1945 Northern Ireland general election

The 1945 Northern Ireland general election was held on 14 June 1945. The election saw significant losses for the Ulster Unionist Party, though they retained their majority.

1945 Northern Ireland general election

← 1938 14 June 1945 1949 →

All 52 seats to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland
27 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Basil Brooke T. J. Campbell
Party UUP Nationalist
Leader since 1 May 1943 18 January 1934
Leader's seat Lisnaskea Belfast Central
Last election 39 seats, 56.8% 8 seats, 4.9%
Seats won 33[u 1] 10[n 1]
Seat change Decrease6 Increase2
Popular vote 180,342 32,546
Percentage 50.4% 9.1%
Swing Decrease6.4% Increase4.2%

  Third party Fourth party
  Blank Blank
Leader Paddy Agnew Harry Midgley
Party NI Labour Commonwealth Labour
Leader since 1938 1942
Leader's seat South Armagh (defeated) Belfast Willowfield
Last election 1 seat, 5.7% Did not stand
Seats won 2 1
Seat change Increase1 Increase1
Popular vote 66,053 28,079
Percentage 18.5% 7.8%
Swing Increase12.8% New party

Percentage of seats gained by each of the party

Prime Minister before election

Basil Brooke
UUP

Prime Minister after election

Basil Brooke
UUP

20 MPs were elected unopposed (38%), the vast majority of whom were Ulster Unionists. Four MPs affiliated with the labour movement were elected, a new record that would not be surpassed until 1958.[nb 1]

Results

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33 10 2 2 5
UUP Nationalist L IU Oth
1945 Northern Ireland general election
 
Party Candidates Votes
Stood Elected Gained Unseated Net % of total % No. Net %
  UUP 41 33 0 6 -6 63.5 50.4 180,342 -6.4
  NI Labour 15 2 2 1 +1 3.8 18.5 66,053 +12.8
  Nationalist 11 10 2 0 +2 19.2 9.1 32,546 +4.2
  Commonwealth Labour 6 1 1 0 +1 1.9 7.8 28,079 N/A
  Ind. Unionist 5 2 1 1 0 3.8 5.0 17,906 -1.8
  Communist (NI) 3 0 0 0 0 3.5 12,456 N/A
  Independent Labour 2 1 0 0 0 1.9 2.8 9,872 +1.1
  Socialist Republican 2 1 1 0 +1 1.9 1.5 5,497 N/A
  Federation of Labour 1 0 0 0 0 1.1 3,912 N/A
  Independent 2 2 2 0 +2 3.8 0.3 1,219 -1.9

Electorate: 845,964 (509,098 in contested seats); Turnout: 70.3% (357,882).

Votes summary

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Popular vote
Ulster Unionist
50.39%
Labour
18.46%
Nationalist Party
9.09%
Commonwealth Labour
7.85%
Independent Unionist
5.00%
Communist
3.48%
Independent Labour
2.76%
Socialist Republican
1.54%
Federation of Labour
1.09%
Independent
0.34%

Seats summary

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Parliamentary seats
Ulster Unionist
63.46%
Nationalist Party
19.23%
Independent Unionist
3.85%
Labour
3.85%
Independent Labour
1.92%
Commonwealth Labour
1.92%
Socialist Republican
1.92%
Independent
3.85%

Contested seats

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Only 32 of the 52 seats (62%) were actually contested.

1945 Northern Ireland general election (contested seats)
Party Popular vote Candidates
Votes % Stood Elected %
Ulster Unionist 180,342 50.4 28 20 62.5
Labour 66,053 18.5 15 2 6.3
Nationalist 32,546 9.1 5 4 12.5
Commonwealth Labour 28,079 7.8 6 1 3.1
Ind. Unionist 17,906 5.0 4 1 3.1
Communist 12,456 3.5 3 0
Ind. Labour 9,872 2.8 2 1 3.1
Socialist Republican 5,497 1.5 2 1
Federation of Labour 3,912 1.1 1 0
Independent 1,219 0.3 2 2 6.3
Total 357,882 70.3 68 32

Uncontested seats

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In 20 of the 52 seats (38%), only one candidate stood and they were elected unopposed without any votes cast. The vast majority of the MPs elected without a contest were Ulster Unionists.

1945 Northern Ireland general election (uncontested seats)
Party Popular vote Candidates
Votes % Stood Elected %
Ulster Unionist Unopposed 13 13 65.0
Nationalist Unopposed 6 6 30.0
Ind. Unionist Unopposed 1 1 5.0
Total 20 20 100

Footnotes

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  1. ^ 2 seats for the Northern Ireland Labour Party, one seat for the Commonwealth Labour Party and one Independent Labour MP.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Includes 13 members elected unopposed.
  1. ^ Includes 6 members elected unopposed.