East Down (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)

54.386°N 5.431°W / 54.386; -5.431

East Down
Former County constituency
for the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Former constituency
Created1929
Abolished1972
Election methodFirst past the post

East Down was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.

Boundaries

East Down was a county constituency comprising the towns of Ardglass, Ballynahinch, Crossgar, Downpatrick, Dunmore, Killinchy, Killyleagh, Kilmore, Saintfield and Strangford, all in the current Down District Council.[1] It was created in 1929 as one of the eight seats replacing the former Down constituency when the House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929 introduced first past the post elections throughout Northern Ireland. The constituency survived unchanged, returning one member of Parliament until the Parliament of Northern Ireland was temporarily suspended in 1972, and then formally abolished in 1973.[2]

Politics

East Down had a unionist majority, and consistently elected Ulster Unionist Party members. On occasions, however, it was contested by members of the Ulster Liberal Party, and various nationalist candidates who usually received over 40% of the votes cast.[3]

Members of Parliament
Elected Party Name[3]
1929 Ulster Unionist Sir Alexander Robert Gisborne Gordon
1949 Ulster Unionist Brian Faulkner

Elections
(1921–72)
Politics of Northern Ireland
The Ulster Banner
Government
Parliament
1921, 1925, 1929, 1933
1938, 1945, 1949, 1953
1958, 1962, 1965, 1969
Senate
Elections
1921, 1925, 1929, 1933
1938, 1945, 1949, 1953
1958, 1962, 1965, 1969
By-elections
See also
General Election 1929: East Down[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Alexander Gordon 6,553 56.4
Ulster Liberal David Johnston 5,057 43.6
Majority 1,496 12.8
Turnout 11,610 74.1
Ulster Unionist win (new seat)

At the 1933 Northern Ireland general election, Alexander Gordon was elected unopposed.[3]

General Election 1938: East Down[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Alexander Gordon 4,989 55.2 N/A
Progressive Unionist W. J. Price 4,050 44.8 New
Majority 939 10.4 N/A
Turnout 9,039 57.8 N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A

At the 1945 Northern Ireland general election, Alexander Gordon was elected unopposed.[3]

General Election 1949: East Down[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Brian Faulkner 8,132 59.7 N/A
Nationalist E.K McGrady 5,480 40.3 New
Majority 2,652 19.4 N/A
Turnout 13,612 79.9 N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A

At the elections of 1953, 1958 and 1962 Northern Ireland general elections, Brian Faulkner was elected unopposed.[3]

General Election 1965: East Down[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Brian Faulkner 8,362 62.6 N/A
National Democratic Daniel Rice 4,995 37.4 New
Majority 3,367 25.2 N/A
Turnout 13,357 73.7 N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 1969: East Down[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Brian Faulkner 8,136 51.5 N/A
National Democratic Eddie McGrady 6,427 40.6 New
Ind. Unionist D. A. Rowan-Hamilton 1,248 7.9 New
Majority 1,709 10.9 N/A
Turnout 15,811 86.7 N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A
  • Parliament prorogued 30 March 1972 and abolished 18 July 1973

References
  1. "Stormont Constituency Boundaries". Election Demon. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  2. The Northern Ireland House of Commons, 1921-1972 Archived 2008-12-06 at the Wayback Machine, Northern Ireland Elections
  3. "Northern Ireland Parliamentary Elections Results: Counties: Down". Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
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