176 4,180 4,396 5,199 5,275 5,429 5,490
SDLP Paul Doherty 5.79% 2,528 2,616 2,619 2,648 2,684 2,727 2,744 2,754 3,232 3,636  
Aontú Gerard Herdman 4.01% 1,753 1,761 1,793 1,802 1,820 1,823 1,829 1,837 1,871    
Irish Republican Socialist Dan Murphy 2.53% 1,103 1,115 1,123 1,130 1,144 1,152 1,152 1,152 1,159    
Alliance Donnamarie Higgins 2.08% 907 924 926 932 940 1,027 1,109 1,135      
TUV Jordan Doran 1.84% 802 802 805 806 809 810 918        
UUP Linsey Gibson 1.09% 474 475 477 478 480 484          
Green (NI) Stevie Maginn 0.70% 307 310 313 323 333            
Independent Gerard Burns 0.44% 192 209 237 244              
Workers' Party Patrick Crossan 0.44% 193 198 205                
Independent Tony Mallon 0.30% 129 131                  
Independent Declan Hill 0.06% 26 26                  
Electorate: 68,727   Valid: 43,664 (63.53%)   Spoilt: 776   Quota: 7,278   Turnout: 44,440 (64.66%)  
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2017

More information Party, Candidate ...
2017 Assembly election: Belfast West – 5 seats[4]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234
Sinn Féin Órlaithí Flynn 17.15% 6,918      
People Before Profit Gerry Carroll 12.15% 4,903 6,514 8,252  
Sinn Féin Alex Maskey 15.73% 6,346 6,451 7,036  
Sinn Féin Fra McCann 15.37% 6,201 6,314 6,636 7,067
Sinn Féin Pat Sheehan 13.55% 5,466 5,515 5,739 5,903
DUP Frank McCoubrey 10.07% 4,063 4,372 4,490 4,521
SDLP Alex Attwood 8.56% 3,452 4,019    
People Before Profit Michael Collins 2.72% 1,096      
Alliance Sorcha Eastwood 1.85% 747      
UUP Fred Rogers 1.20% 486      
Workers' Party Conor Campbell 1.03% 415      
Green (NI) Ellen Murray 0.62% 251      
Electorate: 61,309   Valid: 40,344 (65.80%)   Spoilt: 586   Quota: 6,725   Turnout: 40,930 (66.76%)  
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2016

More information Party, Candidate ...
2016 Assembly election: Belfast West – 6 seats[5]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
People Before Profit Gerry Carroll 22.88% 8,299              
Sinn Féin Alex Maskey 13.15% 4,769 5,360.8            
Sinn Féin Pat Sheehan 9.69% 3,516 3,761.08 3,829.2 6,393.2        
Sinn Féin Fra McCann 11.11% 4,028 4,283.2 4,479.48 4,756.68 5,891.73      
Sinn Féin Jennifer McCann 12.09% 4,386 4,648.68 4,755.04 4,988.88 5,044.81 5,750.11    
SDLP Alex Attwood 7.30% 2,647 3,407.76 4,161.36 4,234.52 4,242.98 4,245.38 4,299.08 4,430.2
DUP Frank McCoubrey 10.38% 3,766 3,780.52 4,332.28 4,336.28 4,337.69 4,337.69 4,337.69 4,341.21
Sinn Féin Rosie McCorley 8.42% 3,053 3,244.4 3,303.24          
Workers' Party Conor Campbell 1.47% 532 766.54            
Green (NI) Ellen Murray 0.90% 327 705.84            
UUP Gareth Martin 1.80% 654 668.96            
Alliance Jemima Higgins 0.80% 291 427.4            
Electorate: 63,993   Valid: 36,268 (56.67%)   Spoilt: 722   Quota: 5,182   Turnout: 36,990 (57.80%)  
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2011

More information Party, Candidate ...
2011 Assembly election: Belfast West – 6 seats[6]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567891011
Sinn Féin Paul Maskey 15.42% 5,343                    
Sinn Féin Jennifer McCann 15.12% 5,239                    
Sinn Féin Fra McCann 12.93% 4,481 4,587.96 4,604.96 4,613.08 4,645.5 4,682.6 4,735.84 4,837.22 4,838.34 5,167.34  
SDLP Alex Attwood 10.87% 3,765 3,776.69 3,780.09 3,787.09 3,890.45 3,939.62 4,083.74 4,719.58 4,780.65 5,151.65  
Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey 11.88% 4,116 4,340.28 4,350.88 4,358.19 4,377.4 4,394.47 4,407.47 4,423.94 4,433.99 4,683.9 4,823.06
Sinn Féin Pat Sheehan 10.75% 3,723 3,737.35 3,960.5 3,971.78 3,996.39 4,016.61 4,029.73 4,051.85 4,054.9 4,249.77 4,327.19
DUP Brian Kingston 7.47% 2,587 2,587.28 2,587.33 2,587.33 2,600.45 2,604.45 2,607.45 2,617.57 3,834.57 3,866.57 3,866.57
People Before Profit Gerry Carroll 4.79% 1,661 1,664.85 1,665.85 1,701.85 1,732.85 1,853.97 1,939.09 1,977.31 1,999.31    
UUP Bill Manwaring 4.25% 1,471 1,471.21 1,471.36 1,473.36 1,503.41 1,512.41 1,517.41 1,526.41      
SDLP Colin Keenan 2.31% 802 803.26 804.41 807.41 853.58 878.63 981.82        
Workers' Party John Lowry 1.69% 586 586.63 587.03 590.1 607.24 644.38          
Socialist Party Pat Lawlor 1.11% 384 384.42 384.92 399.92 408.92            
Alliance Dan McGuinness 1.05% 365 367.66 368.76 370.76              
Independent Brian Pelan 0.35% 122 122.77 122.92                
Electorate: 61,520   Valid: 34,645 (56.32%)   Spoilt: 973   Quota: 4,950   Turnout: 35,618 (57.90%)  
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2007

More information Party, Candidate ...
2007 Assembly election: Belfast West – 6 seats[7]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 17.84% 6,029          
Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey 13.95% 4,715 5,266.6        
Sinn Féin Paul Maskey 12.93% 4,368 4,758.6 4,774.05 4,783.95 4,821.8 5,074.8
Sinn Féin Jennifer McCann 12.62% 4,265 4,294.8 4,665.75 4,667.7 4,693.5 4,848.5
SDLP Alex Attwood 8.98% 3,036 3,148.8 3,149.7 3,196.9 3,234.9 4,779.1
Sinn Féin Fra McCann 12.59% 4,254 4,323.8 4,344.95 4,353.8 4,378 4,646.85
DUP Diane Dodds 10.83% 3,661 3,661 3,661.15 3,671.15 3,677.15 4,166
SDLP Margaret Walsh 3.18% 1,074 1,086.2 1,087.1 1,110.3 1,156.5  
People Before Profit Seán Mitchell 2.29% 774 789 789.6 830.4 968.8  
UUP Louis West 1.65% 558 558.8 558.8 579.8 581.8  
Workers' Party John Lowry 1.28% 434 440 440.45 452.65 452.65  
Republican Sinn Féin Geraldine Taylor 1.26% 427 429 429.45 437.05    
Alliance Dan McGuinness 0.38% 127 132.4 133.3      
Make Politicians History Rainbow George 0.20% 68 69 69      
Electorate: 50,792   Valid: 33,790 (66.53%)   Spoilt: 448   Quota: 4,828   Turnout: 34,238 (67.41%)  
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Note: All Republican Sinn Féin candidates appeared as Independent on the ballot paper.

2003

More information Party, Candidate ...
2003 Assembly election: Belfast West – 6 seats[8]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 18.87% 6,199              
SDLP Alex Attwood 11.16% 3,667 3,796.60 3,901.04 3,956.28 6,096.28      
Sinn Féin Bairbre de Brún 12.39% 4,069 4,476.52 4,494.96 4,504.20 4,665.68 5,229.68    
Sinn Féin Fra McCann 12.98% 4,263 4,337.16 4,360.88 4,363.36 4,525.00 4,905.00    
Sinn Féin Michael Ferguson 11.72% 3,849 3,912.84 3,921.56 3,945.12 4,000.00 4,117.00 4,346.00 4,448.60
DUP Diane Dodds 7.74% 2,544 2,544.00 2,631.00 4,144.24 4,256.24 4,272.24 4,274.24 4,277.09
Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey 9.09% 2,988 3,673.20 3,699.68 3,705.92 3,768.84 3,923.84 4,084.84 4,190.29
SDLP Joe Hendron 7.86% 2,583 2,654.28 2,849.72 3,108.72        
UUP Chris McGimpsey 3.56% 1,170 1,174.56 1,298.56          
PUP Hugh Smyth 2.47% 813 814.68 862.68          
Workers' Party John Lowry 1.24% 407 410.84            
Independent John MacVicar 0.64% 211 211.24            
Alliance Mary Ayers 0.23% 75 78.12            
Independent David Kerr 0.05% 16 16.00            
Electorate: 50,861   Valid: 32,854 (64.60%)   Spoilt: 673   Quota: 4,694   Turnout: 33,527 (65.92%)  
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Note: David Kerr sought election as an Ulster Third Way candidate, and appeared as such on the ballot paper.

1998

More information Party, Candidate ...
1998 Assembly election: Belfast West – 6 seats[9]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678910
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 21.72% 9,078                  
SDLP Joe Hendron 14.69% 6,140                  
Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey 9.44% 3,946 5,223.15 5,235 5,236.44 5,253.27 5,262.62 5,276.34 7,371.34    
Sinn Féin Bairbre de Brún 11.27% 4,711 5,341 5,381.35 5,383.83 5,405.11 5,409.11 5,421.89 5,705.26 6,993.67  
Sinn Féin Alex Maskey 10.36% 4,330 4,831.2 4,852.35 4,856.41 4,889.2 4,901.27 4,909.82 5,242.2 5,324.61 6,328.43
SDLP Alex Attwood 10.24% 4,280 4,647.85 4,738.25 4,838.85 5,117.87 5,127.22 5,234.49 5,327.61 5,343.69 5,349.52
UUP Chris McGimpsey 3.92% 1,640 1,641.4 1,674.4 1,675.58 1,808.99 2,757.44 4,827.29 4,837.64 4,837.64 4,837.64
Sinn Féin Michael Ferguson 6.19% 2,585 2,791.85 2,838.45 2,840.71 2,867.12 2,871.84 2,896.95      
PUP Hugh Smyth 5.22% 2,180 2,186.65 2,206.75 2,208.63 2,342.94 2,716.06        
DUP Margaret Ferris 3.22% 1,345 1,347.8 1,354.5 1,354.8 1,784.22          
UK Unionist Thomas Dalzell-Sheridan 1.59% 666 671.25 677.25 677.37            
Workers' Party John Lowry 1.45% 607 630.1 658.8 660.68            
Alliance Dan McGuinness 0.31% 129 165.4                
Independent Mary Cahillane 0.31% 128 151.8                
Natural Law Michael Kennedy 0.07% 29 31.45                
Electorate: 60,669   Valid: 41,794 (68.89%)   Spoilt: 960   Quota: 5,971   Turnout: 42,754 (70.47%)  
Close

Note: Mary Cahillane sought election as a Pro-Agreement Socialist candidate, and appeared as such on the ballot paper.

1996 forum

Successful candidates are shown in bold.[10]

More information Party, Candidate(s) ...
Party Candidate(s) Votes Percentage
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams
Dodie McGuinness
Alex Maskey
Annie Armstrong
Marie Moore		 22,355 53.4
SDLP Joe Hendron
Alex Attwood
Margaret Walsh
Patricia Lewsley
Mary Muldoon		 11,087 26.5
PUP Hugh Smyth
Mina Wardle		 1,982 4.7
DUP Eric Smyth
Margaret Ferris		 1,769 4.2
UUP Fred Parkinson
John McDonald		 1,489 3.6
Workers' Party John Lowry
Jim Pollock		 984 2.4
Ulster Democratic Frank McCoubrey
Delwyn Williams		 848 2.0
Alliance Dan McGuinness
Patricia Mallon
Glyn Roberts		 340 0.8
Labour coalition Mary Cahillane
Isabel Cowan
Barbara Lynn
Brian McDermott
Terence McDonagh		 319 0.8
NI Women's Coalition Vera McKee
Mary Catney
Ann Hall
Julie Cullen		 252 0.6
Green (NI) Jude Stephens
Philip Kearney
David Taylor		 156 0.4
NI Conservatives Charles Balmer
David Munster		 60 0.1
Independent DUP Florence Baxter
William Clements		 36 0.1
Ulster Independence Kenneth McClinton
Clifford Peoples		 43 0.1
Democratic Left Mary McMahon
Freddie Rea		 37 0.1
Natural Law Michael Kennedy
Vivien Martin		 30 0.1
Communist Barry Bruton
Daniella Egerton		 28 0.1
Independent Voice Bernard McGrath
Susan McGrath		 26 0.1
Independent Chambers Ruth Patty
Richard Stewart		 12 0.0
Close

1982

More information Party, Candidate ...
1982 Assembly election: Belfast West – 4 seats[11]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
Sinn Féin Gerry Adams 28.43% 9,740              
SDLP Joe Hendron 15.20% 5,207 5,309.3 6,003.3 7,965.3        
UUP Thomas Passmore 13.15% 4,505 4,505 4,509 5,128 5,130 5,131.86 5,151.79 5,165.55
Alliance Will Glendinning 7.98% 2,733 2,764.5 2,805.1 2,847.1 3,072.7 3,651.16 4,525.99 5,163.2
DUP Billy Dickson 12.83% 4,394 4,396.1 4,399.1 4,849.4 4,866.4 4,869.09 4,892.81 4,918.6
Sinn Féin Alex Maskey 1.83% 627 3,240 3,326.2 3,326.2 3,397.6 3,565.93 3,824.22  
Workers' Party Mary McMahon 7.28% 2,493 2,512.8 2,566.9 2,580.9 2,662.8 3,017.13    
SDLP Cormac Boomer 6.26% 2,145 2,204.4 2,452.5 2,454.5        
PUP Hugh Smyth 3.66% 1,255 1,255.3 1,256.3          
SDLP Mary Muldoon 2.97% 1,016 1,024.1            
People's Democracy John McAnulty 0.42% 144 161.1            
Electorate: 57,726   Valid: 34,259 (59.35%)   Spoilt: 1,819   Quota: 6,852   Turnout: 36,078 (62.50%)  
Close

1975 Constitutional Convention

More information Party, Candidate ...
1975 Constitutional Convention: Belfast West – 6 seats[12]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
UUP John Laird 23.61% 8,433              
SDLP Paddy Devlin 17.54% 6,267              
UUP Jean Coulter 6.51% 2,325 4,209.48 4,209.48 4,226.65 4,235.65 5,710.65    
Alliance Bob Cooper 9.22% 3,293 3,362.81 3,495.11 3,679.76 4,341.58 4,428.25 4,472.89 4,915.13
SDLP Joe Hendron 7.95% 2,840 2,841.56 3,058.82 3,180.76 3,607.5 3,611.04 3,611.66 4,901.95
Ind. Unionist Hugh Smyth 7.40% 2,644 3,235.63 3,236.35 3,252.92 3,256.31 4,127.8 4,684.56 4,693.55
SDLP Desmond Gillespie 5.56% 1,986 1,988.73 2,506.59 2,652.23 3,254.1 3,257.1 3,257.72 4,513.76
SDLP Paschal O'Hare 6.86% 2,452 2,453.95 2,578.87 2,691.07 3,115.67 3,118.63 3,121.11  
DUP Edith Goligher 5.48% 1,958 2,668.19 2,669.63 2,686.41 2,688.59      
Ind. Nationalist Thomas Conaty 5.74% 2,052 2,052.78 2,133.96 2,302.18        
Republican Clubs John Sullivan 1.85% 660 661.17 676.29          
Republican Clubs John Brady 1.17% 418 418.78 432.82          
Republican Clubs Bernard McDonagh 0.73% 262 263.17 268.21          
Communist John Morris 0.24% 86 86 87.62          
Communist Peter Kerrins 0.12% 44 44.78 45.5          
Electorate: 63,869   Valid: 35,720 (55.93%)   Spoilt: 1,794   Quota: 5,103   Turnout: 37,514 (58.74%)  
Close

Note: John Laird, Jean Coulter and Edith Goligher were all UUUC endorsed candidates.

1973

More information Party, Candidate ...
1973 Assembly election: Belfast West – 6 seats[13]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456789101112
UUP John Laird 27.74% 11,479                      
SDLP Paddy Devlin 18.71% 7,743                      
Ind. Unionist Hugh Smyth 8.76% 3,625 5,997.09                    
Vanguard Jean Coulter 4.27% 1,765 3,606.42 3,606.42 3,634.31 3,638.3 3,704.33 3,707.56 5,610.71 6,281.71      
Alliance Bob Cooper 7.64% 3,160 3,262.9 3,374.22 3,374.89 3,382.61 3,637.01 3,810.76 3,866.68 5,042.61 5,221.61 5,378.06 5,597.46
SDLP Desmond Gillespie 4.69% 1,940 1,940 2,520.29 2,520.3 2,527.93 2,590.38 2,953 2,953.49 2,993.58 2,994.58 3,404.51 4,961.35
SDLP Gerry Campbell 4.26% 1,764 1,764.49 2,269.34 2,268.35 2,277.35 2,325.48 2,698.95 2,699.95 2,835.67 2,837.67 3,320.88 4,399.77
SDLP Desmond O'Donnell 5.10% 2,112 2,113.47 2,341.17 2,321.17 2,353.40 2,394.93 2,734.28 2,734.78 2,763.39 2,764.39 3,037.25  
Republican Clubs Raymond O'Hagan 3.36% 1,389 1,389 1,438.91 1,438.91 1,465.37 2,134.58 2,537.47 2,538.47 2,563.1 2,564.1    
NI Labour Billy Boyd 4.69% 1,942 2,204.15 2,214.73 2,216.67 2,237.9 2,333.56 2,388.08 2,538.1        
DUP William Spence 3.30% 1,366 2,270.05 2,270.05 2,286.85 2,293.62 2,236.4 2,239.4          
Republican Labour Paddy Kennedy 4.23% 1,750 1,750.49 1,970.37 1,970.37 1,984.6 2,036.94            
Republican Clubs John O'Hare 1.70% 702 703.47 715.43 715.44 725.44              
Alliance Reginald Donnelly 0.47% 194 202.33 223.49 223.51 225              
Alliance Maureen Smyth 0.41% 169 232.7 238.22 238.67 242.67              
NI Labour Patrick Doherty 0.36% 151 152.47 172.02 172.03 174.03              
Communist James Stewart 0.30% 123 130.35 131.96 132.2                
Electorate: 70,791   Valid: 41,374 (58.45%)   Spoilt: 2,834   Quota: 5,911   Turnout: 44,208 (62.45%)  
Close

Note: John Laird, Hugh Smyth, Jean Coulter and William Spence used the label "West Belfast Loyalist Coalition" simultaneously whilst standing under different party affiliations.

References

Sources

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