East Londonderry (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards

For other constituencies of the same name, see East Londonderry (disambiguation).

East Londonderry

County constituency
for the House of Commons

Interactive map of boundaries from 2024

Boundary within Northern Ireland

Districts of Northern Ireland| Causeway Coast and Glens (part), Derry and Strabane (part)[1]
Electorate| 63,491 (December 2019)
Major settlements| Coleraine, Limavady and Dungiven
Current constituency
Created| 1983
Member of Parliament| Gregory Campbell (DUP)
Seats| 1
Created from| Londonderry, Mid Ulster and North Antrim[2]

East Londonderry is a constituency in Northern Ireland represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Its current Member of Parliament (MP) has been Gregory Campbell of the DUP since 2001.

## Constituency profile

[edit]

This is a mostly rural constituency stretching from the hill country of the Sperrin Mountains in the south to the Atlantic coast in the north; and from the suburbs of Derry city in the west to the River Bann in the east. The constituency's two main towns are Limavady and Coleraine; other urban areas include the upland town of Dungiven; and the coastal resorts of Portstewart and Portrush (the latter in fact lies in Country Antrim).

## Boundaries

[edit]

The seat was created in boundary changes in 1983, as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17, and was predominantly made up from the old Londonderry constituency, minus the area around the city of Derry itself which formed the new Foyle constituency.

From further revisions in 1995 (when it lost parts of the district of Magherafelt to the Mid Ulster constituency), and until the 2008 revision, it covered exactly the same area as the districts of Coleraine and Limavady. The inclusion of all of Coleraine Borough means that part of the East Londonderry constituency is actually in County Antrim.

For the 2010 general election, the East Londonderry constituency was formed by the following local government areas, as confirmed by the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Constituencies Order.[3]

* The entire local government districts of Limavady and Coleraine.
* Banagher, and Claudy, from the Londonderry district.

Prior to the 2024 general election, the following additions were made to the East Londonderry constituency:[4][1]

* The entire ward of Eglinton is transferred from Foyle.
* The entire ward of Claudy, which was split between Foyle and East Londonderry, is assigned to East Londonderry.

## History

[edit]

For the history of the equivalent constituency prior to 1983, see Londonderry (UK Parliament constituency).

The constituency has a Unionist plurality although, in many elections, nationalists have polled 40% of the vote, and the middle-of-the-road Alliance Party sometimes above 10%. Until the 2010 election the main interest in elections had been the contest between the Ulster Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party. The UUP were normally ahead of the DUP until the 2001 general election, when the DUP finally overtook them.

The 2001 election was seen at a province-wide level as a battle over the Belfast Agreement, with the DUP opposed to it and most of the UUP in favour. However, that situation was seemingly reversed in East Londonderry, in which the sitting Ulster Unionist MP, William Ross, was completely opposed to all involvement with the Agreement and its institutions, whilst the DUP candidate, Gregory Campbell, was a minister in the executive set up by the agreement. Many commentators joked that the DUP's gain meant that East Londonderry now had a more pro-agreement MP than before.[citation needed]

In the 2016 EU referendum 21,098 people in the constituency voted to remain in the European Union, 19,455 voted to leave, and 10 votes were rejected.

Unionist candidates failed to get a majority of the votes for the first time at the 2019 election, although they secured a plurality of votes. The seat had a considerable swing to Sinn Féin in the 2024 general election of over 12%, but the DUP retained the constituency, albeit with a very narrow majority of 179 votes.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

The Member of Parliament since the 2001 general election is Gregory Campbell of the Democratic Unionist Party. In that election he defeated William Ross of the Ulster Unionist Party who had represented East Londonderry since 1983 and its predecessor seat of Londonderry between 1974 and 1983.

Election | Member[5] | Party

|
|

| 1983 | William Ross | UUP
| 2001 | Gregory Campbell | DUP

## Elections

[edit]

### Elections in the 2020s

[edit]

2024 general election: East Londonderry[6] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| DUP | Gregory Campbell | 11,506  | 27.9  | −12.1
| Sinn Féin | Kathleen McGurk  | 11,327  | 27.4  | +12.0
| SDLP | Cara Hunter | 5,260  | 12.7  | −3.7
| TUV | Allister Kyle  | 4,363  | 10.6  | New
| Alliance | Richard Stewart  | 3,734  | 9.0  | −5.5
| UUP | Glen Miller  | 3,412  | 8.3  | −0.8
| Aontú | Gemma Brolly  | 1,043  | 2.5  | −1.8
| Green (NI) | Jen McCahon  | 445  | 1.1  | New
| NI Conservatives | Claire Scull  | 187  | 0.5  | New
Majority | 179  | 0.5  | −23.9
Turnout | 41,277  | 54.5  | −2.3
Registered electors | 75,707  |  |
| DUP hold | Swing | −12.1  |

### Elections in the 2010s

[edit]

2019 general election: East Londonderry[7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| DUP | Gregory Campbell | 15,765  | 40.1  | −8.0
| SDLP | Cara Hunter | 6,158  | 15.7  | +4.9
| Sinn Féin | Dermot Nicholl  | 6,128  | 15.6  | −10.9
| Alliance | Chris McCaw  | 5,921  | 15.1  | +8.9
| UUP | Richard Holmes  | 3,599  | 9.2  | +1.6
| Aontú | Seán McNicholl  | 1,731  | 4.4  | New
Majority | 9,607  | 24.4  | +2.8
Turnout | 39,302  | 56.8  | −4.4
Registered electors | 69,194  |  |
| DUP hold | Swing | −6.5  |
2017 general election: East Londonderry[8][9] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| DUP | Gregory Campbell | 19,723  | 48.1  | +5.9
| Sinn Féin | Dermot Nicholl  | 10,881  | 26.5  | +6.7
| SDLP | Stephanie Quigley  | 4,423  | 10.8  | −1.5
| UUP | Richard Holmes  | 3,135  | 7.6  | −7.8
| Alliance | Chris McCaw  | 2,538  | 6.2  | −1.4
| NI Conservatives | Liz St Clair-Legge  | 330  | 0.8  | −0.4
Majority | 8,842  | 21.6  | −0.8
Turnout | 40,580  | 61.2  | +9.3
Registered electors | 67,038  |  |
| DUP hold | Swing | -0.5  |
2015 general election: East Londonderry[10][11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| DUP | Gregory Campbell | 14,663  | 42.2  | +7.6
| Sinn Féin | Caoimhe Archibald | 6,859  | 19.8  | +0.5
| UUP | William McCandless[12] | 5,333  | 15.4  | −2.4
| SDLP | Gerry Mullan | 4,268  | 12.3  | −3.1
| Alliance | Yvonne Boyle  | 2,642  | 7.6  | +2.1
| CISTA | Neil Paine  | 527  | 1.5  | New
| NI Conservatives | Liz St Clair-Legge  | 422  | 1.2  | New
Majority | 7,804  | 22.4  | +7.1
Turnout | 34,714  | 51.9  | −3.4
Registered electors | 66,926  |  |
| DUP hold | Swing | +3.5  |
2010 general election: East Londonderry[13] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| DUP | Gregory Campbell | 12,097  | 34.6  | −6.3
| Sinn Féin | Cathal Ó hOisín | 6,742  | 19.3  | +1.9
| UCU-NF | Lesley Macaulay  | 6,218  | 17.8  | −1.9
| SDLP | Thomas Conway  | 5,399  | 15.4  | −3.9
| TUV | William Ross | 2,572  | 7.4  | New
| Alliance | Barney Fitzpatrick  | 1,922  | 5.5  | +3.1
Majority | 5,355  | 15.3  | −6.5
Turnout | 34,950  | 55.3  | −8.4
Registered electors | 63,220  |  |
| DUP hold | Swing | −5.7  |

### Elections in the 2000s

[edit]

2005 general election: East Londonderry[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| DUP | Gregory Campbell | 15,225  | 42.9  | +10.8
| UUP | David McClarty | 7,498  | 21.1  | −6.3
| SDLP | John Dallat | 6,077  | 17.1  | −3.7
| Sinn Féin | Billy Leonard | 5,709  | 16.1  | +0.5
| Alliance | Yvonne Boyle  | 924  | 2.6  | −1.5
| Independent | Malcolm Harry Samuel  | 71  | 0.2  | New
Majority | 7,727  | 21.8  | +17.1
Turnout | 35,504  | 60.3  | −5.9
Registered electors | 58,461  |  |
| DUP hold | Swing | +8.5  |
2001 general election: East Londonderry[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| DUP | Gregory Campbell | 12,813  | 32.1  | +6.1
| UUP | William Ross | 10,912  | 27.4  | −8.6
| SDLP | John Dallat | 8,298  | 20.8  | −1.2
| Sinn Féin | Francie Brolly | 6,221  | 15.6  | +6.6
| Alliance | Yvonne Boyle  | 1,625  | 4.1  | −1.9
Majority | 1,901  | 4.7  | N/A
Turnout | 39,869  | 66.2  | +1.4
Registered electors | 60,215  |  |
| DUP gain from UUP | Swing | −7.4  |

### Elections in the 1990s

[edit]

1997 general election: East Londonderry[16] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| UUP | William Ross | 13,558  | 36.0  | −29.1
| DUP | Gregory Campbell | 9,767  | 26.0  | New
| SDLP | Arthur Doherty | 8,273  | 22.0  | +1.9
| Sinn Féin | Malachy O'Kane  | 3,463  | 9.0  | +5.5
| Alliance | Yvonne Boyle  | 2,427  | 6.0  | −1.3
| NI Conservatives | James Holmes  | 436  | 1.0  | −3.4
| Natural Law | Clare Gallen  | 100  | 0.3  | New
| National Democrats | Ian Anderson | 81  | 0.2  | New
Majority | 3,794  | 10.0  | −25.2
Turnout | 38,102  | 64.8  | −5.0
Registered electors | 58,938  |  |
| UUP hold | Swing | −23.8  |

1997 changes are compared to the notional figures from 1992.[17]

Notional 1992 UK general election result: East Londonderry  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| UUP | N/A | 23,287  | 64.9  | N/A
| SDLP | N/A | 7,134  | 19.9  | N/A
| Alliance | N/A | 2,634  | 7.3  | N/A
| NI Conservatives | N/A | 1,589  | 4.4  | N/A
| Sinn Féin | N/A | 1,261  | 3.5  | N/A
Registered electors | N/A |  |
Majority | 16,153  | 45.0  | N/A
1992 general election: East Londonderry[18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| UUP | William Ross | 30,370  | 57.6  | −2.9
| SDLP | Arthur Doherty | 11,843  | 22.4  | +3.2
| Sinn Féin | Pauline Davey-Kennedy  | 5,320  | 10.1  | −1.1
| Alliance | Patrick McGowan  | 3,613  | 6.8  | +0.2
| NI Conservatives | Allan Elder  | 1,589  | 3.0  | New
Majority | 18,527  | 35.2  | 0.0
Turnout | 52,735  | 69.8  | +1.1
Registered electors | 75,587  |  |
| UUP hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1980s

[edit]

1987 general election: East Londonderry[19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| UUP | William Ross | 29,532  | 60.5  | +22.6
| SDLP | Arthur Doherty | 9,375  | 19.2  | +0.9
| Sinn Féin | John Davey  | 5,464  | 11.2  | −2.6
| Alliance | Patrick McGowan  | 3,237  | 6.6  | +1.9
| Workers' Party | Francie Donnelly  | 935  | 1.9  | +0.3
| Green | Malcolm Samuel  | 281  | 0.6  | New
Majority | 20,157  | 35.2  | +21.1
Turnout | 48,824  | 68.7  | −9.6
Registered electors | 71,031  |  |
| UUP hold | Swing |  |
By-election 1986: East Londonderry[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| UUP | William Ross | 30,922  | 93.9  | +56.0
| "For the Anglo-Irish Agreement"  | "Peter Barry" (Wesley Robert Williamson)[21] | 2,001  | 6.1  | New
Majority | 28,921  | 87.8  | +73.7
Turnout | 32,923  | 46.8  | −29.5
Registered electors | 70,038  |  |
| UUP hold | Swing | N/A |
1983 general election: East Londonderry[22] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| UUP | William Ross | 19,469  | 37.9  |
| DUP | James McClure | 12,207  | 23.8  |
| SDLP | Arthur Doherty | 9,397  | 18.3  |
| Sinn Féin | John Davey  | 7,073  | 13.8  |
| Alliance | Martha McGrath  | 2,401  | 4.7  |
| Workers' Party | Francie Donnelly  | 819  | 1.6  |
Majority | 7,262  | 14.1  |
Turnout | 51,366  | 76.3  |
Registered electors | 67,306  |  |
| UUP win (new seat)

## Demographics

[edit]

On Census day 2021 there were 103,285 people living in the East Londonderry parliamentary constituency.[23] Of these:

* 42.5% (43,869) belong to or were brought up in the Catholic Christian faith and 48.7% (50,342) belong to or were brought up in various 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' denominations. 0.8% (871) belong to other religions and 7.9% (8,203) had no religious background.
* 36.6% (37,829) indicated that they had a British only identity, 22.9% (23,639) had an Irish only identity and 23.3% (24,083) had a Northern Irish only identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity).[24]

## See also

[edit]

* List of parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Final Recommendations Report of the 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies.PDF" (PDF). 23 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
2. ^ "'Londonderry East', June 1983 up to May 1997". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 2008". legislation.gov.uk.
4. ^ "Boundary Commission publish their 2023 Review of Parliamentary Consitutencies – Northern Ireland Elects". nielects.com. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
5. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 4)
6. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
7. ^ "East Londonderry Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
8. ^ "Election of a Member of Parliament for the EAST LONDONDERRY Constituency – Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Electoral Office of Northern Ireland. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
9. ^ "UK Parliamentary Election Result 2017 – East Londonderry". Retrieved 11 June 2017.
10. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
11. ^ "The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland – EONI". eoni.org.uk.
12. ^ "Cllr William McCandless selected as Ulster Unionist Westminster candidate for East Londonderry". Ulster Unionist Party. 23 February 2015. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
13. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
14. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
15. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
16. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
17. ^ "BBC Election '97". BBC. 1997. Archived from the original on 5 December 2004.
18. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
19. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
20. ^ "By-election Result". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
21. ^ Nicholas Whyte (13 May 2003). "Westminster by-elections, 23 January 1986". Northern Ireland Social and Political Archive. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
22. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
23. ^ "Parliamentary Constituency 2024". NISRA. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
24. ^ "National identity (person based) – basic detail (classification 1)". NISRA. Retrieved 17 July 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* 2017 Election House of Commons Library 2017 Election report
* A Vision Of Britain Through Time (Constituency elector numbers)
* East Londonderry UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
* East Londonderry UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

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Current Westminster constituencies in Northern Ireland (18)

Sinn Féin (7)|

* Belfast North
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DUP (5)|

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* East Londonderry
* Strangford
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SDLP (2)|

* Belfast South and Mid Down
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Alliance (1)|

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Independent Unionist (1)|

* North Down

TUV (1)|

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UUP (1)|

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Parliamentary constituencies in County Londonderry

Parliament of Ireland
to 1800|

* Coleraine (???-1800)
* Londonderry City (???-1800)
* County Londonderry (???-1800)
* Newtown Limavady (???-1800)

Westminster 1801-present|

| Historic|

* Coleraine (1801-85)
* Londonderry (1801-85, 1922-83)
* Londonderry City (1801-1922)
* North Londonderry (1885-1922)
* South Londonderry (1885-1922)

|

Current|

* Foyle (1983--)
* East Londonderry (1983--)
* Mid Ulster  (1950--)

Dáil Éireann
Revolutionary era 1919-22|

| First Dáil
1919–21|

| Seats taken|

Londonderry City

|

Seats not taken|

North Londonderry
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Second Dáil
1921–22|

| One or more seats taken|

Londonderry

|

No seats taken|

(none)

Parliament of Northern Ireland 1921-72|

* City of Londonderry (1929–72)
* Foyle (1929–72)
* Londonderry (1921–29)
* Mid Londonderry (1929–72)
* North Londonderry (1929–72)
* South Londonderry (1929–72)

Northern Ireland Assemblies|

| Assembly 1973-74
Constitutional Convention 1975-76
Assembly 1982-86|

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Northern Ireland Forum 1996-98
Assembly (1998–present)|

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European Parliament
1979-2020|

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