1986 Belfast North by-election

1986 Belfast North by-election

23 Jan 1986
Constituency of Belfast North
Turnout	51.5% ( 17.9%)
First party Second party Third party   Candidate Cecil Walker Paul Maguire Seamus Lynch Party Ulster Unionist Alliance Workers' Party Popular vote 21,649 5,072 3,563 Percentage 71.5% 16.7% 11.8% Swing 35.3% 7.6% 6.1%
MP before election Cecil Walker Ulster Unionist Subsequent MP Cecil Walker Ulster Unionist

The 1986 Belfast North 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 Belfast North by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Ulster Unionist	Cecil Walker	21,649	71.5	+35.3
	Alliance	Paul Richard Maguire	5,072	16.7	+7.6
	Workers' Party	Seamus Lynch	3,563	11.8	+6.1
Majority			16,577	54.8	+38.1
Turnout			30,284	51.5	-17.9
Registered electors			59,791
	Ulster Unionist hold		Swing

External links

• A Vision Of Britain Through Time

Other References

• British Parliamentary By Elections: Campaign literature from the by-elections
• CAIN: Westminster By-Elections (NI) - Thursday 23 January 1986
• Northern Ireland Elections: Westminster by-elections 1986