Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007
Encyclopedia
The third elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly
were held on 7 March 2007 when 108 new members
were elected. The election saw endorsement of the St Andrews Agreement
and the two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP) and Sinn Féin
, along with the Alliance Party
, increase their support, with falls in support for the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP) and the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP).
the DUP and Sinn Féin became the largest parties so there was no prospect of the assembly voting for the first and deputy first ministers. Therefore the British Government did not restore power to the Assembly and the elected members never met. Instead there commenced a protracted series of negotiations. During these negotiations a legally separate assembly, known as The Assembly consisting of the members elected in 2003 was formed in May 2006 to enable the parties to negotiate and to prepare for government.
Eventually, in October 2006, the Governments and the parties, including the DUP and Sinn Féin made the St Andrews Agreement
and a new transitional assembly came into effect on 24 November 2006.
The Government agreed to fresh elections and the transitional assembly was dissolved on 30 January 2007, after which campaigning began.
applied to six-seat constituencies, each of which corresponds to a UK parliamentary seat. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister were chosen by the largest parties from the two different political designations. Parties who won seats were then allocated places on the executive committee in proportion to their seats in the Assembly using the D'Hondt method
.
(DUP) and the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP) on the Unionist side, and Sinn Féin
and the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP) on the Nationalist
side. The largest cross-community party, the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
, contested the election in 17 of 18 constituencies. Smaller parties also included the Progressive Unionist Party
, the Green Party
and the UK Unionist Party
. Some independent Unionists also stood.
Among the other parties that stood, the Conservatives
nominated nine and there were six candidates for the Workers' Party
. Also there were four candidates for Make Politicians History and two for the Socialist Party
. Six Republican Sinn Féin
-aligned candidates also stood. As the party had chosen not to register as a political party with the electoral commission, the party name did not appear alongside its candidates on ballot papers.
One of the key issues in the election was which two political parties would gain the largest number of Assembly seats. The St Andrews Agreement stated that the First Minister will be chosen from the largest party of the largest political designation and the Deputy First Minister from the largest party from the second largest political designation; however, the actual legislation states that the largest party shall make the nomination regardless of designation.
and independent health campaigner Dr Kieran Deeny
retained their single seats, and were joined by the Green Party, which won its first Assembly seat, and increased its first preference votes fourfold from 2003. The UK Unionist Party lost its representation in the Assembly. They had contested 12 seats, with Robert McCartney
standing in six of them.
Overall, Unionist parties were collectively down 4 seats, Nationalist parties were collectively up 2 seats, and others were up 2 seats.
The election was notable as it saw the first Chinese
-born person to be elected to a parliamentary institution in Europe: Anna Lo
of the Alliance Party.
(in order of first preference vote)
using the D'Hondt method and under the St Andrews agreement the largest party gets the right to nominate the first minister and the largest party perceived to be from "the other side" nominates the deputy first minister. Despite the name these offices are in fact of equal right. Note that they are both ministers in the same department (Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister). Using this system, the executive appointed in 2007 was as follows:
There are two junior ministers in OFMDFM who are, at present, Jeffery Donaldson (DUP) and Gerry Kelly (SF). In April 2010, the Department of Justice was formed, being led by David Ford from the Alliance Party. This is the Alliance Party's first ministerial role.
by Ipsos MORI, published in The Belfast Telegraph
on 1 March 2007, reported the voting intentions of those who intended to vote and had decided which party to vote for:
Notes: Berry and Ennis were originally elected as DUP candidates, Hyland was originally elected as a Sinn Féin candidate.
†Patricia Lewsley stood down prior to the dissolution of the assembly
↑ As a sitting MLA, Norah Beare defected from the UUP to the DUP, and is therefore unselected rather than deselected
Following their de-selection, both Ennis and Hyland unsuccessfully sought election under the UKUP and independent labels respectively.
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
were held on 7 March 2007 when 108 new members
Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2007
This is a list of the 108 members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2007. All members elected at the assembly elections, held on 7 March 2007 are listed.-Results:11121315152571727932122232616268182810431323337...
were elected. The election saw endorsement of the St Andrews Agreement
St Andrews Agreement
The St Andrews Agreement was an agreement between the British and Irish Governments and the political parties in relation to the devolution of power to Northern Ireland...
and the two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
(DUP) and Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, along with the Alliance Party
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....
, increase their support, with falls in support for the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
(UUP) and the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
(SDLP).
Background
At the 2003 electionNorthern Ireland Assembly election, 2003
The second elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which at the time of the elections had been suspended for just over a year, were held on Wednesday 26 November 2003. Six members were elected by Single Transferable Vote from each of Northern Ireland's eighteen Westminster Parliamentary...
the DUP and Sinn Féin became the largest parties so there was no prospect of the assembly voting for the first and deputy first ministers. Therefore the British Government did not restore power to the Assembly and the elected members never met. Instead there commenced a protracted series of negotiations. During these negotiations a legally separate assembly, known as The Assembly consisting of the members elected in 2003 was formed in May 2006 to enable the parties to negotiate and to prepare for government.
Eventually, in October 2006, the Governments and the parties, including the DUP and Sinn Féin made the St Andrews Agreement
St Andrews Agreement
The St Andrews Agreement was an agreement between the British and Irish Governments and the political parties in relation to the devolution of power to Northern Ireland...
and a new transitional assembly came into effect on 24 November 2006.
The Government agreed to fresh elections and the transitional assembly was dissolved on 30 January 2007, after which campaigning began.
The process
The election was conducted using the single transferable voteSingle transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
applied to six-seat constituencies, each of which corresponds to a UK parliamentary seat. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister were chosen by the largest parties from the two different political designations. Parties who won seats were then allocated places on the executive committee in proportion to their seats in the Assembly using the D'Hondt method
D'Hondt method
The d'Hondt method is a highest averages method for allocating seats in party-list proportional representation. The method described is named after Belgian mathematician Victor D'Hondt who described it in 1878...
.
The campaign
The major parties standing were the Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
(DUP) and the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
(UUP) on the Unionist side, and Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
and the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
(SDLP) on the Nationalist
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
side. The largest cross-community party, the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....
, contested the election in 17 of 18 constituencies. Smaller parties also included the Progressive Unionist Party
Progressive Unionist Party
The Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979...
, the Green Party
Green Party in Northern Ireland
The Green Party in Northern Ireland is the Northern Ireland subdivision of the Irish Green Party, based on the principles of Green politics. It works in co-operation with Green parties across Europe, and was formerly a party in its own right...
and the UK Unionist Party
UK Unionist Party
The UK Unionist Party was a small unionist political party operating in Northern Ireland from 1995 to 2008. It was nominally formed by Robert McCartney, formerly of the Ulster Unionist Party, to contest a by-election the North Down by-election, 1995 and then further constituted to contest the 1996...
. Some independent Unionists also stood.
Among the other parties that stood, the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
nominated nine and there were six candidates for the Workers' Party
Workers' Party of Ireland
The Workers' Party is a left-wing republican political party in Ireland. Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970 after a split within the party, adopting its current name in 1982....
. Also there were four candidates for Make Politicians History and two for the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Ireland)
The Socialist Party is a socialist political party active in Ireland. It is a member of the Committee for a Workers' International .Formerly known as Militant Tendency, then Militant Labour, it adopted the name The Socialist Party in 1996. From their foundation in 1972 until the 1980s, members of...
. Six Republican Sinn Féin
Republican Sinn Féin
Republican Sinn Féin or RSF is an unregisteredAlthough an active movement, RSF is not registered as a political party in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. minor political party operating in Ireland. It emerged in 1986 as a result of a split in Sinn Féin...
-aligned candidates also stood. As the party had chosen not to register as a political party with the electoral commission, the party name did not appear alongside its candidates on ballot papers.
One of the key issues in the election was which two political parties would gain the largest number of Assembly seats. The St Andrews Agreement stated that the First Minister will be chosen from the largest party of the largest political designation and the Deputy First Minister from the largest party from the second largest political designation; however, the actual legislation states that the largest party shall make the nomination regardless of designation.
The results
The DUP remained the largest party in the Assembly, making significant gains from the UUP. Sinn Féin made gains from the SDLP and was the largest party among the Nationalists. The only other Assembly Party to make gains was the liberal Alliance Party (winning seven seats, a gain of one), while the Progressive Unionist PartyProgressive Unionist Party
The Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979...
and independent health campaigner Dr Kieran Deeny
Kieran Deeny
Kieran Deeny is a medical doctor turned politician from Northern Ireland. Deeny was a Designated Other Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for West Tyrone from 2003–11, having run on a single issue ticket of retaining the Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh.Born in Downpatrick, Deeny was educated...
retained their single seats, and were joined by the Green Party, which won its first Assembly seat, and increased its first preference votes fourfold from 2003. The UK Unionist Party lost its representation in the Assembly. They had contested 12 seats, with Robert McCartney
Robert McCartney (politician)
Robert Law McCartney QC is a Northern Ireland barrister and former leader of the UK Unionist Party.He was initially a member of the Ulster Unionist Party but was expelled in June 1987 when he refused to withdraw from the general election of that year...
standing in six of them.
Overall, Unionist parties were collectively down 4 seats, Nationalist parties were collectively up 2 seats, and others were up 2 seats.
The election was notable as it saw the first Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
-born person to be elected to a parliamentary institution in Europe: Anna Lo
Anna Lo
Anna Manwah Lo MBE is an Alliance Party politician in Northern Ireland. Born in Hong Kong, of Chinese ethnicity, Lo was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Belfast in the 2007 assembly election...
of the Alliance Party.
(in order of first preference vote)
Votes summary
Seats summary
Executive Committee seats
Parties who won seats are allocated places on the Executive CommitteeNorthern Ireland Executive
The Northern Ireland Executive is the executive arm of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland. It is answerable to the Assembly and was established according to the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which followed the Good Friday Agreement...
using the D'Hondt method and under the St Andrews agreement the largest party gets the right to nominate the first minister and the largest party perceived to be from "the other side" nominates the deputy first minister. Despite the name these offices are in fact of equal right. Note that they are both ministers in the same department (Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister). Using this system, the executive appointed in 2007 was as follows:
| Department | Minister | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Minister Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive with overall responsibility for the running of the Executive... |
Ian Paisley Ian Paisley Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding... |
||
| Deputy First Minister Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive with overall responsibility for the running of the Executive... |
Martin McGuinness Martin McGuinness James Martin Pacelli McGuinness is an Irish Sinn Féin politician and the current deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. McGuinness was also the Sinn Féin candidate for the Irish presidential election, 2011. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland.... |
||
| Enterprise, Trade and Investment Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive... |
Nigel Dodds Nigel Dodds Nigel Alexander Dodds, OBE, MP, BL is a barrister and Northern Irish unionist politician. He is Member of Parliament for Belfast North, and deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. He has been Lord Mayor of Belfast twice, and from 1993 has been General Secretary of the DUP... |
||
| Finance & Personnel Department of Finance and Personnel The Department of Finance and Personnel is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive... |
Peter Robinson Peter Robinson (politician) Peter David Robinson is the current First Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party... |
||
| Regional Development Department for Regional Development The Department for Regional Development is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive... |
Conor Murphy Conor Murphy Conor Terence Murphy is an Irish republican Sinn Féin politician.According to An Phoblacht, Murphy first became involved with the Irish Republican Army during the 1981 hunger strikes... |
||
| Education Department of Education (Northern Ireland) The Department of Education is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive... |
Caitríona Ruane Caitríona Ruane Caitríona Ruane MLA is a Sinn Féin politician and a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Down.... |
||
| Employment and Learning Department for Employment and Learning The Department for Employment and Learning , formerly the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment , is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive... |
Sir Reg Empey Reg Empey Reginald Norman Morgan Empey, Baron Empey of Shandon, OBE, – known as Sir Reg Empey prior to 2011 – is a former Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for East Belfast... |
||
| Environment Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) The Department of the Environment is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister for the Environment.-Aim:... |
Arlene Foster Arlene Foster Arlene Isabel Foster is a politician in Northern Ireland. She is one of two Democratic Unionist Party MLAs representing the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. She became Minister of the Environment on 8 May 2009 and was subsequently reshuffled into the... |
||
| Culture, Arts & Leisure Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure is a devolved Northern Irish government department in the Northern Ireland Executive... |
Edwin Poots Edwin Poots Alderman Edwin Poots MLA is a Northern Irish politician and a Democratic Unionist Party Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lagan Valley. He is one of three DUP MLAs for Lagan Valley.-Biography:... |
||
| Health, Social Services & Public Safety Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive... |
Michael McGimpsey Michael McGimpsey Michael McGimpsey MLA is an Ulster Unionist Party Member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast South who has twice served in the Northern Ireland Executive... |
||
| Agriculture Department of Agriculture and Rural Development The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive... |
Michelle Gildernew Michelle Gildernew Michelle Gildernew is an Irish republican Sinn Féin politician and former Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Northern Ireland Executive... |
||
| Social Development Department for Social Development The Department for Social Development is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister for Social Development.-Aim:... |
Margaret Ritchie Margaret Ritchie (politician) Margaret Ritchie is an Irish politician from Northern Ireland. She was the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party from 7 February 2010 to 5 November 2011 - being replaced in this role by Alasdair McDonnell - and served as the Minister for Social Development from 8 May 2007 until her... |
There are two junior ministers in OFMDFM who are, at present, Jeffery Donaldson (DUP) and Gerry Kelly (SF). In April 2010, the Department of Justice was formed, being led by David Ford from the Alliance Party. This is the Alliance Party's first ministerial role.
Opinion polls
An opinion pollOpinion poll
An opinion poll, sometimes simply referred to as a poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence...
by Ipsos MORI, published in The Belfast Telegraph
The Belfast Telegraph
The Belfast Telegraph is a daily evening newspaper published in Belfast, Northern Ireland by Independent News & Media.It was first published as the Belfast Evening Telegraph on 1 September 1870 by brothers William and George Baird...
on 1 March 2007, reported the voting intentions of those who intended to vote and had decided which party to vote for:
| Party | Percentage | Actual Vote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 30 | ||
| 22 | 26 | ||
| 20 | 15 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| 9 | 5 | ||
| 3 | 2 | ||
| 1 | 0.5 | ||
| 1 | 1.5 | ||
| 1 | 0.5 | ||
| 1 | 3 | ||
MLAs who lost their seats at the election
- Michael CopelandMichael CopelandAlderman Michael Copeland is a Unionist politician from Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.Copeland was educated at Lisnasharragh Primary School, Lisnasharragh Secondary School, Castlereagh College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst becoming a lieutenant of the Ulster Defence Regiment, HM...
(UUP, Belfast EastBelfast East (Assembly constituency)Belfast East is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
) - Esmond BirnieEsmond BirnieDr John Esmond Birnie, is an author, economist, and Ulster Unionist Party politician. He is a former Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Belfast....
(UUP, Belfast SouthBelfast South (Assembly constituency)Belfast South is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
) - Diane DoddsDiane DoddsDiane Dodds is a Democratic Unionist Party politician from Northern Ireland, and a Member of the European Parliament for the Northern Ireland constituency.-Career:...
(DUP, Belfast WestBelfast West (Assembly constituency)Belfast West is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
) - Norman HillisNorman HillisCllr Norman Hillis is a Unionist politician from Northern Ireland.Hillis was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution and the former Coleraine Technical College and has been active in the business community of Portrush where he has been president of the resort’s Chamber of Commerce and...
(UUP, East LondonderryEast Londonderry (Assembly constituency)East Londonderry is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996...
) - Marietta Farrell (SDLP, Lagan ValleyLagan Valley (Assembly constituency)Lagan Valley is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly....
) - Billy BellBilly Bell (politician)William Bradshaw "Billy" Bell, OBE, JP is an Unionist politician from Northern Ireland and former Lord Mayor of Belfast.He served as a Councillor on Belfast City Council from 1976 to 1985 and was Lord Mayor of Belfast from 1979 to 1980...
(UUP, Lagan ValleyLagan Valley (Assembly constituency)Lagan Valley is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly....
) - Paul BerryPaul BerryPaul 'London' Berry is a Northern Ireland unionist politician.Berry was born in Craigavon, County Armagh, and brought up in Tandragee, where he was educated at local state schools and colleges, following which he was employed in the textile industry...
(Ind, Newry and ArmaghNewry and Armagh (Assembly constituency)Newry and Armagh is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly....
) - Davy HylandDavy HylandDavy Hyland is a republican politician in Northern Ireland.He was born in Belfast and was educated at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and Manchester University...
(Ind, Newry and ArmaghNewry and Armagh (Assembly constituency)Newry and Armagh is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly....
) - Robert McCartneyRobert McCartney (politician)Robert Law McCartney QC is a Northern Ireland barrister and former leader of the UK Unionist Party.He was initially a member of the Ulster Unionist Party but was expelled in June 1987 when he refused to withdraw from the general election of that year...
(UKUP, North DownNorth Down (Assembly constituency)North Down is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
) - George EnnisGeorge EnnisAlderman George Ennis is a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.He is a former Democratic Unionist Party politician first elected to Ards in 1993 and was Mayor of Ards in 1998-1999....
(UKUP, StrangfordStrangford (Assembly constituency)Strangford is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996...
) - Eugene McMenaminEugene McMenaminEugene McMenamin is an Irish politician standing as an independent in the forthcoming Assembly elections in 2011, formerly from the Social Democratic and Labour Party ....
(SDLP, West TyroneWest Tyrone (Assembly constituency)West Tyrone is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996...
) - Derek HusseyDerek HusseyDerek Robert Hussey is a Ulster Unionist politician from Northern IrelandHussey was educated at Omagh Model School, Omagh Academy and Stranmillis College, Belfast. He previously was a teacher at Castlederg High School.In 1989 he was elected as councillor on Strabane District Council...
(UUP, West TyroneWest Tyrone (Assembly constituency)West Tyrone is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996...
)
Notes: Berry and Ennis were originally elected as DUP candidates, Hyland was originally elected as a Sinn Féin candidate.
MLAs who stood down at the election
- Eileen BellEileen BellEileen Bell CBE is a Northern Ireland politician, member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Down and former deputy leader of the Alliance Party.-Early life:...
(Alliance/Speaker, North Down) - Seamus CloseSeamus CloseSeamus Close OBE is a Northern Ireland politician, former member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Lagan Valley and a former deputy leader of the Alliance Party....
(Alliance, Lagan Valley) - Geraldine DouganGeraldine DouganGeraldine Dougan was elected in 2003 as a Sinn Féin Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Mid Ulster-Background:Dougan is a long time resident of Maghera, is also a campaigner for pre-school education provision and an avid GAA supporter....
(Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster) - Sean FarrenSean FarrenSean Nial Farren is an Northern Irish politician.Farren studied at the National University of Ireland, University College Dublin, University of Essex and the University of Ulster...
(SDLP, North Antrim) - Patricia LewsleyPatricia LewsleyPatricia Lewsley is the current Commissioner for Children and Young People for Northern Ireland. She was previously a member of the Northern Irish Assembly for Lagan Valley, and a councillor in Lisburn City Council....
† (SDLP, Lagan Valley) - Philip McGuiganPhilip McGuiganPhilip McGuigan is a Sinn Féin member of Ballymoney Borough Council in Northern Ireland and a former MLA. He was raised in Swatragh, County Londonderry....
(Sinn Féin, North Antrim) - Dermot NesbittDermot NesbittDermot Nesbitt is a politician from Northern Ireland.Nesbitt studied economics at Queens University Belfast and joined the Ulster Unionist Party...
(UUP, South Down) - Tom O'Reilly (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
- Kathy StantonKathy StantonKathy Stanton was a Sinn Féin Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2003 to 2007 in North Belfast.Stanton is a full-time party official in North Belfast, and is her party's spokesperson on Equality. She was elected to the Assembly in November 2003 election, and was co-opted to Belfast City...
(Sinn Féin, North Belfast) - Lord KilclooneyJohn Taylor, Baron KilclooneyJohn David Taylor, Baron Kilclooney, PC , is a former Ulster Unionist Party MP and a life peer. He was deputy leader of the UUP from 1995 to 2001, and a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.-Career and family:...
(UUP) - Lord TrimbleDavid TrimbleWilliam David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC , is a politician from Northern Ireland. He served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party , was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland , and was a Member of the British Parliament . He is currently a life peer for the Conservative Party...
(UUP, Upper Bann) - Jim WilsonJim Wilson (UK politician)Jim Wilson is a Northern Irish politician.Born in County Antrim, Wilson attended Belfast College of Technology before becoming a marine engineer. He was elected to Newtownabbey Borough Council in 1975 for the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party, and joined the Ulster Unionist Party the following...
(UUP, South Antrim)
†Patricia Lewsley stood down prior to the dissolution of the assembly
MLAs deselected by their party
- Wilson ClydeWilson ClydeWilson Clyde is a politician from Northern Ireland.Born in Kilbegs, County Antrim, Clyde worked as a farmer before being elected to Antrim Borough Council for the Democratic Unionist Party in 1981. In 1996, he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum, representing South Antrim, and he held the...
(DUP, South Antrim) - George EnnisGeorge EnnisAlderman George Ennis is a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.He is a former Democratic Unionist Party politician first elected to Ards in 1993 and was Mayor of Ards in 1998-1999....
(DUP, Strangford) - Paul GirvanPaul GirvanPaul Girvan is a Northern Irish politician. As a member of the Democratic Unionist Party , he was elected to Newtownabbey Borough Council in 1997, and from 2002-04 served as its mayor...
(DUP, South Antrim) - Davy HylandDavy HylandDavy Hyland is a republican politician in Northern Ireland.He was born in Belfast and was educated at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and Manchester University...
(Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh) - Patricia O'Rawe (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)
- Norah BeareNorah BeareNorah Beare was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Lagan Valley.She was elected as an Ulster Unionist Party candidate in the Assembly election of 2003; however, she defected to the Democratic Unionist Party in 2004 along with Jeffrey Donaldson MP, MLA for Lagan Valley and Arlene...
↑ (DUP, Lagan Valley) - Mark RobinsonMark Robinson (Northern Ireland politician)Cllr Mark Robinson was the Democratic Unionist Party Northern Ireland Assembly Member for Belfast South. Elected in sixth place in 1998 he increased his vote in the 2003 election and was returned in second place....
(DUP, Belfast South)
↑ As a sitting MLA, Norah Beare defected from the UUP to the DUP, and is therefore unselected rather than deselected
Following their de-selection, both Ennis and Hyland unsuccessfully sought election under the UKUP and independent labels respectively.
MLAs deceased since 2003 election
- David ErvineDavid ErvineDavid Ervine was a Northern Irish politician and the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party .-Biography:...
(PUP, Belfast East) - Michael FergusonMichael Ferguson (Irish politician)Michael Ferguson was an Irish Republican politician. He served as a councillor on Lisburn City Council and as an MLA for Belfast West.-Politics:...
(Sinn Féin, Belfast West)
See also
- Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2007Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2007This is a list of the 108 members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2007. All members elected at the assembly elections, held on 7 March 2007 are listed.-Results:11121315152571727932122232616268182810431323337...
- Irish general election, 2007
- Scottish Parliament election, 2007Scottish Parliament election, 2007The 2007 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the third general election to the devolved Scottish Parliament since it was created in 1999...
- Welsh Assembly election, 2007