2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election
| country =
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election
| previous_year = 2016
| outgoing_members = 5th Northern Ireland Assembly
| elected_members = 6th Northern Ireland Assembly
| next_election = 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election
| next_year = 2022
| seats_for_election = All 90 seats to the Northern Ireland Assembly{{refn|group=n|The last election was for an Assembly with 108 seats.}}
| majority_seats =
| opinion_polls =
| election_date = 2 March 2017
| turnout = 64.78% ({{increase}}9.8%)
| image1 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Arlene Foster election infobox.jpg|bSize = 120|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 150|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader1 = Arlene Foster
| party1 = Democratic Unionist Party
| leader_since1 = 17 December 2015
| leaders_seat1 = Fermanagh and South Tyrone
| last_election1 = 38 seats, 29.2%
| seats_before1 =
| seats1 = 28
| seat_change1 = {{decrease}}10
| popular_vote1 = 225,413
| percentage1 = 28.1%
| swing1 = {{decrease}}1.1%
| image2 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Michelle O'Neill (cropped from Martin McGuinness, Michelle O'Neill, Mary Lou McDonald and Gerry Adams).jpg|bSize = 115|cWidth = 113|cHeight = 150|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader2 = Michelle O'Neill
| party2 = Sinn Féin
| leader_since2 = 23 January 2017{{refn|group=n|"Party leader in the North".{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sinn-feins-michelle-oneill-poised-to-be-selected-as-partys-new-leader-in-northern-ireland-35389908.html|title=Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill poised to be selected as party's new leader in Northern Ireland|work=Irish Independent|first=Suzanne|last=Breen|date=23 January 2017|access-date=2 December 2019|archive-date=5 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205132517/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sinn-feins-michelle-oneill-poised-to-be-selected-as-partys-new-leader-in-northern-ireland-35389908.html|url-status=live}}}}
| leaders_seat2 = Mid Ulster
| last_election2 = 28 seats, 24%
| seats_before2 =
| seats2 = 27
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}}1
| popular_vote2 = 224,245
| percentage2 = 27.9%
| swing2 = {{increase}}3.9%
| image3 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Colum Eastwood MLA.JPG|bSize = 120|cWidth = 113|cHeight = 150|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader3 = Colum Eastwood
| leader_since3 = 14 November 2015
| party3 = Social Democratic and Labour Party
| leaders_seat3 = Foyle
| last_election3 = 12 seats, 12%
| seats_before3 =
| seats3 = 12
| seat_change3 = {{steady}}
| popular_vote3 = 95,958
| percentage3 = 11.9%
| swing3 = {{decrease}}0.1%
| image4 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Mike Nesbitt.png|bSize = 125|cWidth = 113|cHeight = 150|oTop = 5|oLeft = 5}}
| leader4 = {{nowrap|Mike Nesbitt}}
| leader_since4 = 31 March 2012
| party4 = Ulster Unionist Party
| leaders_seat4 = Strangford
| last_election4 = 16 seats, 12.6%
| seats_before4 =
| seats4 = 10
| seat_change4 = {{decrease}}6
| popular_vote4 = 103,314
| percentage4 = 12.9%
| swing4 = {{increase}}0.3%
| image5 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Naomi_Long_MLA.jpg|bSize = 140|cWidth = 113|cHeight = 150|oTop = 0|oLeft = 10}}
| leader5 = Naomi Long
| leader_since5 = 26 October 2016
| party5 = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
| leaders_seat5 = Belfast East
| last_election5 = 8 seats, 7.7%
| seats_before5 =
| seats5 = 8
| seat_change5 = {{steady}}
| popular_vote5 = 72,717
| percentage5 = 9.1%
| swing5 = {{increase}}2.1%
| image6 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Steven Agnew MLA 2016.png|bSize = 105|cWidth = 113|cHeight = 150|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader6 = Steven Agnew
| leader_since6 = January 2011
| party6 = Green Party Northern Ireland
| leaders_seat6 = North Down
| last_election6 = 2 seats, 2.7%
| seats_before6 =
| seats6 = 2
| seat_change6 = {{steady}}
| popular_vote6 = 18,527
| percentage6 = 2.3%
| swing6 = {{decrease}}0.4%
| image7 = {{CSS image crop|Image =JimAllister (cropped).jpg|bSize = 120|cWidth = 113|cHeight = 150|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader7 = Jim Allister
| leader_since7 = 7 December 2007
| party7 = Traditional Unionist Voice
| leaders_seat7 = North Antrim
| last_election7 = 1 seat, 3.4%
| seats_before7 = 1
| seats7 = 1
| seat_change7 = {{steady}}
| popular_vote7 = 20,523
| percentage7 = 2.6%
| swing7 = {{decrease}}0.8%
| image8 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Eamonn McCann, Foyle MLA 2016.jpg|bSize = 185|cWidth = 113|cHeight = 150|oTop = 0|oLeft = 25}}
| leader8 = Eamonn McCann
| leader_since8 = N/A
| party8 = People Before Profit
| leaders_seat8 = Foyle (Defeated)
| last_election8 = 2 seats, 2.0%
| seats_before8 = 2
| seats8 = 1
| seat_change8 = {{decrease}}1
| popular_vote8 = 14,100
| percentage8 = 1.8%
| swing8 = {{decrease}}0.2%
| map = {{Switcher
| 350px
| Seats won by each party and combined first preference vote share of the largest party
| 350px
| Breakdown of each party and community's seats in constituencies
}}
| map_caption = Election results. Voters elect 5 assembly members from the 18 constituencies.
| title = First Minister and
deputy First Minister
| posttitle = First Minister and
deputy First Minister after election
| before_election = Arlene Foster (DUP) &
Martin McGuinness (SF)
| after_election = Arlene Foster (DUP) &
Michelle O'Neill (SF)
}}
The 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election was held on Thursday, 2 March 2017. The election was held to elect members (MLAs) following the resignation of deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness in protest over the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal. McGuinness' position was not filled, and thus by law his resignation triggered an election.
Eight parties elected MLAs in the sixth assembly: the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, the Greens, People Before Profit (PBP), and Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV). There was also one Independent Unionist MLA.
It was the sixth election since the Assembly was re-established in 1998, and the first to implement a reduction in size to 90 MLAs (versus the previous 108).
1,254,709 people were registered to vote in the election (26,886 fewer, or a 2.1% decrease, compared to the 2016 Assembly election). 64.78% of registered voters turned out to vote in the 2017 Assembly election, up 9.8 percentage points from the previous Assembly election held in 2016, but 5 percentage points less than in the first election to the Assembly held in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/54ee63a7-2286-464d-bf68-b967a98e5f40/NI-Assembly-Election-2017-Turnout|title=Electoral Office for Northern Ireland: Turnout Statistics|format=PDF|access-date=3 March 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303212039/http://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/54ee63a7-2286-464d-bf68-b967a98e5f40/NI-Assembly-Election-2017-Turnout|archive-date=3 March 2017}}
Background
Theresa Villiers, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced in 2013 that the next Assembly election would be postponed to May 2016, and would be held at fixed intervals of five years thereafter.{{cite news|title=Northern Ireland Assembly elections put back to 2016|work=BBC News|date=10 May 2013|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22480728|access-date=11 May 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609182806/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22480728|archive-date=9 June 2013}} Section 7 of the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 specifies that elections will be held on the first Thursday in May in the fifth calendar year following that in which its predecessor was elected,{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/13/contents/enacted/data.htm|title=Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=7 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101132/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/13/contents/enacted/data.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016}} which after 2016 was to be 6 May 2021. However, by virtue of section 31(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, there are several circumstances in which the Assembly can be dissolved before the date scheduled.
Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin), the deputy First Minister, resigned on 9 January 2017 in protest at the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal (RHI) and other issues, such as the DUP's failure to support funding for inquests into killings during The Troubles and for an Irish language project. The First Minister, Arlene Foster (DUP), had been in charge of the RHI scheme in her previous ministerial position, but had refused to temporarily stand down as First Minister while an enquiry took place. Under the power-sharing arrangement, McGuinness' resignation as deputy First Minister meant that Foster automatically lost office as First Minister. The DUP condemned his resignation.
Sinn Féin had seven days, until 5 pm on 16 January 2017, in which to nominate a new deputy First Minister, but refused to do so in the Assembly plenary on 16 January.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0116/845184-northern-ireland|title=Sinn Féin declines to make Stormont nomination|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|date=16 January 2017|access-date=16 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117122111/https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0116/845184-northern-ireland/|archive-date=17 January 2017}} As a result, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, confirmed the same day that a snap election would be held on 2 March.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38561507|title=Martin McGuinness resigns as NI deputy first minister|date=10 January 2017|publisher=BBC|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=9 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109151844/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38561507|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishnews.com/news/politicalnews/2017/01/09/news/sinn-fe-in-deputy-first-minister-martin-mcguinness-resigns-876109|title=Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigns|first=Maeve|last=Connolly|work=Irish News|date=9 January 2017 |access-date=9 January 2017|archive-date=10 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110015406/http://www.irishnews.com/news/politicalnews/2017/01/09/news/sinn-fe-in-deputy-first-minister-martin-mcguinness-resigns-876109/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38564319|title=McGuinness quits: What happens next in Northern Ireland?|date=9 January 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=24 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224141430/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38564319|url-status=live}}
McGuinness subsequently announced that, owing to ill-health, he would not be seeking re-election to the Assembly; he then stepped down from leading the Sinn Féin group. He was replaced by Michelle O'Neill as leader of Sinn Féin in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Nineteen days after the election, McGuinness died.
Candidates
Nominations opened on 27 January 2017 for the assembly election and closed on 8 February 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.eoni.org.uk/Elections/Election-results-and-statistics/Election-results-and-statistics-2003-onwards/Elections-2017|title=Northern Ireland Assembly Election, 2 March 2017|url-status=live|access-date=30 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201152606/http://www.eoni.org.uk/Elections/Election-results-and-statistics/Election-results-and-statistics-2003-onwards/Elections-2017|archive-date=1 February 2017}}
A total of 228 candidates contested the 90 available seats in the Assembly, a reduction from the 276 who contested the 108 seats available in 2016.{{cite web|title=Number of candidates by constituency|url=http://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/280b9b30-7eed-45a2-9c23-e69f7c8c3994/NI-Assembly-Election-2017-Number-of-Candidates-by-Constituency|website=EONI|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211091708/http://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/280b9b30-7eed-45a2-9c23-e69f7c8c3994/NI-Assembly-Election-2017-Number-of-Candidates-by-Constituency|url-status=live}} The seats were spread over 18 districts, with each district having five seats. The election was conducted using the single transferable vote system.
The table below lists all of the nominated candidates.{{cite web|title=Statements of Persons Nominated|url=http://www.eoni.org.uk/Elections/Election-results-and-statistics/Election-results-and-statistics-2003-onwards/Elections-2017/NI-Assembly-Election-2017-Statements-of-Persons-No|website=EONI|access-date=9 February 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211090433/http://www.eoni.org.uk/Elections/Election-results-and-statistics/Election-results-and-statistics-2003-onwards/Elections-2017/NI-Assembly-Election-2017-Statements-of-Persons-No|archive-date=11 February 2017}} Candidates for the same party in a constituency are listed in alphabetical order, which is the order they appeared on the ballot paper.
{{plainlist|
* indicates an incumbent MLA** indicates the candidate was the incumbent MLA for a different constituency- ^ indicates a former MLA who was not a member at the dissolution of the 2016–17 Assembly
- Leaders of parties represented in the assembly at dissolution are shown in bold text.
}}
| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Constituency !DUP !SF !SDLP !UUP !TUV !Con ! rowspan="2" |Others | |||||||
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}};" | | style="background:{{party color|Sinn Féin}};" | | style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic and Labour Party}};" | | style="background:{{party color|Ulster Unionist Party}};" | | style="background:{{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}};" | | style="background:{{party color|Traditional Unionist Voice}};" | | style="background:{{party color|Green Party Northern Ireland}};" | | style="background:{{party color|Conservative}};" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast East
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| *Joanne Bunting*
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| Mairéad O'Donnell |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Séamas de Faoite |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| Andy Allen* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| Andrew Girvin |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Georgina Milne |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| Sheila Bodel |{{plainlist| | |||||||
| Belfast North
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Nichola Mallon* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| Robert Foster |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Nuala McAllister |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Malachai O'Hara |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| |{{plainlist| | |||||||
| Belfast South
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| Máirtín Ó Muilleoir* |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| {{plainlist|
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| Michael Henderson |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| {{plainlist|
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| John Hiddleston |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Clare Bailey* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| George Jabbour |{{plainlist| | |||||||
| Belfast West
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| Frank McCoubrey |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Alex Attwood* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| Fred Rogers |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Sorcha Eastwood |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Ellen Murray |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| |{{plainlist|
| |||||||
| East Antrim
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist|
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| Oliver McMullan* |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Margaret Anne McKillop |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| Ruth Wilson |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Dawn Patterson |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| Alan Dunlop |{{plainlist| | |||||||
| East Londonderry
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| John Dallat^ |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| William McCandless |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Chris McCaw |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| Jordan Armstrong |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Anthony Flynn |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| David Harding |{{plainlist|
| |||||||
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Richie McPhillips* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| Rosemary Barton* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Noreen Campbell |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| Alex Elliott |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Tanya Jones |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| Richard Dunn |Donal Ó Cófaigh (CCLA) | |||||||
| Foyle
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| Gary Middleton* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| Julia Kee |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Colm Cavanagh |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Shannon Downey |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| Stuart Canning |{{plainlist|
| |||||||
| Lagan Valley
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| Peter Doran |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Pat Catney |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Trevor Lunn* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| Samuel Morrison |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Dan Barrios-O'Neill |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| Matthew Robinson |{{plainlist| | |||||||
| Mid Ulster
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| Keith Buchanan* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Patsy McGlone* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| Sandra Overend* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Fay Watson |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| Hannah Loughrin |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Stefan Taylor |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| |{{plainlist| | |||||||
| Newry and Armagh
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| William Irwin* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Justin McNulty* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| Danny Kennedy* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Jackie Coade |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Rowan Tunnicliffe |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| |Emmet Crossan (CISTA) | |||||||
| North Antrim
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| Philip McGuigan* |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Connor Duncan |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| Robin Swann* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Patricia O'Lynn |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Mark Bailey |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| |{{plainlist| | |||||||
| North Down
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| Kieran Maxwell |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Caoímhe McNeill |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist|
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Stephen Farry* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Steven Agnew* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| Frank Shivers |{{plainlist| | |||||||
| South Antrim
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| Declan Kearney* |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Roisin Lynch |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| David Ford* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| Richard Cairns |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Eleanor Bailey |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| Mark Logan |{{plainlist| | |||||||
| South Down
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| Jim Wells* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| Harold McKee* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Patrick Brown |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| Lyle Rea |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Hannah George |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| Gary Hynds |Patrick Clarke (Ind.) | |||||||
| Strangford
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| Dermot Kennedy |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Joe Boyle |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Kellie Armstrong* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| Stephen Cooper |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Ricky Bamford |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| Scott Benton |{{plainlist|
| |||||||
| Upper Bann
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| {{plainlist|
|style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Dolores Kelly^ |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Tara Doyle |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| Roy Ferguson |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Simon Lee |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| Ian Nichols |Colin Craig (WP) | |||||||
| West Tyrone
|style:"background;{{Party shading/Democratic Unionist Party}}"| Thomas Buchanan* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Sinn Féin}}"| {{plainlist| |style:"background;{{Party shading/SDLP}}"| Daniel McCrossan* |style:"background;{{Party shading/Ulster Unionist Party}}"| Alicia Clarke |style:"background;{{Party shading/Alliance Party}}"| Stephen Donnelly |style:"background;{{Party shading/Traditional Unionist Voice}}"| Charlie Chittick |style:"background;{{Party shading/Green Party of Northern Ireland}}"| Ciaran McClean |style:"background;{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}"| Roger Lomas |{{plainlist| |
Gerry Mullan, who was an MLA for the SDLP before the dissolution, stood as an independent after having been deselected by the party.{{cite web|url=http://www.derryjournal.com/news/election-2017-former-sdlp-mla-gerry-mullan-to-run-as-independent-in-election-1-7798311|title=Election 2017: Former SDLP MLA Gerry Mullan to run as independent in election|date=31 January 2017 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131091901/http://www.derryjournal.com/news/election-2017-former-sdlp-mla-gerry-mullan-to-run-as-independent-in-election-1-7798311|archive-date=31 January 2017}} Jonathan Bell, who was suspended from the DUP, was also standing as an independent.{{cite web|title=Statement of Persons Nominated – Strangford|url=http://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/09ec21fc-54bc-4576-a832-5968b6d1397a/NI-Assembly-Election-2017-Statement-of-Persons-Nominated-ST_1|website=EONI|access-date=8 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211084829/http://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/09ec21fc-54bc-4576-a832-5968b6d1397a/NI-Assembly-Election-2017-Statement-of-Persons-Nominated-ST_1|archive-date=11 February 2017}} Both failed to get elected.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-northern-ireland-39075542|title=Northern Ireland Assembly election results|work=BBC News |date=3 March 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304122932/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-northern-ireland-39075542|archive-date=4 March 2017}}
Members not seeking re-election
Campaign
The Renewable Heat Incentive scandal remained central in the campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/northern-ireland-torn-between-past-and-future/a-37757279|title=Northern Ireland torn between past and future – Europe – DW.COM – 01.03.2017|first=Deutsche Welle|last=(www.dw.com)|website=Deutsche Welle |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301191024/http://www.dw.com/en/northern-ireland-torn-between-past-and-future/a-37757279|archive-date=1 March 2017}} Sinn Féin said they would not return to government with the DUP while questions over RHI remain over the DUP's leader, Foster.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-39122150|title=RHI and vote transfers light up NI election TV debate|work=BBC News |date=1 March 2017|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=6 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506094733/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-39122150|url-status=live}} There were concerns about deteriorating cross-community relationships.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-northern-ireland-2017-39147988|title=Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt is to resign|work=BBC News |date=4 March 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303104647/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-northern-ireland-2017-39147988|archive-date=3 March 2017}} If the two parties emerged as the largest in their communities and could not resolve the issue, direct rule by the UK government could be imposed.
The UUP leader, Mike Nesbitt, promoted the possibility of a UUP/SDLP administration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/unionist-will-give-second-preference-to-sdlp-3st2lm5lk|title=Unionist will give second preference to SDLP|first=David|last=Young|date=13 February 2017 |via=www.thetimes.co.uk|access-date=27 May 2020|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122212458/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/unionist-will-give-second-preference-to-sdlp-3st2lm5lk|url-status=live}} He said he would give his voting preference after the UUP candidates to the SDLP, although he said he would not tell UUP voters what to do with their later preferences.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38949545|title=NI assembly election: UUP leader Mike Nesbitt will transfer vote to SDLP|work=BBC News |date=12 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223113458/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38949545|archive-date=23 February 2017}} Other UUP candidates opposed the action, saying they will give later preferences to other unionist candidates over the SDLP,{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/eight-uup-candidates-well-transfer-unionist-sdlp-1152975|title=Eight UUP candidates: We'll transfer unionist before SDLP|website=www.newsletter.co.uk|date=14 February 2017 |access-date=27 May 2020|archive-date=23 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123200029/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/eight-uup-candidates-well-transfer-unionist-sdlp-1152975|url-status=live}} and one UUP councillor resigned from the party in protest.{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/uup-councillor-resigns-over-mike-nesbitts-sdlp-second-vote-pledge-35450579.html|title=UUP councillor resigns over Mike Nesbitt's SDLP second vote pledge|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk |date=14 February 2017 |via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk|access-date=27 May 2020|archive-date=23 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123151646/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/uup-councillor-resigns-over-mike-nesbitts-sdlp-second-vote-pledge-35450579.html|url-status=live}}
The DUP criticised Nesbitt's position and campaigned arguing that splitting the unionist vote could help Sinn Féin come out as the largest party.{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland-assembly-election/dup-project-fear-over-sinn-fein-topping-poll-is-costing-uup-votes-claims-party-veteran-35484679.html|title=DUP 'Project Fear' over Sinn Fein topping poll is costing UUP votes, claims party veteran|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk |date=27 February 2017 |via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk|access-date=27 May 2020|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020812/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland-assembly-election/dup-project-fear-over-sinn-fein-topping-poll-is-costing-uup-votes-claims-party-veteran-35484679.html|url-status=live}}
Brexit was also an issue. In the UK-wide referendum on EU membership on 23 June 2016, 56% of voters in Northern Ireland voted to "Remain" a member of the European Union while 44% voted to "Leave". The DUP supported the UK leaving the EU, while nationalist parties and most others opposed, fearing among other things the possibility of a hard border resulting with the Republic of Ireland.Newsnight, BBC2, 1 March 2017 It became known during the campaign that the DUP spent £282,000 on a pro-Brexit advert in a newspaper that did not appear in Northern Ireland. The money came from the Constitutional Research Council, a minor pro-union group chaired by the former vice-chair of the Scottish Conservative Party Richard Cook.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/24/eu-referendum-spending-official-campaigns-investigation-opens-electoral-commission|title=DUP spent £282,000 on Brexit ad that did not run in Northern Ireland|first1=Pamela|last1=Duncan|first2=Liz|last2=Carolan|first3=Henry|last3=McDonald|first4=Severin|last4=Carrell|first5=Rajeev|last5=Syal|date=24 February 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=1 March 2017|archive-date=2 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302044223/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/24/eu-referendum-spending-official-campaigns-investigation-opens-electoral-commission|url-status=live}}
The Alliance Party campaigned on their opposition to sectarianism. People Before Profit focused on their opposition to austerity.
Opinion polling
=Graphical summary=
{{Graph:Chart
| width=700
| height=400
| xAxisTitle=
| yAxisTitle=%support
| xAxisAngle = -40
| legend=Party
| interpolate = basis
| showSymbols = yes
| xType = date
| y1Title=DUP
| y2Title=SF
| y3Title=UUP
| y4Title=SDLP
| y5Title=Alliance
| y6Title=TUV
| y7Title=Green
| y8Title=PBP
| y9Title=Others
| type=line
| xGrid = | yGrid =
| x= 2016/05/05, 2017/01/28, 2017/02/26, 2017/03/02,
| y1= 29.2, 25.9, 26.3, 28.1,
| y2= 24, 25.1, 25.3, 27.9,
| y3= 12.6, 13.9, 13.9, 12.9,
| y4= 12, 12.4, 12.2, 11.9,
| y5= 7, 8.9, 9.5, 9.1,
| y6= 3.4, 4.3, 4.4, 2.6,
| y7= 2.7, 3.9, 3.4, 2.3,
| y8= 2, 2.7, 2.4, 1.8,
| y9= 7.1, 3.1, 2.7, 3.7,
| colors = #D46A4C, #326760, #48A5EE, #2AA82C, #F6CB2F, #0C3A6A, #8DC63F, #660000, #DCDCDC
}}
{{mw-datatable}}
| class="wikitable sortable mw-datatable" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;line-height:14px;"
! rowspan="2" |Pollster ! rowspan="2" |Client ! rowspan="2" |Date(s) ! rowspan="2" |Sample ! style="width:50px;" class="unsortable"|DUP (U) ! style="width:50px;" class="unsortable"|SF (N) ! style="width:50px;" class="unsortable"|UUP (U) ! style="width:50px;" class="unsortable"|SDLP (N) ! style="width:50px;" class="unsortable"|Alliance (O) ! style="width:50px;" class="unsortable"|TUV (U) ! style="width:50px;" class="unsortable"|Green (O) ! style="width:50px;" class="unsortable"|PBP (O) ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" width:75px|Others ! rowspan="2"|Lead | |
| data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}};"|
! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Sinn Féin}};"| ! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Ulster Unionist Party}};"| ! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic and Labour Party}};"| ! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}};"| ! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Traditional Unionist Voice}};"| ! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Green Party of Northern Ireland}};"| ! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|People Before Profit Alliance}};"| | |
|---|---|
| colspan="2"|2017 Assembly Election
|{{opdrts | 2|Mar|2017|year}}
|– |style="background:#F5DDD6;"|28.1% |27.9% |12.9% |11.9% |9.1% |2.6% |2.3% |1.8% |3.7% |style="background:{{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}};color:#FFFFFF;"|0.2% |
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20170301180659/https://lucidtalk.co.uk/images/News/LTFeb17TrackerPollResults-GeneralReport.pdf Lucid Talk]
|N/A |{{opdrts|24|26|Feb|2017|year}} |1,580 |style="background:#F5DDD6;"|26.3% |25.3% |13.9% |12.2% |9.5% |4.4% |3.4% |2.4% |2.7% |style="background:{{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}};color:#FFFFFF;"|1.0% | |
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20170202233917/http://www.lucidtalk.co.uk/images/News/LTJan17TrackerPollResults-GeneralReport.pdf Lucid Talk]
|N/A |{{opdrts|26|28|Jan|2017|year}} |1,580 |style="background:#F5DDD6;"|25.9% |25.1% |13.9% |12.4% |8.9% |4.3% |3.9% |2.7% |3.1% |style="background:{{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}};color:#FFFFFF;"|0.8% | |
| colspan="2" |2016 Assembly Election
|{{opdrts | 5|May|2016|year}}
|– |style="background:#F5DDD6;"|29.2% |24.0% |12.6% |12.0% |7.0% |3.4% |2.7% |2.0% |7.1% |style="background:{{party color|Democratic Unionist Party}};color:#FFFFFF;"|5.2% |
Results
=Overall results=
{{Election results
|seattype1=Assembly
|seattype2=+/–
|seattype3=Executive
|seattype4=+/–
|party1=Democratic Unionist Party|votes1=225413|sw1=-1.1|st1t1=28|st2t1=-10|st3t1=5|st4t1=
|party2=Sinn Féin|votes2=224245|sw2=+3.9|st1t2=27|st2t2=-1|st3t2=4|st4t2=
|party3=Ulster Unionist Party|votes3=103314|sw3=+0.3|st1t3=10|st2t3=-6|st3t3=1|st4t3=+1
|party4=Social Democratic and Labour Party|votes4=95958|sw4=-0.1|st1t4=12|st2t4=|st3t4=1|st4t4=+1
|party5=Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|votes5=72717|sw5=+2.1|st1t5=8|st2t5=|st3t5=1|st4t5=+1
|party6=Traditional Unionist Voice|votes6=20523|sw6=-0.9|st1t6=1|st2t6=|st3t6=|st4t6=
|party7=Green Party Northern Ireland|votes7=18527|sw7=-0.4|st1t7=2|st2t7=|st3t7=|st4t7=
|party8=People Before Profit Alliance|votes8=14100|sw8=-0.2|st1t8=1|st2t8=-1|st3t8=|st4t8=
|party9=Progressive Unionist Party|votes9=5590|sw9=-0.2|st1t9=|st2t9=|st3t9=|st4t9=
|party10=Northern Ireland Conservatives|votes10=2399|sw10=-0.1|st1t10=|st2t10=|st3t10=|st4t10=
|party11=Cross-Community Labour Alternative|votes11=2009|sw11=|st1t11=|st2t11=|st3t11=|st4t11=
|party12=UK Independence Party|votes12=1579|sw12=-1.3|st1t12=|st2t12=|st3t12=|st4t12=
|party13=Citizens Independent Social Thought Alliance|votes13=1273|sw13=-0.2|st1t13=|st2t13=|st3t13=|st4t13=
|party14=Workers' Party|votes14=1261|sw14=|st1t14=|st2t14=|st3t14=|st4t14=
|party15=Independent|votes15=14407|sw15=-1.5|st1t15=1|st2t15=|st3t15=|st4t15=-1
|invalid=9468
|electorate=1254709
|turnout=
}}
=Seat changes compared to a notional result from 2016 with a 90-seat Assembly=
Psephologist Nicholas Whyte estimated the likely result in the 2016 election had it been fought with 5-seat constituencies rather than six-seat constituencies. This table shows the different result, and compares the actual result in 2017 to this notional result.{{cite web|url=https://sluggerotoole.com/2016/12/22/if-the-2016-assembly-election-had-had-five-seats-per-constituency/|title=If the 2016 Assembly election had had five seats per constituency...|first=Nicholas|last=Whyte|date=22 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118075249/https://sluggerotoole.com/2016/12/22/if-the-2016-assembly-election-had-had-five-seats-per-constituency/|archive-date=18 January 2017}}
| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party ! MLAs elected in 2016 ! Notional 2016 ! MLAs elected in 2017 ! Change from ! Designation |
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|38 |33 |28 |{{decrease}} 5 |Unionist |
| {{Party name with colour|Sinn Féin}}
|28 |23 |27 |{{increase}} 4 |Nationalist |
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|16 |11 |10 | {{decrease}} 1 |Unionist |
| {{Party name with colour|Social Democratic and Labour Party}}
|12 |11 |12 |{{increase}} 1 |Nationalist |
| {{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
|8 |8 |8 |{{nochange}} |Other |
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party Northern Ireland}}
|2 |2 |2 |{{nochange}} |Other |
| {{Party name with colour|People Before Profit}}
|2 |1 |1 |{{nochange}} |Other |
| {{Party name with colour|Traditional Unionist Voice}}
|1 |1 |1 |{{nochange}} |Unionist |
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
|1 |0 |1 | {{increase}} 1 |Unionist |
| colspan=2|Total
|108 |90 |90 |{{nochange}} | |
=Distribution of seats by constituency=
Party affiliation of the five Assembly members returned by each constituency. The first column indicates the party of the Member of the House of Commons (MP) returned by the corresponding parliamentary constituency in the general election of 7 May 2015 (under the "first past the post" method).
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||
| ! 2015 MP
! Constituency ! Candi- ! Total ! style="background-color:#660000; color:#fff;"|PBP ! style="background-color:#8dc63f;"|Green ! style="background-color:#008800; color:#fff;"|Sinn ! style="background-color:#99ff66;"|SDLP ! style="background-color:#f6cb2f;"|Alli- ! style="background-color:#9999ff;"|UUP ! style="background-color:#d46a4c;"|DUP ! style="background-color:#0095b6;"| TUV ! style="background-color:#dddddd;"|Ind. ! class="unsortable"|Seat ! class="unsortable"|Seat | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
| {{party color cell|Democratic Unionist Party}}DUP | style="text-align:left;"|North Antrim | – | 5 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | – | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | ||
| 2
| {{party color cell|Democratic Unionist Party}}DUP | style="text-align:left;"| East Antrim | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | – | –
| style="background:#9999ff;"|UUP | style="padding:0;" | SF DUP | ||||
| 3
| {{party color cell|Ulster Unionist Party}}UUP | style="text-align:left;"| South Antrim | – | 5 | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | ||
| 4
| {{party color cell|Democratic Unionist Party}}DUP | style="text-align:left;"| Belfast North | – | 5 | – | – | 2 | 1 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | ||
| 5
| {{party color cell|Sinn Féin}}{{color|white|SF}} | style="text-align:left;"|Belfast West | – | 5 | 1 | – | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|4 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | style="background:#99ff66;"|SDLP | ||
| 6
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic and Labour Party}}SDLP | style="text-align:left;"|Belfast South | – | 5 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | ||
| 7
| {{party color cell|Democratic Unionist Party}}DUP | style="text-align:left;"|Belfast East | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | 2 | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | ||
| 8
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)}}Ind. | style="text-align:left;"| North Down | – | 5 | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | ||
| 9
| {{party color cell|Democratic Unionist Party}}DUP | style="text-align:left;"|Strangford | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|3 | – | – | – | style="background:#9999ff;"|UUP | ||
| 10
| {{party color cell|Democratic Unionist Party}}DUP | style="text-align:left;"| Lagan Valley | – | 5 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | –|
| style="background:#99ff66;"|SDLP | style="padding:0;" | UUP DUP | ||||
| 11
| {{party color cell|Democratic Unionist Party}}DUP | style="text-align:left;"| Upper Bann | – | 5 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | – | –
| style="background:#99ff66;"|SDLP | style="padding:0;" | UUP SF | ||||
| 12
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic and Labour Party}}SDLP | style="text-align:left;"| South Down | – | 5 | – | – | 2 | 2 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | style="background:#9999ff;"|UUP | ||
| 13
| {{party color cell|Sinn Féin}}{{color|white|SF}} | style="text-align:left;"| Newry and Armagh | – | 5 | – | – | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|3 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | style="background:#9999ff;"|UUP | ||
| 14
| {{party color cell|Ulster Unionist Party}}UUP | style="text-align:left;"| Fermanagh & South Tyrone | – | 5 | – | – | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|3 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | –
| style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|SF | style="padding:0;" | DUP SDLP | ||||
| 15
| {{party color cell|Sinn Féin}}{{color|white|SF}} | style="text-align:left;"| West Tyrone | – | 5 | – | – | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|3 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | style="background:#9999ff;"|UUP | ||
| 16
| {{party color cell|Sinn Féin}}{{color|white|SF}} | style="text-align:left;"| Mid Ulster | – | 5 | – | – | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|3 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | style="background:#9999ff;"|UUP | ||
| 17
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic and Labour Party}}SDLP | style="text-align:left;"| Foyle | – | 5 | – | – | 2 | 2 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | style="background:#660000; color:#fff;"|PBP | ||
| 18
| {{party color cell|Democratic Unionist Party}}DUP | style="text-align:left;"| East Londonderry | – | 5 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | 2 | – | 1 | – | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | ||
| class="sortbottom" style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;"
|18 | {{sort|ZZA|Total}} | – | 90 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 28 | 1 | 1 | |||
| class="sortbottom" | | | align="left"|{{sort|ZZB|Change since dissolution}} | – | style="background:lavenderblush;"|–18 | style="background:lavenderblush;"|–1 | 0 | style="background:lavenderblush;"|–1 | – | – | −6 | −10 | – | – | – | – |
| class="sortbottom" style="text-align:center; background:#eee;" | | | align="left"|{{sort|ZZC|Assembly at dissolution}} | – | 108 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 38 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| class="sortbottom" | | | align="left"|{{sort|ZZD|Change during Assembly term}} | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| class="sortbottom" style="text-align:center; background:#eee;" | | | align="left"|{{sort|ZZE|Elected on 5 May 2011}} | 218 | 108 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 38 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| class="sortbottom" style="text-align:center; background:#eee;" | | | align="left"|{{sort|ZZE|Elected on 7 March 2007}} | 256 | 108 | – | 1 | 28 | 16 | 7 | 18 | 36 | – | 1 | 1 Prog. U. | – |
| class="sortbottom" style="text-align:center; background:#eee;" | | | align="left"|{{sort|ZZG|Elected on 23 November 2003}} | 108 | – | – | 24 | 18 | 6 | 27 | 30 | – | 1 | 1 Prog. U. | 1 UKUP | |
| class="sortbottom" style="text-align:center; background:#eee;" | | | align="left"|{{sort|ZZI|Elected on 25 June 1998}} | 108 | – | – | 18 | 24 | 6 | 28 | 20 | – | 4 | 2 Prog. U. | 5 UKUP, 2 NIWC |
- Three of the four independents elected in 1998 ran as Independent Unionists
- NIWC = Northern Ireland Women's Coalition; Prog. U. = Progressive Unionist Party; TUV = Traditional Unionist Voice; UKUP = UK Unionist Party
=Share of first-preference votes=
Percentage of each constituency's first-preference votes. Four highest percentages in each constituency shaded; absolute majorities underlined. The constituencies are arranged in the geographic order described for the table above; click the icon next to "Constituency" to see them in alphabetical order.
The totals given here are the sum of all valid ballots cast in each constituency, and the percentages are based on such totals. The turnout percentages in the last column, however, are based upon all ballots cast, which also include anything from twenty to a thousand invalid ballots in each constituency. The total valid ballots' percentage of the eligible electorate can correspondingly differ by 0.1% to 2% from the turnout percentage.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||||||
| ! 2015 MP ! MP's % ! Constituency ! style="background-color:#660000; color:#fff;"|PBP ! style="background-color:#8dc63f;"|Green ! style="background-color:#008800; color:#fff;"|Sinn ! style="background-color:#99ff66;"|SDLP ! style="background-color:#f6cb2f;"|Alli- ! style="background-color:#9999ff;"|UUP ! style="background-color:#d46a4c;"|DUP ! style="background-color:#0095b6;"| TUV ! style="background-color:#dddddd;"|Ind. ! style="background-color:#dddddd;"|Others ! Total ! Eligible ! Turn- | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | style="background:#d46a4c;"|43.2% | align=left|North Antrim | 1.1 | style="background:#88ff88;"|15.8 | 7.3 | 5.4 | style="background:#eeeeff;"|12.5 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|40.6 | style="background:#00bbdd;"|16.0 | 1.1 | – | – | 63.2% | ||
| 2 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | style="background:#d46a4c;"|36.1% | align=left|East Antrim | 2.1 | style="background:#ccffcc;"|9.9 | 4.1 | style="background:#ffffaa;"|16.0 | style="background:#9999ff;"|22.7 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|35.2 | 4.1 | 0.3 | 5.7 | – | – | 60.1% | |
| 3 | style="background:#9999ff;"|UUP | style="background:#9999ff;"|32.7% | align=left|South Antrim | 1.3 | 1.2 | style="background:#88ff88;"|16.3 | 9.5 | style="background:#ffffee;"|12.5 | style="background:#9999ff;"|20.8 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|33.7 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.5 | – | – | 62.4% |
| 4 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | style="background:#d46a4c;"|47.0% | align=left|Belfast North | 3.8 | 1.7 | style="background:#00cc00;"|29.4 | style="background:#ccffaa;"|13.1 | style="background:#ffffee;"|8.4 | 5.8 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|32.1 | 0.2 | 5.5 | – | – | 61.8% | |
| 5 | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|SF | style="background:#008800; color:#fff"|54.2% | align=left| Belfast West | style="background:#aa0000; color:#fff;"|14.9 | 0.6 | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|61.8 | style="background:#eeffcc;"|8.6 | 1.9 | 1.2 | style="background:#ffccaa;"|10.1 | 1.0 | – | – | 66.8% | ||
| 6 | style="background:#88ff55;"|SDLP | style="background:#88ff55;"|24.5% | align=left|Belfast South | 1.8 | style="background:#ddffcc;"|9.9 | style="background:#ccffcc;"|17.7 | style="background:#bbff66;"|19.4 | style="background:#ffffaa;"|17.8 | 9.0 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|20.8 | 1.6 | 2.1 | – | – | 64.0% | |
| 7 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | style="background:#d46a4c;"|49.3% | align=left|Belfast East | |3.6 | 2.9 | 0.6 | style="background:gold;"|31.4 | style="background:#ccccff;"|13.1 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|37.6 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 8.4 | – | – | 63.0% | |
| 8 | style="background:#dddddd;"|Ind. | style="background:#dddddd; "|49.2% | align=left|North Down | style="background:#ddffcc;"|13.7 | 1.6 | 1.8 | style="background:#ffffaa;"|18.6 | style="background:#9999ff;"|21.5 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|37.5 | 3.6 | 1.7 | – | – | 59.2% | ||
| 9 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | style="background:#d46a4c;"|44.4% | align=left|Strangford | 2.4 | 2.9 | style="background:#eeffcc;"|7.9 | style="background:#ffffaa;"|15.0 | style="background:#9999ff;"|20.0 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|39.9 | 3.4 | 8.0 | 0.5 | – | – | 60.9% | |
| 10 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | style="background:#d46a4c;"|47.9% | align=left|Lagan Valley | 2.0 | 4.0 | style="background:#eeffcc;"|8.4 | style="background:#ffffaa;"|13.5 | style="background:#9999ff;"|25.2 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|41.3 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 0.4 | – | – | 62.6% | |
| 11 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | style="background:#d46a4c;"|32.7% | align=left|Upper Bann | 1.1 | style="background:#00cc00;"|27.8 | style="background:#eeffcc;"|9.9 | 5.3 | style="background:#ccccff;"|20.6 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|32.8 | 2.0 | 0.6 | – | – | 62.5% | ||
| 12 | style="background:#88ff55;"|SDLP | style="background:#88ff55;"|42.3% | align=left|South Down | 1.0 | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|38.6 | style="background:#bbff66;"|25.2 | style="background:#ffffee;"|9.2 | 8.4 | style="background:#ffccaa;"|15.8 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | – | – | 66.2% | |
| 13 | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|SF | style="background:#008800; color:#fff"|41.1% | align=left|Newry & Armagh | 0.5 | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|48.3 | style="background:#ccffaa;"|16.4 | 2.6 | style="background:#eeeeff;"|13.2 | style="background:darksalmon;"|17.8 | 1.3 | – | – | 69.4% | |||
| 14 | style="background:#9999ff;"|UUP | style="background:#9999ff;"|46.4% | align=left|Fermanagh & S. Tyrone | 1.1 | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|42.1 | style="background:#eeffcc;"|9.8 | 2.7 | style="background:#ccccff;"|11.6 | style="background:darksalmon;"|29.8 | 1.5 | 1.3 | – | – | 72.6% | ||
| 15 | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|SF | style="background:#008800; color:#fff"|43.5% | align=left|West Tyrone | 0.9 | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|48.1 | style="background:#ccffaa;"|14.2 | 2.8 | style="background:#eeeeff;"|8.2 | style="background:darksalmon;"|20.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 0.9 | – | – | 69.9% | |
| 16 | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|SF | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|48.7% | align=left|Mid Ulster | 0.5 | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|52.8 | style="background:#ccffaa;"|12.9 | 2.0 | style="background:#eeeeff;"|9.1 | style="background:darksalmon;"|19.3 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | – | – | 72.4% | |
| 17 | style="background:#88ff55;"|SDLP | style="background:#88ff55;"|47.9% | align=left|Foyle | style="background:#ffdddd;"|10.7 | 0.5 | style="background:#008800; color:#fff;"|36.6 | style="background:#bbff66;"|31.8 | 2.5 | 3.7 | style="background:#ffccaa;"|13.4 | 0.1 | 0.6 | – | – | 65.0% | |
| 18 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|DUP | style="background:#d46a4c;"|42.2% | align=left|East Londonderry | 1.2 | 0.7 | style="background:#00cc00;"|25.8 | style="background:#ccffaa;"|7.9 | 4.4 | style="background:#eeeeff;"|6.7 | style="background:#d46a4c;"|33.5 | 2.5 | 14.6 | 2.6 | – | – | 62.7% |
| style="background:#ddd;" class="sortbottom"
| 18 | style="text-align:left; background:#ddd;"|{{sort|ZZA|Northern Ireland}} | 1.8 | 2.3 | 27.9 | 11.9 | 9.1 | 12.9 | 28.1 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.8 | style="background:#d5d5d5;"|812,783 | 1,254,709 | style="background:#ddd;"|64.8% | ||
| class="sortbottom" style="background:#fff;" | |align="left"|{{sort|ZZB|Change since 2016}} | style="background:lavenderblush;"|–0.2 | style="background:lavenderblush;"|–0.4 | style="background:mintcream;"|+3.9 | style="background:lavenderblush;"|–0.1 | style="background:mintcream;"|+2.1 | style="background:mintcream;"|+0.3 | style="background:lavenderblush;"|–1.1 | style="background:lavenderblush;"|–0.9 | style="background:lavenderblush;"|–2.1 | style="background:lavenderblush;"|–1.5 | style="background:mintcream;"|+109,039 | style="background:lavenderblush;"|–26,886 | style="background:mintcream;"| +10.0% | ||
| class="sortbottom" style="background:#eaeaea;"
| | align="left"|{{sort|ZZC|Election of May 2016}} | 2.0 | 2.7 | 24.0 | 12.0 | 7.0 | 12.6 | 29.2 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 703,744 | 1,281,595 | 54.9% | ||
| class="sortbottom" style="background:#eaeaea;"
| | align="left"|{{sort|ZZC|Election of May 2011}} | 0.9 | 26.9 | 14.2 | 7.7 | 13.2 | 30.0 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 661,736 | 1,210,009 | 55.6% | |||
| class="sortbottom" style="background:#eaeaea;"
| | align="left"|{{sort|ZZC|Election of March 2007}} | 1.7 | 26.2 | 15.2 | 5.2 | 14.9 | 30.1 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 690,313 | 1,107,904 | 62.9% | ||||
| class="sortbottom" style="background:#eaeaea;"
| | align="left"|{{sort|ZZE|Election of Nov. 2003}} | 0.4 | 23.5 | 17.0 | 3.7 | 22.7 | 25.7 | 5.6 | 2.8 | 692,026 | 1,097,526 | 63.1% | ||||
| class="sortbottom" style="background:#eaeaea;"
| | align="left"|{{sort|ZZG|Election of June 1998}} | 0.1 | 17.6 | 22.0 | 6.5 | 21.3 | 18.1 | 10.9 | 3.5 | 823,565 | 1,178,556 | 69.9% |
- Independent Unionist vote in 1998 (2.8%) included in the Independent column (not "others"). TUV = Traditional Unionist Voice.
=Incumbents defeated=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan=2| Party ! Constituency |
| Nelson McCausland
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}} |
| Emma Little Pengelly
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}} |
| Alex Attwood
| {{Party name with colour|Social Democratic and Labour Party}} |
| Oliver McMullan
| {{Party name with colour|Sinn Féin}} |
| Adrian McQuillan
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}} |
| Gerry Mullan
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} |
| Maurice Morrow
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}} |
| Richie McPhillips
| {{Party name with colour|Social Democratic and Labour Party}} |
| Eamonn McCann
| {{Party name with colour|People Before Profit Alliance}} |
| Brenda Hale
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}} |
| Jenny Palmer
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}} |
| Sandra Overend
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}} |
| Danny Kennedy
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}} |
| Phillip Logan
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}} |
| Trevor Clarke
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}} |
| Harold McKee
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}} |
| Philip Smith
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}} |
| Jonathan Bell
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} |
| Jo-Anne Dobson
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}} |
Aftermath
The election marked a significant shift in Northern Ireland's politics, being the first election since Ireland's partition in 1921 in which unionist parties did not win a majority of seats, and the first time that unionist and nationalist parties received equal representation in the Assembly (39 members between Sinn Féin and the SDLP, 39 members between the DUP, UUP, and TUV). However, a plurality of MLAs were unionists, as Independent MLA Claire Sugden designates as such, leaving 40 unionist MLAs and 39 nationalist MLAs. The DUP's loss of seats also prevented it from unilaterally using the petition of concern mechanism, which the party had controversially used to block measures such as the introduction of same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/04/sinn-fein-cuts-dup-lead-one-seat-stormont-assembly-nationalists/|title=Sinn Fein cuts DUP lead to one seat in Stormont Assembly as nationalists surge in Northern Ireland|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=4 March 2017|access-date=2 February 2020|author=|archive-date=2 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202152638/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/04/sinn-fein-cuts-dup-lead-one-seat-stormont-assembly-nationalists/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-nireland-mcguinness-politics-idUKKBN16T2XV|title=Northern Ireland braces for uncertain new era after McGuinness|last=Humphries|first=Conor|work=Reuters UK|access-date=23 March 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322222718/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-nireland-mcguinness-politics-idUKKBN16T2XV|url-status=dead}}
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt announced his resignation, following the party's failure to make any breakthrough.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-39160617|title=Mike Nesbitt steps down as UUP leader|date=3 March 2017|work=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304115224/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-39160617|archive-date=4 March 2017}}
Sinn Féin reiterated that it would not return to a power-sharing arrangement with the DUP without significant changes in the DUP's approach, including Foster not becoming First Minister until the RHI investigation is complete.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-northern-ireland-2017-39173640|title='No revolt within DUP', says Foster|date=6 March 2017|work=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306143724/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-northern-ireland-2017-39173640|archive-date=6 March 2017}} The parties had three weeks to form an administration; failing that, new elections would likely be called.
While unionism lost its overall majority in the Assembly, the result was characterised by political analyst Matthew Whiting as being more about voters seeking competent local leadership, and about the DUP having less success than Sinn Féin in motivating its traditional voter base to turn out, than about a significant move towards a united Ireland.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/explaining-sinn-feins-electoral-success/|title=One step closer to a united Ireland? Explaining Sinn Féin's electoral success|date=6 March 2017|first=Matthew|last=Whiting|work=British Politics and Policy at LSE |publisher=London School of Economics and Political Science|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307204906/http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/explaining-sinn-feins-electoral-success/|archive-date=7 March 2017}}
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire gave the political parties more time to reach a coalition agreement after the 27 March deadline passed.{{cite web | last1=Kroet | first1=Cynthia | title=No Snap Election in Northern Ireland After Talks Collapse | url=http://www.politico.eu/article/no-snap-election-in-northern-ireland-after-talks-collapse/ | date=27 March 2017 | work=Politico | access-date=27 March 2017 | archive-date=27 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327201508/http://www.politico.eu/article/no-snap-election-in-northern-ireland-after-talks-collapse/ | url-status=live }} Sinn Féin called for fresh elections if agreement could not be reached.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-39555774|title=Stormont talks: Sinn Féin wants election if no deal|date=10 April 2017|work=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420142131/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-39555774|archive-date=20 April 2017}} Negotiations were paused over Easter, but Brokenshire threatened a new election or direct rule if no agreement could be reached by early May.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-39576415|title=Stormont talks: Direct rule or election 'if no deal'|date=12 April 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=6 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006185051/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-39576415|url-status=live}} On 18 April, the Conservative Party Prime Minister, Theresa May, then called a snap general election for 8 June 2017. A new deadline of 29 June was then set for power-sharing talks.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-39651071|title=Stormont power-sharing talks deadline set for 29 June|date=21 April 2017|work=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421003953/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-39651071|archive-date=21 April 2017}}
The 2017 UK general election saw both the DUP and Sinn Féin advance, with the UUP and SDLP losing all their MPs. The overall result saw the Conservatives losing seats, resulting in a hung parliament. May sought to continue as Prime Minister running a minority administration through seeking the support of the DUP. Various commentators suggested this raised problems for the UK government's role as a neutral arbiter in Northern Ireland, as is required under the Good Friday Agreement.{{cite web |url=https://leftfootforward.org/2017/06/how-will-the-northern-irish-power-sharing-be-affected-by-the-tory-dup-friendship/ |title=How will the Northern Irish power-sharing be affected by the Tory-DUP 'friendship'? |work=Left Foot Forward |date=9 June 2017 |access-date=10 June 2017 |archive-date=9 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609151422/https://leftfootforward.org/2017/06/how-will-the-northern-irish-power-sharing-be-affected-by-the-tory-dup-friendship/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.apcoworldwide.com/blog/detail/apcoforum/2017/06/09/the-deciding-votes-from-ulster |title=The Deciding Votes from Ulster |first=Nicholas |last=Whyte |work=APCO Worldwide |access-date=10 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620124849/https://www.apcoworldwide.com/blog/detail/apcoforum/2017/06/09/the-deciding-votes-from-ulster |archive-date=20 June 2018 |url-status=dead}}The Andrew Marr Show, BBC One, 11 June 2017 Talks restarted on 12 June 2017, while a Conservative–DUP agreement was announced and published on 26 June.
A new deadline was set for 29 June, but it appeared that no agreement would be reached in time, with the main sticking point over Sinn Féin's desire for an Irish Language Act, rejected by the DUP, while Sinn Féin rejected a hybrid act that also covers Ulster Scots.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40437157 |title=Ulster-Scots 'forgotten in some ways' |first=Robbie |last=Meredith |date=28 June 2017 |work=BBC News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628225329/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40437157 |archive-date=28 June 2017}} The deadline passed with no resolution. Brokenshire extended the time for talks, but Sinn Féin and the DUP remained pessimistic about any quick resolution.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40489510 |title=Stormont talks: Brokenshire to 'reflect' amid ongoing deadlock |date=4 July 2017 |work=BBC News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704135724/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40489510 |archive-date=4 July 2017}}
Negotiations resumed in the autumn but failed, leaving it in the hands of the UK Parliament to pass a budget for the ongoing financial year of 2017–18. The bill, which began its passage on 13 November, would if enacted release the final 5% of Northern Ireland's block grant.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40580026 |title=Brokenshire to allocate NI money next week |last=Campbell |first=John |date=12 July 2017 |work=BBC News |access-date=13 November 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201153045/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40580026 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-41823860|title=Westminster to set NI budget amid crisis|date=1 November 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=1 November 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=12 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312133805/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-41823860|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/brokenshire-orders-review-as-stormont-mlas-receive-full-salaries-36316045.html |title=Brokenshire orders review as Stormont MLAs receive full salaries|work=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=13 November 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} Talks between the DUP and Sinn Féin recommenced on 6 February 2018, only days before the mid-February deadline where, in the absence of an agreement, a regional budget would have to be imposed by Westminster.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/06/deal-between-sinn-fein-and-dup-over-power-sharing-achievable|title=Deal between Sinn Féin and DUP over power sharing 'achievable'|work=The Guardian|date=6 February 2018|access-date=7 February 2018|archive-date=6 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206230512/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/06/deal-between-sinn-fein-and-dup-over-power-sharing-achievable|url-status=live}} Despite being attended by Theresa May and Leo Varadkar, the talks collapsed and DUP negotiator Simon Hamilton stated "significant and serious gaps remain between ourselves and Sinn Féin".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/14/arlene-foster-no-prospect-restored-government-northern-ireland|title=Talks to restore power-sharing government in Northern Ireland collapse|work=The Guardian|date=15 February 2018|access-date=16 February 2018|archive-date=16 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216084117/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/14/arlene-foster-no-prospect-restored-government-northern-ireland|url-status=live}} The stalemate continued into September, at which point Northern Ireland reached 590 days without a fully functioning administration, eclipsing the record set in Belgium between April 2010 and December 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/protesters-say-we-deserve-better-as-stormont-hiatus-ties-record-1.3610696?mode=amp |title=Protesters say 'we deserve better' as Stormont hiatus ties record |newspaper=The Irish Times|date=28 August 2018|access-date=2 September 2018|archive-date=2 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902084424/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/protesters-say-we-deserve-better-as-stormont-hiatus-ties-record-1.3610696?mode=amp|url-status=live}}
On 18 October the Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley introduced the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Bill, removing the time frame of an Assembly election until 26 March 2019, which could be replaced by a later date by the Northern Ireland Secretary for once only, and during which the Northern Ireland Executive could be formed at any time, enabling civil servants to take a certain degree of departmental decisions that would be in public interest, and also allowing Ministers of the Crown to have several Northern Ireland appointments.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/executive-formation-exercise-of-functions-bill-introduced-into-parliament|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Northern Ireland Office|title=Executive Formation & Exercise of Functions Bill introduced into Parliament|access-date=1 December 2018|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201180818/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/executive-formation-exercise-of-functions-bill-introduced-into-parliament|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2017-2019/0275/amend/niefeoF_rm_cwh_1019.1-7.html|publisher=UK Parliament|title=Notices of Amendments|access-date=1 December 2018|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201180713/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2017-2019/0275/amend/niefeoF_rm_cwh_1019.1-7.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2018/october/northern-ireland-executive-formation-and-exercise-of-functions-bill-commons-stages/|title=Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Bill: Commons stages|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=1 December 2018|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201135232/https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2018/october/northern-ireland-executive-formation-and-exercise-of-functions-bill-commons-stages/|url-status=live}} The Bill's third reading was passed in the House of Commons and in the House of Lords on 24 and 30 October respectively.{{cite web|url=https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2017-19/northernirelandexecutiveformationandexerciseoffunctions/stages.html|title=Bill stages – Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=1 December 2018|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201135219/https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2017-19/northernirelandexecutiveformationandexerciseoffunctions/stages.html|url-status=live}} The Bill became the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018 and came into effect after it received Royal Assent and was passed on 1 November.{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2018-11-01/debates/7FF01628-B4C7-4CC7-82CE-AED0B2D82E5E/RoyalAssent|title=Royal Assent|website=Hansard|access-date=1 December 2018|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201135221/https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2018-11-01/debates/7FF01628-B4C7-4CC7-82CE-AED0B2D82E5E/RoyalAssent|url-status=live}}{{cite legislation UK|type=act|year=2018|chapter=28|act=Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018|access-date=1 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/northernirelandexecutiveformationandexerciseoffunctions.html|website=parliament.uk|title=Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018|access-date=1 December 2018|archive-date=27 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127022601/https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/northernirelandexecutiveformationandexerciseoffunctions.html|url-status=live}}
During a question period to the Northern Ireland Secretary on 31 October, Karen Bradley announced that she would hold a meeting in Belfast the following day with the main parties regarding the implementation of the Bill (which was not an Act yet on that day) and next steps towards the restoration of the devolution and that she would fly to Dublin alongside Theresa May's de facto deputy David Lidington to hold an inter-governmental conference with the Irish Government.{{cite web|url=https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/756d14a8-52a6-4da2-a277-b96ad5cf9257?in=11:33:59|website=parliamentlive.tv|title=House of Commons}} No deal was reached at that time.
On 24 July 2019, the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 further extended the deadline for formation of an executive to 13 January 2020. It also introduced measures requiring the Secretary of State to liberalize abortion law and provisionally legalize same-sex marriage. (Both marriage and health are devolved matters, but legislating on these contentious issues was hampered by the lack of a functioning legislature. In relation to abortion, Westminster had a responsibility to act as NI law had been ruled by the European Court of Human Rights to be in breach of human rights, which are a reserved matter.) Unionist MPs attempted to reconvene the Assembly on 21 October to pass legislation to defeat the measures, but no business could be conducted due to a boycott by Sinn Féin. The Act additionally formed part of the 2019 prorogation controversy by requiring the Secretary of State to make regular reports to Parliament, thus preventing prorogation.
In early January 2020, the British and Irish governments announced the text of a deal to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland, and to restore devolution.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-51047216 |title=Stormont talks: Draft deal to break deadlock published |work=BBC News |date=10 January 2020 |access-date=10 January 2020 |archive-date=10 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110104335/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-51047216 |url-status=live }} The Northern Ireland Executive was finally restored on 11 January 2020, with Foster returning as First Minister and Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin as deputy First Minister.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-51077397|title=Stormont deal: Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill new top NI ministers|website=BBC News|date=11 January 2020|access-date=12 January 2020|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225002752/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-51077397|url-status=live}}
Footnotes
{{reflist|group=n}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
Manifestos
- [https://www.allianceparty.org/document/manifesto/2017-assembly-manifesto.pdf Alliance]
- [http://www.mydup.com/publications/view/2017-assembly-election-manifesto DUP]
- [http://www.greenpartyni.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/GreenParty_Manifesto_2017_Web.pdf Green (NI)]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010251/https://www.niconservatives.com/sites/www.niconservatives.com/files/2017-02/Manifesto%202017_2.pdf Northern Ireland Conservatives]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170222114514/http://www.peoplebeforeprofit.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/PBP-Manifesto-Assembly-Elections-2017.pdf People Before Profit Alliance]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170223044129/http://www.sdlp.ie/site/assets/files/43536/sdlp_manifesto_2017.pdf SDLP]
- [https://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2017/MANIFESTO_ENGLISH.pdf Sinn Féin]
- [http://tuv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/TUV-manifesto-1.pdf Traditional Unionist Voice]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170302112349/https://ukipni.com/our-vision/ UKIP]
- [https://uup.org/our-vision/policies#2017-manifesto UUP]
- [https://workerspartyelection.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/workers-party-manifesto-ae2017.pdf Workers' Party of Northern Ireland]
{{Northern Ireland elections}}
{{Northern Ireland Assembly}}
Category:2017 elections in the United Kingdom