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Revision as of 18:58, 5 July 2024

2024 United Kingdom general election
(Northern Ireland)
← 2019 4 July 2024 (2024-07-04)

All 18 Northern Ireland seats to the House of Commons
  First party Second party Third party
 
President Joe Biden greets U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs Joseph Kennedy III, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly on March 17, 2024 (cropped).jpg
Official portrait of Gavin Robinson MP crop 2.jpg
Colum Eastwood SDLP Conference 2023.jpg
Leader Michelle O'Neill[a] Gavin Robinson Colum Eastwood
Party Sinn Féin DUP SDLP
Leader since 23 January 2017[c] 29 March 2024 14 November 2015
Leader's seat None[b] Belfast East Foyle
Last election 22.8%, 7 MPs 30.6%, 8 MPs 14.9%, 2 MPs
Seats won 7 5 2
Seat change Steady 0 Decrease 3 Steady 0
Popular vote 210,891 172,058 86,861
Percentage 27.0% 22.1% 11.1%
Swing Increase 4.2% Decrease 8.5% Decrease 3.8%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Naomi_Long_MLA.jpg
Doug Beattie.png
JimAllister (cropped).jpg
Leader Naomi Long Doug Beattie Jim Allister
Party Alliance UUP TUV
Alliance Reform UK–TUV
Leader since 26 October 2016 17 May 2021 7 December 2007
Leader's seat Stood in Belfast East (lost)[d] None[e] North Antrim
Last election 16.8%, 1 MP 11.7%, 0 MPs Didn't stand
Seats won 1 1 1
Seat change Steady 0 Increase 1 Increase 1
Popular vote 117,191 94,779 48,685
Percentage 15.0% 12.2% 6.2%
Swing Decrease 1.8% Increase 0.5% Increase 6.2%

  Seventh party
 
Leader N/A
Party Independent
Leader since N/A
Leader's seat N/A
Last election 0
Seats won 1
Seat change Increase 1

The 2024 general election in Northern Ireland was held on 4 July 2024, with all 18 Northern Irish seats in the House of Commons contested. The general election occurred after the recently completed constituency boundaries review.

Background

Electoral system

MPs are being elected in 18 single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post.

Date of the election

On 22 May 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced 4 July 2024 as the election date.[1]

Constituency boundaries

Map of the 18 constituencies to be used.

In June 2023, it was published that The Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland had made final recommendations for the new boundaries for Northern Ireland's 18 parliamentary constituencies. The report was submitted to the speaker of the UK House of Commons and the UK Government was required to submit a draft of an Order in Council to activate the new boundaries within four months.[2] Changes include:

Ten wards were moved and as approved by MPs, the new boundaries became effective on 1 November 2023.[3] These changes were approved at a meeting of the Privy Council on 15 November[4] and came into force on 29 November.[5]

Campaign

In the run up to the election, there was speculation to the extent at which unionist electoral pacts will be active in some constituencies.[6] In July 2023, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beattie clarified that his party intends to stand candidates in 17 constituencies, but there is still speculation about whether the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) will field candidates.[7] The TUV leader Jim Allister has said that in seats held by non-unionists where the sitting MP could potentially be ousted, it will support an “agreed single unionist candidate".[8]

In North Down, there have been calls for unionist parties to drop their own candidates and unite behind a single contender to defeat incumbent Alliance MP Stephen Farry.[9] Farry was confirmed as Alliance's candidate for North Down at the next election on 26 November 2023.[10] On 24 January 2024, the UUP selected former Iraq War veteran Tim Collins as their candidate for North Down, with the UUP leader Doug Beattie saying his party "does not do pacts".[11] Alex Easton is set to announce his Independent Unionist candidacy for the seat.[12]

In October 2023 the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland revealed that they intended to target Lagan Valley, seat of the then-leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Jeffrey Donaldson. They unveiled their candidate as Sorcha Eastwood and will require a 7.16% swing to gain the seat from the DUP.[13]

Amongst majority nationalist constituencies, due to their strong performance in the 2022 Assembly election and the 2023 local elections, Sinn Féin look "likely to increase its number of seats at Westminster", with the possibility of gaining Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Colum Eastwood's seat of Foyle.[14]

The campaign has got underway in South Belfast and North Down, with both incumbent MPs, Claire Hanna and Stephen Farry seeking re-election. North Down Ulster Unionist candidate Tim Collins has said he is "very confident" of unseating Farry.[15]

In January 2024, the Ulster Unionist Party selected their former leader and Minister of Health Robin Swann as their candidate for South Antrim[16] and announced their deputy leader, Robbie Butler, as the party's candidate for Lagan Valley.[17]

On 16 March 2024, the Traditional Unionist Voice formed an electoral pact with Reform UK, in which the two parties would stand mutually agreed candidates within Northern Ireland.[18] On 24 May they announced that they were supporting Alex Easton, the Independent Unionist candidate in North Down, and would not stand a candidate in that constituency.[19]

The leader of the Green Party Northern Ireland, Sen. Mal O'Hara, told Slugger O'Toole on 26 April 2024 that they will stand in every constituency and will not pursue any electoral pacts.[20]

On 7 May 2024, the UUP announced that 19 year-old Jay Basra, who is Punjabi-British, would be their candidate for Mid Ulster.[21] Following the announcement, Basra was the target of racial abuse on social media. The abuse was condemned by UUP leader Doug Beattie and former First Minister Arlene Foster, as well as deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.[22]

Jeffrey Donaldson, who was the DUP leader until March 2024, appeared in court on 3 July to face additional sex offence charges.[23][24]

Candidates

Parties

Parties Number of candidates[25]
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland 18
Social Democratic and Labour Party 18
Ulster Unionist Party 17
Democratic Unionist Party 16
Sinn Féin 14
Traditional Unionist Voice 14
Green Party Northern Ireland 11
Aontú 10
Northern Ireland Conservatives 5
People Before Profit 3
Cross-Community Labour Alternative 1
Independents 9 (in 7 constituencies)
Total 136

List

Opinion polling


Leadership approval ratings

Michelle O'Neill

The following polls asked about voters' opinions on Michelle O'Neill, the First Minister of Northern Ireland since 3 February 2024, Vice President of Sinn Féin since 10 February 2018 and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland from 11 January 2020 to 4 February 2022.

Date(s)
conducted
Pollster Client Sample Size Good/Great Bad/Awful Don't know Net approval
11–14 Aug 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 2,950 43% 37% 20% +6%
21–24 Apr 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,957 41% 37% 22% +4%
20–23 Jan 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 1,449 41% 40% 19% +4%
4–7 Nov 2022 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,351 46% 37% 17% +9%
12–15 Aug 2022 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,384 40% 42% 18% –2%

Jeffrey Donaldson

The following polls asked about voters' opinions on Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 30 June 2021 to 29 March 2024.

Date(s)
conducted
Pollster Client Sample Size Good/Great Bad/Awful Don't know Net approval
11–14 Aug 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 2,950 24% 66% 10% –42%
21–24 Apr 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,957 27% 65% 8% –38%
20–23 Jan 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 1,449 25% 63% 12% –38%
4–7 Nov 2022 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,351 29% 65% 6% –36%
12–15 Aug 2022 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,384 27% 64% 9% –37%

Naomi Long

The following polls asked about voters' opinions on Naomi Long, the leader of the Alliance Party since 26 October 2016.

Date(s)
conducted
Pollster Client Sample Size Good/Great Bad/Awful Don't know Net approval
11–14 Aug 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 2,950 38% 39% 23% –1%
21–24 Apr 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,957 40% 38% 22% +2%
20–23 Jan 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 1,449 37% 38% 25% –1%
4–7 Nov 2022 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,351 45% 37% 18% +8%
12–15 Aug 2022 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,384 46% 37% 17% +9%

Doug Beattie

The following polls asked about voters' opinions on Doug Beattie, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) since 27 May 2021.

Date(s)
conducted
Pollster Client Sample Size Good/Great Bad/Awful Don't know Net approval
11–14 Aug 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 2,950 34% 38% 28% –4%
21–24 Apr 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,957 38% 33% 29% +5%
20–23 Jan 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 1,449 28% 42% 30% –14%
4–7 Nov 2022 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,351 37% 32% 31% +5%
12–15 Aug 2022 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,384 34% 34% 32% 0%

Colum Eastwood

The following polls asked about voters' opinions on Colum Eastwood, the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) since 14 November 2015.

Date(s)
conducted
Pollster Client Sample Size Good/Great Bad/Awful Don't know Net approval
11–14 Aug 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 2,950 26% 43% 31% –17%
21–24 Apr 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,957 32% 40% 28% –8%
20–23 Jan 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 1,449 33% 38% 29% –5%
4–7 Nov 2022 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,351 31% 39% 30% –8%
12–15 Aug 2022 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,384 34% 39% 27% –5%

Jim Allister

The following polls asked about voters' opinions on Jim Allister, the leader of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) since 7 December 2007.

Date(s)
conducted
Pollster Client Sample Size Good/Great Bad/Awful Don't know Net approval
11–14 Aug 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 2,950 23% 63% 14% –40%
21–24 Apr 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,957 27% 61% 12% –34%
20–23 Jan 2023 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 1,449 27% 57% 16% –30%
4–7 Nov 2022 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,351 27% 59% 14% –32%
12–15 Aug 2022 LucidTalk Belfast Telegraph 3,384 31% 54% 15% –23%

MPs not seeking re-election

Members of Parliament not standing for re-election
MP Seat First elected Party Date announced
Francie Molloy Mid Ulster 2013 Sinn Féin 13 February 2024[26]
Mickey Brady Newry and Armagh 2015 Sinn Féin 19 February 2024[27]
Jeffrey Donaldson Lagan Valley 1997 Independent[f] 22 May 2024[28]
Michelle Gildernew Fermanagh and South Tyrone 2001 Sinn Féin 23 May 2024[29]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Party leader in the North" and vice president of Sinn Féin. Mary Lou McDonald is the party president and leader of the opposition in the Dáil of the Republic of Ireland.
  2. ^ O'Neill is an MLA for Mid Ulster.
  3. ^ As "Party leader in the North"
  4. ^ Long serves as an MLA for Belfast East. She previously represented the area at Westminster from 2010-2015.
  5. ^ Beattie is an MLA for Upper Bann.
  6. ^ Elected as DUP.

References

  1. ^ "Rishi Sunak announces 4 July general election". BBC News. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b Hughes, Brendan (28 June 2023). "Belfast constituency to be renamed under election boundary changes". Belfast Live. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Boundaries of five Northern Ireland constituencies to change". BBC News. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  4. ^ "List of Business - 15th November 2023" (PDF). Privy Council Office. 23 November 2023.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 15 November 2023, SI 2023/1230
  6. ^ Michael Palmer (24 November 2023). "Unionist Pacts: Deal or No Deal?". Slugger O'Toole. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  7. ^ David McCann (24 November 2023). "Slugger TV talks with Doug Beatte". Slugger O'Toole. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  8. ^ "TUV says unionists must have anti-protocol candidates to vote for in next Westminster election". The Irish News. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  9. ^ "North Down Orangemen call for rival unionist parties to drop their own candidates and agree on a single contender in a bid to oust Stephen Farry as MP". Newsletter. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Alliance select Stephen Farry to stand for re-election in North Down | Northern Ireland Elects". nielects.com. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  11. ^ "UUP: Iraq veteran Col Tim Collins to run in North Down". BBC News. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  12. ^ newspapers, spectator (25 April 2024). "Easton to Stand". County Down Spectator. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Alliance: We can take Jeffrey Donaldson's Lagan Valley seat". Belfast Telegraph. 21 October 2023. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Sinn Fein 'on course to hit new general election high': new poll". Belfast Telegraph. 13 November 2023. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Iraq War veteran standing for UUP as he sets sights on Stephen Farry's Westminster seat". Belfast Telegraph. 24 January 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Robin Swann lined up for South Antrim election bid". 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  17. ^ "NI relations with Westminster have never been worse, claims UUP deputy as he confirms election bid". Belfast Telegraph. 27 January 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  18. ^ "TUV conference: Jim Allister announces partnership with Reform UK". BBC News. 16 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  19. ^ "TUV and Reform UK to support Alex Easton in North Down". Belfast Telegraph. 24 May 2024.
  20. ^ NVTV, Northern Visions (25 April 2024). Slugger TV - 26th April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Vimeo.
  21. ^ "Ulster Unionists select Jay Basra as Westminster candidate for Mid Ulster - Northern Ireland Elects". nielects.com. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  22. ^ "UUP leader Doug Beattie condemns social media 'abuse' aimed at Mid Ulster election candidate". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 13 May 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  23. ^ Pepper, Diarmuid (1 July 2024). "Alliance confident of taking Westminster seat Jeffrey Donaldson has held for almost three decades". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  24. ^ McCambridge, Jonathan (2 July 2024). "Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson facing more sex offence charges". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Open candidate information for UK elections". Democracy Club Candidates. Democracy Club.
  26. ^ "Sinn Féin MP Francie Molloy not seeking re-election". BBC News. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  27. ^ "Sinn Féin MP Mickey Brady not seeking re-election". BBC News. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Donaldson solicitor confirms MP will not contest election". BBC News. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Representing the people of Midlands-North-West my sole focus – Gildernew". Sinn Féin. 23 May 2024.