1989 Belfast City Council election

Elections to Belfast City Council were held on 17 May 1989 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used nine district electoral areas to elect a total of 51 councillors, most representing the more heavily populated north and west.

1989 Belfast City Council election

← 1985 17 May 1989 (1989-05-17) 1993 →

All 51 seats to Belfast City Council
26 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Ulster Unionist Sinn Féin SDLP
Seats won 14 8 8
Seat change Steady 0 Increase 1 Increase 2

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Party DUP Alliance Ind. Unionist
Seats won 8 6 4
Seat change Decrease 3 Decrease 2 Increase 2

  Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party
 
Party Workers' Party PUP Protestant Unionist
Seats won 1 1 1
Seat change Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0

Lord Mayor before election

Nigel Dodds
DUP

Lord Mayor

Reg Empey
Ulster Unionist

The UUP remained the largest party, and Reg Empey became the Lord Mayor.

Election results edit

Belfast Local Election Result 1989[1]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Ulster Unionist 14 1 1  0 27.5 21.7 22,846  2.7
  Sinn Féin 8 1 0  1 15.7 18.7 19,688  3.1
  SDLP 8 2 0  2 15.7 16.1 16,937  1.9
  DUP 8 0 3  3 15.7 14.8 15,618  5.1
  Alliance 6 0 2  2 11.8 10.9 11,479  0.6
  Ind. Unionist 4 2 0  2 7.8 6.7 7,013  3.2
  Workers' Party 1 0 0  0 2.0 5.3 5,571  1.5
  PUP 1 0 0  0 2.0 2.5 2,533  0.3
  Protestant Unionist 1 0 0  0 2.0 1.3 1,408  1.3
  Ulster Democratic 0 0 0  0 0.0 0.9 908  0.4
  Independent 0 0 0  0 0.0 0.7 717  0.7
  Labour Party NI 0 0 0  0 0.0 0.2 212 New
  Communist 0 0 0  0 0.0 0.2 175  0.0
  Green (NI) 0 0 0  0 0.0 0.08 95 New
  National Front 0 0 0  0 0.0 0.02 27 New

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

Districts summary edit

Results of the Belfast City Council election, 1989
by district[1]
Ward %
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
Total
Cllrs
UUP Sinn Féin SDLP DUP Alliance Workers' Party PUP Others
Balmoral 34.9 2 0.0 0 14.3 1 19.3 1 19.0 1 2.1 0 0.0 0 10.4 0 5
Castle 24.6 1 3.8 0 19.2 1 16.6 1 8.8 1 4.1 0 0.0 0 22.9 2 6
Court 19.8 1 2.3 0 0.0 0 15.8 1 0.0 0 3.5 0 24.2 1 34.4 2 6
Laganbank 31.6 2 7.7 0 20.8 1 12.0 1 19.0 1 4.9 0 0.0 0 4.0 0 5
Lower Falls 0.0 0 61.0 3 28.5 2 0.0 0 1.2 0 9.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 5
Oldpark 22.8 2 37.8 3 8.9 0 15.8 1 3.3 0 11.4 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 6
Pottinger 25.7 2 5.8 0 0.0 0 40.1 2 12.1 1 5.0 0 0.0 0 11.3 1 6
Upper Falls 0.0 0 49.5 2 41.9 2 2.2 0 2.6 0 3.1 0 0.0 0 0.7 0 5
Victoria 39.5 3 0.0 0 0.0 0 23.7 2 31.0 2 2.5 0 0.0 0 3.3 0 7
Total 21.7 14 18.7 8 16.1 8 14.8 8 10.9 6 5.3 1 2.5 1 10.0 5 51

District results edit

Balmoral edit

1985: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance
1989: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP
1985-1989 Change: SDLP gain from DUP

Balmoral - 6 seats[2]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Ulster Unionist Mary Crooks* 18.97% 2,163            
Ulster Unionist Jim Kirkpatrick* 15.94% 1,818 1,968.72          
DUP John Parkes* 14.05% 1,602 1,631.76 1,997.76        
Alliance Mark Long 9.69% 1,105 1,111 1,178.68 1,182.37 1,188.37 2,118.37  
SDLP Dorita Field 14.35% 1,636 1,637.08 1,708.32 1,708.73 1,708.85 1,778.63 1,888.89
Ind. Unionist William Dickson* 10.32% 1,177 1,207.84 1,418.56 1,505.89 1,558.09 1,639.9 1,743.87
Alliance John Montgomery* 9.30% 1,061 1,067.24 1,152.32 1,157.65 1,162.09    
DUP Caroline Bingham 5.25% 599 626          
Workers' Party Shaun McKeown 2.14% 243 243.72          
Electorate: 23,343   Valid: 11,404 (48.85%)   Spoilt: 314   Quota: 1,901   Turnout: 11,718 (50.20%)  

Castle edit

1985: 2 x UUP, 1 SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist
1989: 2 x Independent Unionist, 1 x UUP, 1 SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance
1985-1989 Change: Independent Unionist gain from UUP

Castle - 6 seats[2]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
SDLP Alban Maginness* 19.17% 2,301              
Ulster Unionist John Carson* 18.26% 2,192              
DUP Nigel Dodds* 14.82% 1,779              
Alliance Tom Campbell* 8.77% 1,053 1,384.02 1,405.36 1,405.63 1,488.77 1,493.04 1,591.75 1,855.75
Ind. Unionist Frank Millar* 11.54% 1,385 1,386.62 1,455.7 1,460.44 1,475.44 1,559.34 1,561.16 1,618.15
Ind. Unionist Nelson McCausland 9.69% 1,163 1,163 1,270.36 1,276.3 1,280.1 1,390.64 1,392.76 1,433.56
Ulster Unionist Alfred Redpath* 6.39% 767 771.05 993.25 996.76 1,003.74 1,053.35 1,061.95 1,118.56
Workers' Party Anthony Kerr 4.13% 496 612.37 619.85 620.24 714.69 724.37 864.13  
Sinn Féin Bobby Lavery* 3.77% 453 510.78 511.22 511.43 527.37 527.37    
DUP Samuel Lowry 1.80% 216 216.27 254.11 291.13 294.13      
Green (NI) Maria O'Sullivan 0.79% 95 139.28 140.16 140.19        
Labour '87 Thomas Galloway 0.86% 103 124.87 127.95 128.04        
Electorate: 24,488   Valid: 12,003 (49.02%)   Spoilt: 323   Quota: 1,715   Turnout: 12,326 (50.33%)  

Court edit

1985: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Protestant Unionist, 1 x Independent Unionist
1989: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Protestant Unionist, 1 x Independent Unionist
1985-1989 Change: No change

Court - 5 seats[2]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
PUP Hugh Smyth* 24.25% 2,533            
Protestant Unionist Elizabeth Seawright 13.48% 1,408 1,768.36          
Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain* 11.20% 1,170 1,253.16 1,289.54 1,294.54 1,334.82 1,468.84 1,669.84
DUP Eric Smyth 9.63% 1,006 1,158.04 1,197.48 1,199.48 1,220.08 1,276.5 1,559.5
Ind. Unionist Joseph Coggle* 9.12% 953 1,134.02 1,212.9 1,217.9 1,253.74 1,349.08 1,439.04
Ulster Unionist Herbert Ditty* 8.59% 897 962.52 1,002.98 1,005.32 1,030.92 1,208.88 1,309.8
Independent William Smith 6.87% 717 809.4 847.82 849.82 932.84 979.16 1,008.36
DUP Frederick Ashby* 6.17% 644 673.82 688.1 688.1 703.78 762.72  
Ind. Unionist Alfie Ferguson 4.87% 509 562.34 583.08 583.08 625.5    
Workers' Party Peter Cullen 3.51% 367 374.98 379.06 467.06      
Sinn Féin Joe Austin 2.30% 240 240.42 240.76        
Electorate: 21,173   Valid: 10,444 (49.33%)   Spoilt: 381   Quota: 1,493   Turnout: 10,825 (51.13%)  

Laganbank edit

1985: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP
1989: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP
1985-1989 Change: No change

Laganbank - 5 seats[2]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
SDLP Alasdair McDonnell* 14.43% 1,415 1,424 1,440 1,558 2,134        
Ulster Unionist Dixie Gilmore* 15.25% 1,496 1,497 1,567 1,579 1,579 1,580 2,080    
Alliance Steve McBride 11.29% 1,107 1,110 1,147 1,243 1,282 1,490 1,497 1,500.84 1,602.84
Ulster Unionist Jim Clarke 8.71% 854 859 901 903 903 903 1,128 1,445.76 1,448.76
DUP Rhonda Paisley* 10.56% 1,036 1,037 1,171 1,179 1,180 1,180 1,278 1,346.16 1,349.16
Alliance Mary Thomas 7.70% 755 757 780 898 937 1,126 1,130 1,131.92 1,209.92
Sinn Féin James Clinton 7.68% 753 775 776 799 811 836 837 837.96  
Ulster Unionist Harry Fletcher 7.68% 753 753 813 816 816 816      
SDLP Gerard McKettrick 6.41% 629 635 638 700          
Workers' Party Kevin Smyth 4.88% 479 503 553            
Ind. Unionist Margaret Dickson 2.02% 198 198              
DUP Benjamin Horan 1.35% 132 133              
Labour '87 Paul Hainsworth 1.11% 109 123              
Communist Barry Bruton 0.93% 91                
Electorate: 20,689   Valid: 9,807 (47.40%)   Spoilt: 372   Quota: 1,635   Turnout: 10,179 (49.20%)  

Lower Falls edit

1985: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
1989: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP
1985-1989 Change: SDLP gain from Alliance

Lower Falls - 5 seats[2]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
SDLP Joe Hendron* 23.51% 2,748        
Sinn Féin Fra McCann 19.73% 2,307        
Sinn Féin Elizabeth Fitzsimons* 15.10% 1,765 1,786.7 1,816.25 1,849.69 1,885.5
Sinn Féin Sean McKnight* 12.22% 1,428 1,461.48 1,466.72 1,750.56 1,774.62
SDLP Mary Muldoon 5.03% 588 1,196.84 1,257.51 1,261.19 1,738.98
Sinn Féin Richard May 13.91% 1,626 1,634.68 1,637.68 1,651.92 1,679.45
Workers' Party Mary McMahon 9.35% 1,093 1,186 1,218.75 1,224.19  
Alliance Derrick Crothers 1.15% 135 164.45      
Electorate: 20,095   Valid: 11,690 (58.17%)   Spoilt: 570   Quota: 1,949   Turnout: 12,260 (61.01%)  

Oldpark edit

1985: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Workers' Party
1989: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Workers' Party
1985-1989 Change: UUP gain from DUP

Oldpark - 6 seats[2]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SDLP Brian Feeney* 18.38% 2,426          
Workers' Party Seamus Lynch* 12.42% 1,639 1,912.6        
Ulster Unionist Fred Proctor* 14.02% 1,850 1,850.96 1,976.96      
Ulster Unionist William Gault 9.05% 780 782.64 886.56 951.36 1,491.96 2,050.96
Sinn Féin Gerard McGuigan* 12.75% 1,682 1,706.96 1,723.84 1,723.84 1,723.84 1,725.84
Sinn Féin Paddy McManus 11.73% 1,548 1,572.24 1,585.2 1,586.1 1,588.1 1,592.82
Sinn Féin William McGarry 8.45% 1,115 1,153.16 1,187.2 1,187.2 1,188.44 1,206
Ulster Democratic Patrick Bird 6.34% 837 837.72 883.36 896.86 1,117.84  
DUP Stanley Mulholland 6.10% 805 805.24 839.4 851.1    
Alliance George Jones 3.36% 443 610.52        
Ulster Democratic William Clark 0.54% 71 71.24        
Electorate: 25,895   Valid: 13,196 (50.96%)   Spoilt: 548   Quota: 1,886   Turnout: 13,744 (53.08%)  

Pottinger edit

1985: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
1989: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 Independent Unionist
1985-1989 Change: Independent Unionist gain from DUP

Pottinger - 6 seats[2]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
DUP Sammy Wilson* 25.88% 2,780          
Ulster Unionist Margaret Clarke* 13.78% 1,480 1,524.55 1,537.55      
Alliance Mervyn Jones* 12.07% 1,296 1,309.05 1,314.3 1,326.75 1,599.75  
DUP Jim Walker* 4.59% 493 1,268.35 1,479.35 1,531.7 1,546.7  
Ind. Unionist Dorothy Dunlop 10.98% 1,179 1,225.8 1,245.75 1,313.9 1,344.35 1,357.35
Ulster Unionist Reg Empey* 8.04% 864 921.15 942.1 1,210.2 1,220.2 1,226.2
DUP Frank Leslie* 7.15% 768 900.3 1,015 1,044.05 1,056.5 1,064.4
Sinn Féin Joseph O'Donnell 5.86% 629 629.45 631.9 631.9 677.9  
Workers' Party Sean Flanagan 5.04% 541 543.7 546.7 548.7    
Ulster Unionist David McNutt 3.91% 420 447 457.15      
DUP John Norris 2.45% 263 381.8        
National Front Stuart McCullough 0.25% 27 29.7        
Electorate: 24,265   Valid: 10,740 (44.26%)   Spoilt: 508   Quota: 1,535   Turnout: 11,248 (46.35%)  

Upper Falls edit

1985: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
1989: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP
1985-1989 Change: Sinn Féin gain from Alliance

Upper Falls - 5 seats[2]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SDLP Alex Attwood* 26.53% 3,292            
Sinn Féin Alex Maskey* 19.26% 2,378            
Sinn Féin Teresa Holland* 18.77% 2,329            
SDLP Cormac Boomer* 9.58% 1,189 2,202.46          
Sinn Féin Mairtin O'Muilleoir 15.74% 1,435 1,462.74 1,739.64 1,976.47 2,000.75 2,004.3 2,004.67
SDLP Peter Prendiville 5.75% 713 815.98 819.1 820.97 834.35 935.6 962.75
Alliance Dan McGuinness 2.63% 326 363.24 365.71 368.35 374.73 384.88 505.88
Workers' Party Jean Craig 3.06% 380 409.64 411.72 413.48 432.48 443.83 488.83
DUP Robert Morrow 2.28% 283 283 283.39 283.72 283.72 283.97  
Communist Kevin O'Donnell 0.68% 84 87.04 89.77 90.54      
Electorate: 22,975   Valid: 12,409 (54.01%)   Spoilt: 426   Quota: 2,069   Turnout: 12,835 (55.87%)  

Victoria edit

1985: 3 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 2 x DUP
1989: 3 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 2 x DUP
1985-1989 Change: No change

Victoria - 7 seats[2]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Alliance John Alderdice 21.67% 2,933          
Ulster Unionist Thomas Patton* 21.02% 2,845          
Ulster Unionist Ian Adamson 12.78% 1,730          
DUP Wallace Browne* 10.15% 1,374 1,407.97 1,512.97 1,523.34 1,585.51 1,890.51
DUP Robin Newton* 8.65% 1,171 1,177.88 1,274.06 1,287.33 1,346.33 1,644.33
Alliance Danny Dow 5.41% 732 1,405.38 1,475.94 1,617.36 1,685.17 1,696.17
Ulster Unionist Alan Montgomery 5.67% 767 821.61 1,496.55 1,521.91 1,641.98 1,692.98
Alliance George Thompson* 3.94% 533 937.2 963.66 1,041.39 1,110.23 1,117.23
DUP Irene Lewis 4.93% 667 685.49 776.63 786.05 846.22  
Ind. Unionist Samuel Walker 3.32% 449 469.64 520.46 555.74    
Workers' Party Hugh Jordan 2.46% 333 359.23 378.97      
Electorate: 30,508   Valid: 13,534 (44.36%)   Spoilt: 367   Quota: 1,692   Turnout: 13,901 (45.57%)  

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Belfast Council results". 27 July 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Local Government Results 1989". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.