2005 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland

none April 2022 2005 United Kingdom general election 2005 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland parliamentary no 2001 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland 2001 List of MPs elected in the 2001 United Kingdom general election 2010 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland 2010 All 18 Northern Irish seats to the House of Commons List of MPs for constituencies in Northern Ireland (2005–2010) 2005 05 05 yes 62.9% (5.1 pp) DrIanPaisley.jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Ian Paisley 30 September 1971 North Antrim Democratic Unionist Party 241,856 33.7% 11.2 pp 5 seats, 22.5% 9 4 Gerry Adams, October 2005 (cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Gerry Adams 13 November 1983 Belfast West Sinn Féin 4 seats, 21.7% 5 1 174,530 24.3% 2.6 pp MarkDurkan.jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Mark Durkan 2001 Foyle Social Democratic and Labour Party 3 seats, 21.0% 3 0 125,626 17.5% 3.5 pp David Trimble.jpg 120 120 160 0 0 David Trimble 28 August 1995 Upper Bann (lost seat) Ulster Unionist Party 6 seats, 26.8% 1 5 127,414 17.8% 9.0 pp Northern Ireland Election Map 2005.jpg 320px Colours on map indicate winning party for each constituency On 5 May 2005, the 2005 United Kingdom general election was held in Northern Ireland, to elect all 646 members of the House of Commons, including the 18 Northern Ireland seats. 1,139,993 people were eligible to vote, down 51,016 from the 2001 general election. 63.49% of eligible voters turned out (when including spoiled and excluded ballots), down 5.1 percentage points from the last general election.http://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/c3c838c4-be0c-46ca-ab10-8761fcdb00ac/uk-parl-eligible-electorate,-votes-polled,-percentage-poll UK Parliamentary Election 2005 - Turnout Electoral Office for Northern Ireland 15 December 2019 20 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210320180453/http://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/c3c838c4-be0c-46ca-ab10-8761fcdb00ac/uk-parl-eligible-electorate,-votes-polled,-percentage-poll live The election resulted in the Ulster Unionist Party losing its place as the largest Northern Irish political party at Westminster, being replaced by the Democratic Unionist Party. Both the DUP and Sinn Féin increased their share of the vote as well as their number of seats. The Social Democratic and Labour Party were unable to regain its formerly held status as the largest nationalist political party in Northern Ireland, though they retained 3 seats overall, albeit with a reduced share of the vote. Both John Hume and David Trimble, 1998 Nobel Peace Prize laureates for their roles in the Peace Process, did not remain MPs with Hume standing down in Foyle and Trimble losing his Upper Bann seat.Devenport Mark Profile: David Trimble http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/4400959.stm 6 May 2015 BBC News 6 May 2005 11 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210211225805/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/4400959.stm live The UUP's dismal electoral performance led to Trimble's resignation as leader. Background Politics of Northern Ireland Northern Ireland has a distinct regional political scene compared to the rest of the United Kingdom. The major mainland UK political entities maintain a nominal presence in the country and local parties campaign to represent Northern Irish issues. Politics is mainly split on unionist and nationalist divides, with those wanting to remain part of the United Kingdom on one side and those wanting to unite with the Republic of Ireland on the other. Cross community parties exist, but have not gained as much political support.Whyte Nicholas Northern Ireland Political Parties http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/gparties.htm Northern Ireland Social and Political Archive 2 May 2015 3 July 2005 9 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110709054110/http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/gparties.htm live Following the previous general election in 2001 and the 2003 Assembly elections, both moderate unionist and nationalist parties continued to lose support as the electorate turned towards the DUP and Sinn Féin. Policing and the fallout from Stormontgate dominated the election campaign. The devolved government in Northern Ireland was suspended in October 2002 after an alleged Provisional IRA spy ring was uncovered at Stormont. Policing in Northern Ireland was a sensitive topic for nationalists, who associated the Royal Ulster Constabulary with the unionist community for their actions during the Troubles. In November 2001, the Police Service of Northern Ireland was established to replace the RUC. Done as an attempt to reform policing, it was viewed with skepticism by Sinn Féin.Devenport Mark Deal and justice top the issues http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/issues/4412207.stm 1 May 2015 BBC News 5 April 2005 21 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081221190846/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/issues/4412207.stm live The UUP continued its decline under Trimble's leadership. After a poor showing at the 2001 elections, following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the party experienced more defections to the DUP in the run up to the 2005 elections.DUP claims UUP defections http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3419253.stm 2 May 2015 BBC News 22 January 2004 28 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090428123813/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3419253.stm live At the start of 2004 Lagan Valley MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, along with assembly members Norah Beare and Arlene Foster announced that they had left the UUP and joined the DUP.Happold Tom Press review: Jeffrey Donaldson leaves the UUP https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/dec/19/northernireland.northernireland2 2 May 2015 The Guardian 19 December 2003 18 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150518080054/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/dec/19/northernireland.northernireland2 live Many were disillusioned by the concessions made in the 1998 agreement and supported the DUP's harder line against nationalist demands. Stormontgate, along with the Northern Bank robbery in December 2004 and murder of Robert McCartney the following month, reaffirmed to unionists that the IRA were still active and, by association, planted further distrust in Sinn Féin.Sinn Féin 'arrogance' over poll pledge https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/apr/01/northernireland.northernireland 2 May 2015 The Guardian 1 April 2005 18 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150518080103/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/apr/01/northernireland.northernireland live Towards the end of January, veteran UUP MP Martin Smyth announced that he would not be contesting his South Belfast seat in order to spend more time with his ailing wife.Ulster Unionist MP to stand down http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4193883.stm 6 May 2015 BBC News 21 January 2005 8 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240108154856/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4193883.stm live In March 2005, the Orange Order formally separated its ties with the UUP, ending a 100-year association with the party.Orange Order severs links to UUP http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4342429.stm 2 May 2015 BBC News 12 March 2005 28 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090428211603/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4342429.stm live In the early 2000s, the SDLP went through a period of political upheaval, when long term leader John Hume and his deputy Seamus Mallon began their gradual withdrawal from politics. Having stepped down from his assembly post towards the end of 2000, Hume resigned the party leadership due to ill health less than a year later and was replaced by his former Foyle MLA colleague, Mark Durkan.Sharrock David Ill health forces Hume to resign as SDLP leader https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1340860/Ill-health-forces-Hume-to-resign-as-SDLP-leader.html 1 May 2015 The Daily Telegraph 18 September 2001 18 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150518183601/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1340860/Ill-health-forces-Hume-to-resign-as-SDLP-leader.html livePurdy Martina Profile: Mark Durkan http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/4402623.stm 1 May 2015 BBC News 5 April 2005 2 October 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181002225124/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/4402623.stm live Hume did not defend his MEP seat in 2004 and also announced that he was standing down as MP for Foyle.John Hume standing down as MEP https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1453420/John-Hume-standing-down-as-MEP.html 1 May 2015 The Daily Telegraph 4 February 2004 18 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150518183546/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1453420/John-Hume-standing-down-as-MEP.html live Similarly, Mallon resigned his Newry and Armagh assembly post in 2003 and chose not to contest his Westminster seat in 2005. Sinn Féin maintained its policy of abstentionism at Westminster in 2005; refusing to recognise the legitimacy of British government in Ireland.Gay Oonagh Sinn Fein, allowances and access to Commons facilities http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN01667.pdf Parliament and Constitution Centre 2 May 2015 8 March 2006 Election constituencies List of parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland returned eighteen Members of Parliament to House of Commons, one for each of its 18 parliamentary constituencies. 22em Belfast East Belfast North Belfast South Belfast West East Antrim East Londonderry Fermanagh & South Tyrone Foyle Lagan Valley Mid Ulster Newry & Armagh North Antrim North Down South Antrim South Down Strangford Upper Bann West Tyrone Results The DUP won the most out of the 2005 parliamentary elections, taking four seats from the UUP to become the largest Northern Irish political party at Westminster. Sinn Féin managed to take Newry and Armagh from the SDLP, though the SDLP did gain South Belfast from the UUP.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/region_6.stm Election 2005 | Results | Northern Ireland BBC News 23 May 2005 3 November 2011 20 February 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090220172826/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/region_6.stm live Unionist The UUP lost all but one of their previously held seats. UUP leader, David Trimble was unseated in Upper Bann by David Simpson of the DUP, despite declaring that his party would not lose any seats.Trimble is beaten in Upper Bann http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/northern_ireland/4495273.stm 1 May 2015 BBC News 6 May 2015 17 May 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20050517184138/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/northern_ireland/4495273.stm live Sylvia Hermon managed to retain her seat in North Down for the UUP. The loss led to Trimble standing down as UUP leader.Kite Melissa Murray Alan Trimble quits as UUP leader https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/1489575/Trimble-quits-as-UUP-leader.html The Daily Telegraph 8 May 2005 4 April 2018 6 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160706191111/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/1489575/Trimble-quits-as-UUP-leader.html live The DUP was the major beneficiary of the UUP's demise. Along with Simpson's seat, the DUP took East Antrim, Lagan Valley and South Antrim. Sammy Wilson defeated incumbent Roy Beggs in East Antrim.East Antrim landslide for the DUP http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/northern_ireland/4497129.stm 6 May 2015 BBC News 6 May 2005 24 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210924130321/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/northern_ireland/4497129.stm live Jeffrey Donaldson kept the seat he previously won for the UUP in Lagan Valley. William McCrea unseated his 2001 general election opponent David Burnside in South Antrim.Willie McCrea takes South Antrim http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/northern_ireland/4498989.stm 6 May 2015 BBC News 6 May 2005 8 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230908052836/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/northern_ireland/4498989.stm live DUP leader, Ian Paisley kept his long held seat in North Antrim, as did DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson in East Belfast. His wife, Iris kept her Strangford seat she won in 2001. Both Nigel Dodds and Gregory Campbell retained their seats in North Belfast and East Londonderry respectively. Nationalist The SDLP maintained three seats at Westminster. SDLP leader, Mark Durkan regained his party's seat in Foyle and Eddie McGrady kept his South Down seat. Alasdair McDonnell took South Belfast after a split in the unionist vote, following Martin Smyth's decision to stand down.Gordon Gareth 'No escape for political Houdini' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/northern_ireland/4524145.stm 6 May 2015 BBC News 6 May 2005 24 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210924130357/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/northern_ireland/4524145.stm live Sinn Féin bettered its 2001 total by taking Newry and Armagh. Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams successfully defended his seat in West Belfast, as did Martin McGuinness in Mid Ulster. Michelle Gildernew strengthened her mandate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, the seat she won in 2001 by just 53 votes. Pat Doherty also retained the West Tyrone seat he won in the same election. Conor Murphy won in Newry and Armagh after Seamus Mallon's departure.Sinn Fein win Newry and Armagh http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/northern_ireland/4497985.stm 6 May 2015 BBC News 6 May 2005 14 May 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060514064344/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/northern_ireland/4497985.stm live Full results +PartySeatsAggregate Votes Total Gains LossesNetOf all (%)Total Of all (%)Difference Democratic Unionist Party 9 4 0 4 50.0 241,856 33.7 11.2 Sinn Féin 5 1 0 1 27.8 174,530 24.3 2.6 Ulster Unionist Party 1 0 5 5 5.6 127,414 17.8 9.0 Social Democratic and Labour Party 3 1 1 16.7 125,626 17.5 3.5 Alliance Party of Northern Ireland 0 0 0 0.0 28,291 3.9 0.3 Conservative Party (UK) 0 0 0 0.0 2,718 0.4 0.1 Workers' Party (Ireland) 0 0 0 0.0 1,669 0.2 0.1 Socialist Environmental Alliance 0 colspan="3" New 0.0 1,649 0.2 New Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket 0 0 0 0.0 890 0.1   Others 0 0 0 0.0 12,959 1.9 1.1 Total 18 717,602 62.9https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7529/CBP-7529.pdf UK Election Statistics: 1918-2023, A Century of Elections Cracknell Richard Uberoi Elise Burton Matthew 9 August 2023 House of Commons Library 29 4 August 2026 5.1 See also 2005 United Kingdom general election in England 2005 United Kingdom general election in Scotland 2005 United Kingdom general election in Wales References 30em #Northern Ireland 2005 Category:2005 elections in Northern Ireland