Belfast Cromac (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)

54°35′31″N 5°55′26″W / 54.592°N 5.924°W / 54.592; -5.924

Belfast Cromac
Former Borough constituency
for the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Belfast Cormac 1929-1969
Former constituency
Created1929
Abolished1973
Election methodFirst past the post

Belfast Cromac was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.

Boundaries edit

Belfast Cromac was a borough constituency comprising part of southern Belfast. It was created in 1929 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.

Belfast Cromac was created by the division of Belfast South into four new constituencies. It survived unchanged, returning one member of Parliament, until the Parliament of Northern Ireland was temporarily suspended in 1972, and then formally abolished in 1973.[1]

Politics edit

In common with other seats in south Belfast, the constituency was strongly unionist. It was always won by Unionist candidates, although labour movement and independent unionist candidates often contested it.[1] All but its last MP died in office.

Members of Parliament edit

Election Member Party
1929 Anthony Babington Ulster Unionist Party
1938 Maynard Sinclair Ulster Unionist Party
1953 Joseph William Morgan Ulster Unionist Party
1962(b) John William Kennedy Ulster Unionist Party
1973 Constituency abolished

Election results edit

General Election 1929: Belfast Cromac[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Anthony Babington 6,680 61.1
Ind. Unionist James Reid 4,246 38.9
Majority 2,434 22.2
Turnout 10,926 64.6
Ulster Unionist win (new seat)
At the 1933 Northern Ireland general election, Anthony Babington was elected unopposed.[2]
General Election 1938: Belfast Cromac[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Maynard Sinclair 7,869 64.5 N/A
Progressive Unionist William John Stewart 4,337 35.5 New
Majority 3,532 29.0 N/A
Turnout 12,206 75.4 N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 1945: Belfast Cromac[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Maynard Sinclair 8,407 67.1 +2.6
Communist (NI) Betty Sinclair 4,130 32.9 New
Majority 4,277 34.2 +5.2
Turnout 12,537 71.6 N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 1949: Belfast Cromac[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Maynard Sinclair 10,152 82.4 +15.3
Independent Labour James A. Donnelly 2,170 17.6 New
Majority 7,982 64.8 +30.6
Turnout 12,322 74.3 +2.7
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 1953: Belfast Cromac[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Joseph Morgan 5,293 67.0 -15.4
Ind. Unionist Thomas Allen 2,170 17.6 New
Majority 2,689 34.0 -30.8
Turnout 7,463 48.6 -25.7
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A

At the 1958 Northern Ireland general election, William Morgan was elected unopposed.[2]

General Election 1962: Belfast Cromac[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Joseph Morgan 5,863 64.5 N/A
NI Labour Cecil Allen 3,225 35.5 New
Majority 2,638 29.0 N/A
Turnout 9,088 63.4 N/A
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A
Belfast Cromac by-election, 1962[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist William Kennedy 4,801 62.0 -2.5
NI Labour Cecil Allen 1,866 24.1 -11.4
Ulster Liberal Robert Huston 1,074 13.9 New
Majority 3,114 37.9 +8.9
Turnout 7,741 54.0 -9.6
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General Election 1965: Belfast Cromac[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist William Kennedy 5,126 71.8 +7.3
NI Labour Jack Barkley 2,012 28.2 -7.3
Majority 3,114 43.6 +14.6
Turnout 7,138 50.2 -13.2
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 1969: Belfast Cromac[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist William Kennedy 6,320 77.0 +5.2
NI Labour Jack Barkley 1,134 13.8 -14.4
People's Democracy Edward Wiegleb 752 9.8 New
Majority 5,186 63.2 +19.6
Turnout 8,206 60.6 +10.4
Ulster Unionist hold Swing N/A

References edit