Wikipedia

Lagan Valley (UK Parliament constituency)

For other constituencies of the same name, see Lagan (disambiguation).

Lagan Valley is a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.

Lagan Valley
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Lagan Valley in Northern Ireland
Major settlementsLisburn
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentSorcha Eastwood (Alliance)
Seats1
Created fromSouth Antrim, Belfast South, North Down and South Down[1]

The constituency had always returned unionist MPs from its creation until 2019, However it returned Sorcha Eastwood of the Alliance Party in the 2024 election.[2]

Boundaries

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Map of current boundaries

1983–1997: The District of Lisburn, and the District of Castlereagh ward of Carryduff.

1997–2010: The District of Lisburn wards of Ballinderry, Ballymacash, Ballymacbrennan, Ballymacoss, Blaris, Derryaghy, Dromara, Drumbo, Dunmurry, Glenavy, Harmony Hill, Hilden, Hillhall, Hillsborough, Knockmore, Lagan Valley, Lambeg, Lisnagarvey, Maghaberry, Magheralave, Maze, Moira, Old Warren, Seymour Hill, Tonagh, and Wallace Park, and the District of Banbridge wards of Dromore North, Dromore South, Gransha, and Quilly.

2010–present: The City of Lisburn wards of Ballinderry, Ballymacash, Ballymacbrennan, Ballymacoss, Blaris, Dromara, Drumbo, Harmony Hill, Hilden, Hillhall, Hillsborough, Knockmore, Lagan Valley, Lambeg, Lisnagarvey, Maghaberry, Magheralave, Maze, Moira, Old Warren, Seymour Hill, Tonagh, Wallace Park, and part of Derryaghy; the District of Banbridge wards of Dromore North, Dromore South, Gransha, and Quilly and the Ballynahatty and Edenderry parts of the Belvoir ward of the City of Belfast.

The seat was created in 1983, as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17, and was predominantly made up from parts of South Antrim and North Down. In their original proposals, in January 1980, the boundary commission proposed calling it 'Lagan'. In further revisions in 1995 it lost some areas to both Belfast West and Strangford. Currently the constituency contains most of Lisburn district and part of Banbridge district.

Following their review of all parliamentary seats in Northern Ireland prior to the 2010 United Kingdom general election the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland made alterations to Lagan Valley. In an unprecedented decision, passed by Parliament through the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Constituencies Order,[3] one electoral ward was split between two constituencies. This followed concerns in Derriaghy about being moved into the neighbouring but republican West Belfast seat.

Future boundaries

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In time for the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland has recommended minor alterations to Lagan Valley, including splitting the wards of Donaghcloney, and Gransha[4]

History

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For the history of the equivalent constituencies prior to 1950 please see Antrim (UK Parliament constituency) and Down (UK Parliament constituency) and from 1950 until 1983, please see South Antrim (UK Parliament constituency) and North Down.

Members of Parliament

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The Member of Parliament since 1997 was Sir Jeffrey Donaldson who was elected as a member of the Ulster Unionist Party but switched to the Democratic Unionist Party in 2004. He succeeded James Molyneaux who had represented the seat for the UUP since the 1983 general election and previously sat for the old South Antrim constituency which covered much of the same area. Donaldson was elected Leader of the DUP in June 2021, but resigned the leadership in March 2024.

Election Member[5] Party
1983 Sir James Molyneaux Ulster Unionist
1997 Sir Jeffrey Donaldson
2004 Democratic Unionist
2024 Independent Unionist[6]
2024 Sorcha Eastwood Alliance

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Lagan Valley[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Alliance Sorcha Eastwood 18,618 37.9 +10.8
DUP Jonathan Buckley 15,659 31.9 −11.5
UUP Robbie Butler 11,157 22.7 +4.2
TUV Lorna Smyth 2,186 4.5 New
SDLP Simon Lee 1,028 2.1 −2.0
Green (NI) Patricia Denvir 433 0.9 New
Majority 2,959 6.0
Turnout 49,081 60.0 −0.2
Registered electors 82,201
Alliance gain from DUP Swing +11.15

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Lagan Valley[8][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DUP Jeffrey Donaldson 19,586 43.1 ―16.5
Alliance Sorcha Eastwood 13,087 28.8 +17.7
UUP Robbie Butler 8,606 19.0 +2.2
SDLP Ally Haydock 1,758 3.9 ―3.6
Sinn Féin Gary McCleave 1,098 2.4 ―1.1
NI Conservatives Gary Hynds 955 2.1 +1.1
UKIP Alan Love 315 0.7 New
Majority 6,499 14.3 ―28.5
Turnout 45,405 60.0 ―2.2
Registered electors 75,675
DUP hold Swing ―17.1

This seat saw a swing towards the Alliance Party of over 17%, and the largest decrease in vote share for the DUP at the 2019 general election.[9]

General election 2017: Lagan Valley[10][11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DUP Jeffrey Donaldson 26,762 59.6 +11.7
UUP Robbie Butler 7,533 16.8 +1.6
Alliance Aaron McIntyre 4,996 11.1 ―2.8
SDLP Pat Catney 3,384 7.5 +1.2
Sinn Féin Jacqui Russell 1,567 3.5 +0.6
NI Conservatives Ian Nickels 462 1.0 ―0.6
Independent Jonny Orr 222 0.5 ―1.4
Majority 19,229 42.8 +10.1
Turnout 45,044 62.2 +6.3
Registered electors 72,380
DUP hold Swing +5.1
General election 2015: Lagan Valley[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DUP Jeffrey Donaldson 19,055 47.9 ―1.9
UUP Alexander Redpath 6,055 15.2 ―5.9
Alliance Trevor Lunn 5,544 13.9 +2.5
SDLP Pat Catney 2,500 6.3 +1.3
UKIP Alan Love 2,200 5.5 New
TUV Samuel Morrison 1,887 4.7 ―3.9
Sinn Féin Jacqui McGeough 1,144 2.9 ―1.1
Independent Jonny Orr 756 1.9 New
NI Conservatives Helen Osborne 654 1.6 New
Majority 13,000 32.7 +4.0
Turnout 39,795 55.9 ―0.1
Registered electors 71,152
DUP hold Swing +2.0
General election 2010: Lagan Valley[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DUP Jeffrey Donaldson 18,199 49.8 ―8.5
UCU-NF Daphne Trimble 7,713 21.1 ―1.8
Alliance Trevor Lunn 4,174 11.4 +0.5
TUV Keith Harbinson 3,154 8.6 +8.6
SDLP Brian Heading 1,835 5.0 ―1.1
Sinn Féin Paul Butler 1,465 4.0 ―3.5
Majority 10,486 28.7 ―4.5
Turnout 36,540 56.0 ―4.2
Registered electors 65,257
DUP hold Swing ―3.4

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Lagan Valley[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DUP Jeffrey Donaldson 23,289 54.7 +41.3
UUP Basil McCrea 9,172 21.5 ―35.0
Alliance Seamus Close 4,316 10.1 ―6.5
Sinn Féin Paul Butler 3,197 7.5 +1.6
SDLP Patricia Lewsley 2,598 6.1 ―1.4
Majority 14,117 33.2 N/A
Turnout 42,572 60.2 ―3.0
Registered electors 70,238
DUP gain from UUP Swing +38.1
General election 2001: Lagan Valley[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Jeffrey Donaldson 25,966 56.5 +1.1
Alliance Seamus Close 7,624 16.6 ―0.6
DUP Edwin Poots 6,164 13.4 ―0.2
SDLP Patricia Lewsley 3,462 7.5 ―0.3
Sinn Féin Paul Butler 2,725 5.9 +3.4
Majority 18,342 39.9 ―1.7
Turnout 45,941 63.2 +1.1
Registered electors 72,671
UUP hold Swing +0.9

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Lagan Valley[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Jeffrey Donaldson 24,560 55.4 −5.4
Alliance Seamus Close 7,635 17.2 +4.5
DUP Edwin Poots 6,005 13.6 New
SDLP Dolores Kelly 3,436 7.8 −1.7
NI Conservatives Stuart E. Sexton 1,212 2.7 −6.3
Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey 1,110 2.5 +0.4
Workers' Party Frances McCarthy 203 0.5 −0.7
Natural Law Hugh Finlay 149 0.3 New
Majority 16,925 38.2 −9.9
Turnout 44,310 62.1 −5.2
Registered electors 71,341
UUP hold Swing −8.5
General election 1992: Lagan Valley[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP James Molyneaux 29,772 60.8 −9.2
Alliance Seamus Close 6,207 12.7 −1.1
SDLP Hugh Lewsley 4,626 9.5 +2.6
NI Conservatives Timothy R. Coleridge 4,423 9.0 New
Sinn Féin Patrick Joseph Rice 3,346 6.8 +0.4
Workers' Party Ann Marie Lowry 582 1.2 −1.7
Majority 23,565 48.1 −8.1
Turnout 48,956 67.3 +2.9
Registered electors 72,645
UUP hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Lagan Valley[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP James Molyneaux 29,101 70.0 +10.8
Alliance Seamus Close 5,728 13.8 +2.5
SDLP Billy McDonnell 2,888 6.9 +0.5
Sinn Féin Patrick Joseph Rice 2,656 6.4 +2.1
Workers' Party John Lowry 1,215 2.9 +0.9
Majority 23,373 56.2 +13.8
Turnout 41,588 64.4 ―3.2
Registered electors 64,873
UUP hold Swing
1986 Lagan Valley by-election[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP James Molyneaux 32,514 90.7 +31.5
Workers' Party John Lowry 3,328 9.3 +7.3
Majority 29,186 81.4 +39.0
Turnout 35,842 57.8 ―9.8
Registered electors 63,244
UUP hold Swing
General election 1983: Lagan Valley[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP James Molyneaux 24,017 59.2
DUP William John Beattie 6,801 16.8
Alliance Seamus Close 4,593 11.3
SDLP Cormac Joseph Boomer 2,603 6.4
Sinn Féin Richard McAuley 1,751 4.3
Workers' Party Gerard Loughlin 809 2.0
Majority 17,216 42.4
Turnout 40,574 67.6
Registered electors 60,051
UUP win (new seat)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "'Lagan Valley', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  2. ^ Carroll, Rory. "Donaldson's downfall raises questions over Stormont power sharing". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 2008". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008.
  4. ^ Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland
  5. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 1)
  6. ^ "Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson". UK Parliament. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Lagan Valley Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Election of a Member of Parliament for the LAGAN VALLEY Constituency - Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Electoral Office of Northern Ireland. 11 May 2017. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Lagan Valley parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  12. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis" (PDF) (Second ed.). House of Commons Library. 29 January 2019 [7 April 2018]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2019.
  13. ^ "The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland - EONI". www.eoni.org.uk. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "By-election Result". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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54°30′32″N 6°02′49″W / 54.509°N 6.047°W / 54.509; -6.047

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