1986 Mid Ulster by-election

The 1986 Mid Ulster by-election was one of the fifteen 1986 Northern Ireland by-elections held on 23 January 1986, to fill vacancies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom caused by the resignation in December 1985 of all sitting Unionist Members of Parliament (MPs). The MPs, from the Ulster Unionist Party, Democratic Unionist Party and Ulster Popular Unionist Party, did this to highlight their opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Each of their parties agreed not to contest seats previously held by the others, and each outgoing MP stood for re-election.

1986 Mid Ulster by-election
23 January 1986
Constituency of Mid Ulster
Turnout77.6% (Decrease 6.7%)
  First party Second party Third party
 
SDLP
Candidate William McCrea Danny Morrison Adrian Colton
Party DUP Sinn Féin SDLP
Popular vote 23,695 13,998 13,021
Percentage 46.4% 27.1% 25.2%
Swing Increase 16.4% Decrease 2.8% Increase 2.8%
MP before election

William McCrea
DUP

 Elected MP

William McCrea
DUP

The Unionist candidate was able to survive with less than 50% of the vote due to a split Nationalist vote and the seat was gained by Sinn Féin in later elections once Unionist pacts had broken down.

1986 Mid Ulster by-election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DUP William McCrea 23,695 46.4 +16.4
Sinn Féin Danny Morrison 13,998 27.1 −2.8
SDLP Adrian Colton 13,021 25.2 +2.8
Workers' Party Tommy Owens 691 1.4 0.0
Majority 9,697 19.3 +19.2
Turnout 51,405 77.6 -6.7
Registered electors 66,757
DUP hold Swing

References
  1. Results of Byelections in the 1983-87 Parliament in the United Kingdom Election Results website maintained by David Boothroyd

Other References


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