1970 South Antrim by-election

The 1970 South Antrim by-election of 16 April 1970 resulted in the loss of a seat from the Ulster Unionist Party to the much smaller Protestant Unionist Party. In the 1969 General Election the previous MP, the comparatively liberal Richard Ferguson, handily beat his only opponent, the Protestant Unionist William Beattie. Although the Ulster Unionist candidate was relatively hardline, losing his previous seat to the pro O'Neill unofficial Unionists. Beattie first came to public attention in 1966 after he took over Paisley's Ulster Hall rallies while he was imprisoned for unlawful assembly.Fortnight Magazine, Issue 194, p. 6-7. Fortnight Publications, 1983. Result South Antrim by-election, 1970 Protestant Unionist Party William Beattie 7,137 35.16 +1.90 Ulster Unionist Party W. J. Morgan 6,179 30.44 -36.30 Independent (politician) David Corkey 5,212 25.67 New Northern Ireland Labour Party Adrian Whitby 1,773 8.73 New 958 4.72 N/A 28,633 70.90 +5.61 Protestant Unionist Party Ulster Unionist Party Previous result General Election 24 February 1969: Antrim South Ulster Unionist Party Richard Ferguson 10,761 66.74 -18.38 Protestant Unionist Party William Beattie 5,362 33.26 New 5,399 33.48 -36.75 24,693 65.29 +15.81 Ulster Unionist Party References South Antrim