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Belfast East (UK Parliament constituency)

{{Short description|Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1918 and since 1922}}

{{For|other constituencies of the same name|Belfast East (disambiguation)}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox UK constituency main

|name = Belfast East

|parliament = uk

|map1 = BelfastEast2024

|map2 =

|map_entity = Northern Ireland

|map_year =

|map_size = 200px

|year = 1922

|previous = {{ubl|Belfast Pottinger|Belfast Victoria}}

|year2 = 1885

|abolished =

|abolished2 = 1918

|type2 = Borough

|type = Borough

|borough = Belfast

|next2 = {{ubl|Belfast Pottinger|Belfast Victoria}}

|elects_howmany2 = 1

|elects_howmany = 1

|previous2 = Belfast

|next =

|population = 92,221 (2011 census){{cite web|title=Usual Resident Population|url=http://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/pivotgrid.aspx?dataSetVars=ds-4057-lh-73-yn-2011-sk-136-sn-Census+2011-yearfilter--|website=Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service|publisher=Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency|access-date=24 January 2015|archive-date=25 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725063255/https://datavis.nisra.gov.uk/dissemination/NINIS-redirect.html|url-status=live}}

|electorate = 60,516 (March 2011)

|mp = Gavin Robinson

|party =Democratic Unionist Party

|region = Northern Ireland

|county = Belfast, Castlereagh

|european = Northern Ireland

}}

Belfast East is a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Gavin Robinson of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

Boundaries

{{maplink|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Belfast East (UK Parliament constituency)}}|frame=yes|text=Map of current boundaries}}

class=wikitable
1885–1918

|In the parliamentary borough of Belfast, Dock ward (except the part in the Belfast North constituency); the part of Cromac ward in County Down; the townlands of Ballycloghan, Ballyhackamore, Ballymaghan, Ballymisert and Strandtown in the parish of Holywood; and the townlands of Ballyrushboy, Knock and Multyhogy in the parish of Knockbreda.Sixth Schedule, Boroughs Part III Ireland, {{cite book |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/publicgeneralac01walegoog/page/n145/mode/2up |chapter=Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, 48 & 49 Vict. C. 23 |title=The public general acts |publisher=Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales}}

1922–1950

|The Pottinger and Victoria Divisions{{cite web |title=Government of Ireland Act 1920: Fifth Schedule |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/10-11/67/schedule/FIFTH/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=25 July 2023 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928115917/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/10-11/67/schedule/FIFTH/enacted |url-status=live }}

1950–1974

|In the county borough of Belfast, the wards of Mountpottinger, Dock and VictoriaFirst Schedule, Part IV (Northern Ireland), (b) Borough constituencies, {{cite web |title=Representation of the People Act 1948 (11 & 12 Geo. 6, Ch. 65) |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1948/65/pdfs/ukpga_19480065_en.pdf#page=144 |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=25 July 2023 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720181359/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1948/65/pdfs/ukpga_19480065_en.pdf#page=144 |url-status=live }}

1974–1983

|In the county borough of Belfast, the wards of Pottinger and Victoria, and in the Rural District of Castlereagh, the district electoral divisions of Ballyhackamore, Ballymaconaghy, Ballymiscaw, Castlereagh, Dundonald, and GilnakirkSchedule, Part II (b) Borough constituencies, {{cite web |title=The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 1970 (No. 1678) |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1970/1678/pdfs/uksi_19701678_en.pdf#page=3 |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=25 July 2023 |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725073251/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1970/1678/pdfs/uksi_19701678_en.pdf#page=3 |url-status=live }}

1983–1997

|The District of Belfast wards of Ballyhackamore, Ballymacarrett, Belmont, Bloomfield, Island, Orangefield, Shandon, Stormont, Sydenham, and The Mount, and the District of Castlereagh wards of Cregagh, Downshire, Lisnasharragh, and WynchurchSchedule, Part II (b) Borough constituencies, {{cite web|title=The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 1982 (No. 1838)|date=22 December 1982|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1982/1838/pdfs/uksi_19821838_en.pdf#page=6|website=legislation.gov.uk|publisher=The National Archives|access-date=25 July 2023|archive-date=19 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119045439/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1982/1838/pdfs/uksi_19821838_en.pdf#page=6|url-status=live}}

1997–2010

|The District of Belfast wards of Ballyhackamore, Ballymacarrett, Belmont, Bloomfield, Cherryvalley, Island, Knock, Orangefield, Stormont, Sydenham, and The Mount, and the District of Castlereagh wards of Cregagh, Downshire, Gilnahirk, Hillfoot, Lisnasharragh, Lower Braniel, Tullycarnet, Upper Braniel, and Wynchurch.{{cite web|title=The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (No. 2992)|date=23 November 1995|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/2992/schedule/made|website=legislation.gov.uk|publisher=The National Archives|access-date=25 July 2023|archive-date=23 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723192040/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/2992/schedule/made|url-status=live}}

2010–present

|The District of Belfast wards of Ballyhackamore, Ballymacarrett, Belmont, Bloomfield, Cherryvalley, Island, Knock, Orangefield, Stormont, Sydenham, and The Mount, and the District of Castlereagh wards of Ballyhanwood, Carrowreagh, Cregagh, Downshire, Dundonald, Enler, Gilnakirk, Graham's Bridge, Lisnasharragh, Lower Braniel, Tullycarnet, and Upper Braniel.{{cite web|title=The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (No. 1486)|date=11 June 2008|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1486/schedule/made|website=legislation.gov.uk|publisher=The National Archives|access-date=25 July 2023|archive-date=23 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723192835/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1486/schedule/made|url-status=live}}

The seat was created in 1922 when, under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, the number of seats in Northern Ireland in the Westminster Parliament was cut from 30 to 13, following the establishment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland. The seat is centred on the east section of Belfast and also contains part of the district of Lisburn and Castlereagh.

Prior to the 2010 general election the Northern Ireland Boundary Commission proposed expanding Belfast East further into Castlereagh, taking in areas currently contained in Strangford, however almost all of these areas were part of Belfast East until 1983. A small part of the constituency was proposed for transfer to Belfast South.

Following a public meeting and revised recommendations, the new boundaries of Belfast East were confirmed by the commission and passed through Parliament through the use of the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Constituencies Order.{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2008/data.htm|title=Legislation.gov.uk|website=www.legislation.gov.uk|access-date=20 November 2019|archive-date=29 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829093140/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2008/data.htm|url-status=live}}

History

Belfast East is an overwhelmingly unionist constituency with nationalist parties routinely failing to get more than 10% of the vote combined. The main interest has been the contest between unionist parties and the fortunes of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland.

Dominated by the giant Samson and Goliath cranes of the Harland and Wolff shipyard, the constituency is socially mixed. There are large expanses of small Victorian terraced housing near Belfast City Centre and around the shipyard in Ballymacarrett. These areas have seen significant refurbishment, and in some places demolition and redevelopment, in recent years sparking a sharp rise in house prices. This is contrasted by a large amount of solidly lower-middle class housing and some exclusive residential districts such as the much mocked Cherryvalley. This social polarisation is to a large degree reflected by the political polarisation, at least within the broader unionist family, in the seat. The small Catholic population is split between the largely working class Short Strand enclave and minorities in the more middle-class parts of the seat.

The seat was consistently held by the Ulster Unionist Party until the 1974 general election when the sitting MP, Stanley McMaster, defended it as a Pro-Assembly Unionist against a united anti-Sunningdale Agreement coalition which nominated William Craig of the Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party. Craig won the seat and held it for five years, moving to the UUP in February 1978.

In the 1979 general election the constituency witnessed a very close three-way fight between Peter Robinson of the Democratic Unionist Party, William Craig for the UUP and Oliver Napier for the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. Less than 1000 votes separated the three candidates. Robinson beat Craig by the narrow margin of 64 votes. Also of note was that over 90% of votes went to parties that had not contested the seat at the previous election – in part due to realignments of the parties.

Robinson continued to hold the seat but the Alliance Party continued to poll well, and in 1987 John Alderdice polled 32.1% – the highest ever for Alliance in a Westminster election before 2010. However, their vote declined until 2010 and in 2005 they finished a distant third.

In the 2001 general election, Alliance proposed a pro-Good Friday Agreement pact with the Ulster Unionist Party in the hopes of getting UUP support in Belfast East. The UUP did not agree and so both parties stood. Robinson was re-elected with 42.5%, with the UUP, Alliance and Progressive Unionist Party carving up the pro-Agreement pro-union vote between them, but it is doubtful that an unopposed Alliance candidate could have consolidated all of that vote to beat Robinson.

In 2009 and 2010, Robinson became mired in a number of political scandals. In the 2010 general election, the Alliance Party candidate and sitting Lord Mayor of Belfast Naomi Long defeated Robinson in a shock result, more than tripling the Alliance vote and giving the Alliance their first seat in Westminster since 1974. Predictably, this was also the seat in which the Alliance gained the highest vote share, at 37.2%, more than double their best efforts elsewhere.

Of the 18 seats in the region, East Belfast has the highest percentage of Methodists. The 2019 winning vote share was the fourth-largest of the region, but just short of an absolute majority.

Members of Parliament

class="wikitable"
ElectionMembercolspan="2"|Party
1885

| rowspan="2"|Edward de Cobain

| {{Party name with colour|Independent Conservative}}

1886

| {{Party name with colour|Irish Conservative Party}}

1892 by-election

| Gustav Wilhelm Wolff

| {{Party name with colour|Irish Unionist Alliance}}

1910

| Robert McMordie

| {{Party name with colour|Irish Unionist Alliance}}

1914 by-election

| Robert Sharman-Crawford

| {{Party name with colour|Irish Unionist Alliance}}

1918

| colspan="3" {{n/a|Constituency abolished}}

rowspan="2" | 1922

| colspan="3" {{n/a|Constituency recreated}}

Herbert Dixon

| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}

1940 by-election

| Henry Harland

| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}

1945

| Thomas Loftus Cole

| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}

1950

| Alan McKibbin

| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}

1959 by-election

| Stanley McMaster

| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}

February 1974

|rowspan=2| William Craig

| {{Party name with colour|Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party}}

1978

| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}

1979

| Peter Robinson

| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}

2010

| Naomi Long

| {{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}

2015

| Gavin Robinson

| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}

Elections

File:East Belfast Parlimentary.png

= Elections in the 2020s =

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2024: Belfast East{{Cite web |date=2024-06-07 |title=Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll |url=https://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/320a604a-e3ab-4c4c-a010-9586aec24353/Statement-of-Persons-Nominated-combined-with-Notice-of-Poll |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=Electoral Office for Northern Ireland |language=en-GB}}{{cite web |last1=Reid |first1=Stephen |title=Declaration of Results East Belfast |url=https://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/8e4403a6-7319-4e95-9c04-e2705a39e4dc/Result-Declaration-Belfast-East |website=UK Parliamentary Election 2024 - Results |publisher=Electoral Office for Northern Ireland |access-date=5 July 2024}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Gavin Robinson

|votes = 19,894

|percentage =46.6

|change =-1.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|candidate=Naomi Long|votes=17,218|percentage=40.3|change=-1.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Traditional Unionist Voice|candidate=John Ross|votes=1,918|percentage=4.5|change=New}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Ulster Unionist Party|candidate=Ryan Warren|votes=1,818|percentage=4.3|change=-1.4}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party Northern Ireland|candidate=Brian Smyth|votes=1,077|percentage=2.5|change=New}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Social Democratic and Labour Party|candidate=Séamas de Faoite|votes=619|percentage=1.4|change=-2.9}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (politician)|candidate=Ryan North|votes=162|percentage=0.4|change=New}}

{{Election box majority||votes=2,676|percentage=6.2|change=+1.9}}

{{Election box turnout||votes=42,706|percentage=59.0|change=-5.8}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 72,917

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Democratic Unionist Party

|loser = Alliance Party

|swing = +0.2

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 2010s=

class="wikitable"
colspan="4" | 2019 notional result{{Cite web |date= |title=Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019 |url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/elections/1995 |access-date=5 March 2025 |work=Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News |publisher=UK Parliament}}
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="130px" colspan="2" | Party

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="50px" | Vote

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30px" | %

{{party color cell|Democratic Unionist Party}}

| Democratic Unionist Party

align=right| 21,616align=right| 47.9
{{party color cell|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}

| Alliance

align=right| 18,990align=right| 42.1
{{party color cell|Ulster Unionist Party}}

| Ulster Unionist Party

align=right| 2,581align=right| 5.7
{{party color cell|Social Democratic and Labour Party}}

| Social Democratic and Labour Party

align=right| 1,939align=right| 4.3
colspan="4" bgcolor="#EAECF0"|
colspan="2"|Majority

|align=right|2,626

|align=right|5.8

colspan="2"|Turnout

|align=right|45,126

|align=right|64.4

colspan="2"|Electorate

|align=right|70,076

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2019: Belfast East{{cite news |title=Belfast East Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/N06000001 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=18 November 2019 |archive-date=20 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120013412/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/N06000001 |url-status=live }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Gavin Robinson

|votes = 20,874

|percentage = 49.2

|change = –6.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = Naomi Long

|votes = 19,055

|percentage = 44.9

|change = +8.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Carl McClean

|votes = 2,516

|percentage = 5.9

|change = +2.6

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 1,819

|percentage = 4.3

|change = –15.5

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 42,445

|percentage = 64.1

|change = –3.4

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 66,217

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Democratic Unionist Party

|swing = –7.4

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=General election 2017: Belfast East{{cite web|url=http://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/929f5745-5d47-4132-8080-101b17d9c06b/STATEMENT-OF-PERSONS-NOMINATED-AND-NOTICE-OF-POLL-BE|title=Election of a Member of Parliament for the BELFAST EAST Constituency - Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll|publisher=Electoral Office of Northern Ireland|date=11 May 2017|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016221629/http://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/929f5745-5d47-4132-8080-101b17d9c06b/STATEMENT-OF-PERSONS-NOMINATED-AND-NOTICE-OF-POLL-BE|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eoni.org.uk/Elections/Election-results-and-statistics/Election-results-and-statistics-2003-onwards/Elections-2017/UK-Parliamentary-Election-2017-Results/Belfast-East|title=UK Parliamentary Election Result 2017 - Belfast East|access-date=11 June 2017|archive-date=13 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613040432/http://www.eoni.org.uk/Elections/Election-results-and-statistics/Election-results-and-statistics-2003-onwards/Elections-2017/UK-Parliamentary-Election-2017-Results/Belfast-East|url-status=live}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Gavin Robinson

|votes = 23,917

|percentage = 55.8

|change = +6.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = Naomi Long

|votes = 15,443

|percentage = 36.0

|change = –6.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Hazel Legge

|votes = 1,408

|percentage = 3.3

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Mairéad O'Donnell

|votes = 894

|percentage = 2.1

|change = 0.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party in Northern Ireland

|candidate = Georgina Milne

|votes = 561

|percentage = 1.3

|change = –1.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Conservatives

|candidate = Sheila Bodel

|votes = 446

|percentage = 1.0

|change = –1.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Social Democratic and Labour Party

|candidate = Séamas de Faoite

|votes = 167

|percentage = 0.4

|change = +0.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Bobby Beck

|votes = 54

|percentage = 0.1

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 8,474

|percentage = 19.8

|change = +13.3

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 42,890

|percentage = 67.5

|change = +4.7

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 63,495

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Democratic Unionist Party

|swing = +6.6

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{See also|Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15#Belfast East}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 2015: Belfast East{{cite web|title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |publisher=Electoral Calculus |access-date=17 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.eoni.org.uk/Elections/Election-results-and-statistics/Election-results-and-statistics-2003-onwards/Elections-2015/UK-Parliamentary-Election-Results|title=The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland - EONI|website=www.eoni.org.uk|access-date=23 August 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924001300/http://www.eoni.org.uk/Elections/Election-results-and-statistics/Election-results-and-statistics-2003-onwards/Elections-2015/UK-Parliamentary-Election-Results|url-status=live}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Gavin Robinson{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/dup-on-course-to-win-east-belfast-seat-back-in-2015-westminster-election-30965379.html|title=DUP on course to win East Belfast seat back in 2015 Westminster election|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk |date=5 February 2015 |via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk|access-date=20 November 2019|archive-date=15 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915033406/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/dup-on-course-to-win-east-belfast-seat-back-in-2015-westminster-election-30965379.html|url-status=live}}

|votes = 19,575

|percentage = 49.3

|change = +16.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = Naomi Long

|votes = 16,978

|percentage = 42.8

|change = +5.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Conservatives

|candidate = Neil Wilson{{Cite web|url=https://www.niconservatives.com/news/tories-select-wilson-contest-east-belfast-seat|title=Tories select Wilson to contest East Belfast seat|website=NI Conservatives|date=6 January 2015 |access-date=20 November 2019|archive-date=14 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314122920/http://www.niconservatives.com/news/tories-select-wilson-contest-east-belfast-seat|url-status=live}}

|votes = 1,121

|percentage = 2.8

|change = –18.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party in Northern Ireland

|candidate = Ross Brown

|votes = 1,058

|percentage = 2.7

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Niall Ó Donnghaile

|votes = 823

|percentage = 2.1

|change = –0.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Social Democratic and Labour Party

|candidate = Mary Muldoon

|votes = 127

|percentage = 0.3

|change = –0.8

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 2,597

|percentage = 6.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 39,682

|percentage = 62.8

|change = +4.4

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 63,157

}}

{{Election box gain with party link

|winner = Democratic Unionist Party

|loser = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|swing = +5.4

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 2010: Belfast East{{cite web|title=Election Data 2010 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |publisher=Electoral Calculus |access-date=17 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-date=26 July 2013 |url-status=dead}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = Naomi Long

|votes = 12,839

|percentage = 37.2

|change = +25.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Peter Robinson

|votes = 11,306

|percentage = 32.8

|change = –16.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Conservatives and Unionists

|candidate = Trevor Ringland

|votes = 7,305

|percentage = 21.2

|change = –8.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Traditional Unionist Voice

|candidate = David Vance

|votes = 1,856

|percentage = 5.4

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Niall Ó Donnghaile

|votes = 817

|percentage = 2.4

|change = –0.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Social Democratic and Labour Party

|candidate = Mary Muldoon

|votes = 365

|percentage = 1.1

|change = –1.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,533

|percentage = 4.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 34,488

|percentage = 58.4

|change = +0.4

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 59,007

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|loser = Democratic Unionist Party

|swing = –22.9

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 2000s=

{{Election box begin | title=General election 2005: Belfast East{{cite web|title=Election Data 2005 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |publisher=Electoral Calculus |access-date=18 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Peter Robinson

|votes = 15,152

|percentage = 49.1

|change = +6.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Reg Empey

|votes = 9,275

|percentage = 30.1

|change = +6.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = Naomi Long

|votes = 3,746

|percentage = 12.2

|change = –3.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Deborah Devenny

|votes = 1,029

|percentage = 3.3

|change = –0.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Social Democratic and Labour Party

|candidate = Mary Muldoon

|votes = 844

|percentage = 2.7

|change = +0.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Conservatives

|candidate = Alan Greer

|votes = 434

|percentage = 1.4

|change = –0.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Workers' Party (Ireland)

|candidate = Joe Bell

|votes = 179

|percentage = 0.6

|change = +0.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket

|candidate = Lynda Gilby

|votes = 172

|percentage = 0.6

|change = +0.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 5,877

|percentage = 19.0

|change = –0.3

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 30,831

|percentage = 58.0

|change = –5.0

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 52,899

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Democratic Unionist Party

|swing = –0.1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 2001: Belfast East{{cite web|title=Election Data 2001 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |publisher=Electoral Calculus |access-date=18 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Peter Robinson

|votes = 15,667

|percentage = 42.5

|change = –0.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Tim Lemon

|votes = 8,550

|percentage = 23.2

|change = –2.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = David Alderdice

|votes = 5,832

|percentage = 15.8

|change = –8.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Progressive Unionist Party

|candidate = David Ervine

|votes = 3,669

|percentage = 10.0

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Joe O'Donnell

|votes = 1,237

|percentage = 3.4

|change = +1.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Social Democratic and Labour Party

|candidate = Ciara Farren

|votes = 880

|percentage = 2.4

|change = +0.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Conservatives

|candidate = Terry Dick

|votes = 800

|percentage = 2.2

|change = –0.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Workers' Party (Ireland)

|candidate = Joe Bell

|votes = 123

|percentage = 0.3

|change = –0.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket

|candidate = Rainbow George Weiss

|votes = 71

|percentage = 0.2

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 7,117

|percentage = 19.3

|change = +2.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 36,829

|percentage = 63.0

|change = –0.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 58,455

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Democratic Unionist Party

|swing = +1.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 1990s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1997: Belfast East{{cite web|title=Election Data 1997 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |publisher=Electoral Calculus |access-date=18 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Peter Robinson

|votes = 16,640

|percentage = 42.6

|change = –11.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Reg Empey

|votes = 9,886

|percentage = 25.3

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = Jim Hendron

|votes = 9,288

|percentage = 23.8

|change = –3.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Conservatives

|candidate = Sarah Dines

|votes = 928

|percentage = 2.4

|change = –7.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Dominic Carr

|votes = 810

|percentage = 2.1

|change = +0.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Social Democratic and Labour Party

|candidate = Patricia Lewsley

|votes = 629

|percentage = 1.6

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate|

|party = Former Captain NI Football Team

|candidate = Derek Dougan

|votes = 541

|percentage = 1.4

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Workers' Party (Ireland)

|candidate = Joe Bell

|votes = 237

|percentage = 0.6

|change = –0.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Natural Law Party

|candidate = David Collins

|votes = 70

|percentage = 0.2

|change = –0.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 6,754

|percentage = 17.3

|change = –9.9

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 39,029

|percentage = 63.2

|change = –4.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 61,837

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Democratic Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

1997 Changes are compared to the 1992 notional results shown below.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/election97/constituencies/43.htm|title=BBC - Error 404 : Not Found|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=13 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041205074601/http://www.bbc.co.uk/election97/constituencies/43.htm|archive-date=5 December 2004|url-status=dead}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=Notional 1992 UK General Election Result : Belfast East

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|votes = 22,635

|candidate = N/A

|percentage = 54.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|votes = 11,337

|candidate = N/A

|percentage = 27.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Conservatives

|votes = 4,170

|candidate = N/A

|percentage = 10.0

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate |

|party = Others

|votes = 2,723

|candidate = N/A

|percentage = 6.6

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Sinn Féin

|votes = 686

|candidate = N/A

|percentage = 1.7

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 11,298

|percentage = 27.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1992: Belfast East{{cite web|title=Election Data 1992 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |publisher=Electoral Calculus |access-date=18 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054418/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Peter Robinson

|votes = 18,437

|percentage = 51.5

|change = –10.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = John Alderdice

|votes = 10,650

|percentage = 29.8

|change = –2.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Conservatives

|candidate = David Greene

|votes = 3,314

|percentage = 9.3

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent Unionist

|candidate = Dorothy Dunlop

|votes = 2,256

|percentage = 6.3

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Joe O'Donnell

|votes = 679

|percentage = 1.9

|change = –0.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Workers' Party (Ireland)

|candidate = Joe Bell

|votes = 327

|percentage = 0.9

|change = –3.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Natural Law Party

|candidate = Guy Redden

|votes = 128

|percentage = 0.4

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 7,787

|percentage = 21.7

|change = –8.1

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 35,791

|percentage = 67.7

|change = +7.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 52,869

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Democratic Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 1980s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1987: Belfast East{{cite web|title=Election Data 1987 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt |publisher=Electoral Calculus |access-date=18 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054243/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Peter Robinson

|votes = 20,372

|percentage = 61.9

|change = +16.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = John Alderdice

|votes = 10,574

|percentage = 32.1

|change = +8.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Workers' Party (Ireland)

|candidate = Frances Cullen

|votes = 1,314

|percentage = 4.0

|change = +2.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Joe O'Donnell

|votes = 649

|percentage = 2.0

|change = +0.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 9,798

|percentage = 29.8

|change = +9.3

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 32,909

|percentage = 60.2

|change = –9.8

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 54,628

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Democratic Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=By-election 1986: Belfast East[http://www.election.demon.co.uk/by1983.html Results of Byelections in the 1983-87 Parliament] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405203844/http://www.election.demon.co.uk/by1983.html |date=5 April 2018 }} in the [http://www.election.demon.co.uk/election.html United Kingdom Election Results website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507114928/http://www.election.demon.co.uk/election.html |date=7 May 2009 }} maintained by David Boothroyd}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Peter Robinson

|votes = 27,607

|percentage = 81.0

|change = +35.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = Oliver Napier

|votes = 5,917

|percentage = 17.4

|change = –6.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Workers' Party (Ireland)

|candidate = Frances Cullen

|votes = 578

|percentage = 1.7

|change = +0.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 21,690

|percentage = 63.6

|change = +43.1

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 34,102

|percentage = 61.7

|change = –8.3

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 55,256

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Democratic Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

Note: The by-election was caused by the decision of all Unionist MPs to resign their seats and seek re-election on a platform of opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1983: Belfast East{{cite web|title=Election Data 1983 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1983.txt |publisher=Electoral Calculus |access-date=18 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054231/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1983.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Peter Robinson

|votes = 17,631

|percentage = 45.3

|change = +13.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Jeremy Burchill

|votes = 9,642

|percentage = 24.8

|change = –6.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = Oliver Napier

|votes = 9,373

|percentage = 24.1

|change = –5.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Denis Donaldson

|votes = 682

|percentage = 1.8

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour and Trade Union Group

|candidate = Muriel Tang

|votes = 584

|percentage = 1.5

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Social Democratic and Labour Party

|candidate = Peter Prendiville

|votes = 519

|percentage = 1.3

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Workers' Party (Ireland)

|candidate = Frances Cullen

|votes = 421

|percentage = 1.1

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate|

|party = New Agenda

|candidate = Herbert Boyd

|votes = 59

|percentage = 0.2

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 7,989

|percentage = 20.5

|change = +20.3

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 38,911

|percentage = 70.0

|change = +2.4

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 55,539

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Democratic Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 1970s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1979: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Unionist Party

|candidate = Peter Robinson

|votes = 15,994

|percentage = 31.4

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = William Craig

|votes = 15,930

|percentage = 31.2

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = Oliver Napier

|votes = 15,066

|percentage = 29.6

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = Norman Agnew

|votes = 2,017

|percentage = 4.0

|change = –23.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party

|candidate = George Chambers

|votes = 1,982

|percentage = 3.9

|change = –10.0

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 64

|percentage = 0.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 50,989

|percentage = 67.6

|change = +0.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 75,481

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Democratic Unionist Party

|loser = Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election October 1974: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party

|candidate = William Craig

|votes = 31,594

|percentage = 59.1

|change = +10.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party of Northern Ireland

|candidate = Peter McLachlan

|votes = 14,417

|percentage = 27.0

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party

|candidate = David Bleakley

|votes = 7,415

|percentage = 13.9

|change = –0.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 17,177

|percentage = 32.1

|change = +18.6

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 53,426

|percentage = 67.1

|change = –4.8

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 79,591

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election February 1974: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party

|candidate = William Craig

|votes = 27,817

|percentage = 48.4

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Pro-Assembly Unionist

|candidate = Stanley McMaster

|votes = 20,077

|percentage = 34.9

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party

|candidate = David Bleakley

|votes = 8,122

|percentage = 14.1

|change = –26.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Social Democratic and Labour Party

|candidate = Desmond Gillespie

|votes = 1,502

|percentage = 2.6

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 7,740

|percentage = 13.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 57,518

|percentage = 71.9

|change = –3.7

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 80,032

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party

|loser = Ulster Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1970: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Stanley McMaster

|votes = 26,778

|percentage = 59.5

|change = +4.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party

|candidate = David Bleakley

|votes = 18,259

|percentage = 40.5

|change = –4.8

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 8,519

|percentage = 19.0

|change = +9.6

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 45,037

|percentage = 75.6

|change = +7.4

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 59,524

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 1960s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1966: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Stanley McMaster

|votes = 21,283

|percentage = 54.7

|change = –4.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party

|candidate = Robert McBirney

|votes = 17,650

|percentage = 45.3

|change = +8.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 3,633

|percentage = 9.4

|change = –12.5

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 38,933

|percentage = 68.2

|change = –4.3

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 57,077

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1964: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Stanley McMaster

|votes = 24,804

|percentage = 58.8

|change = –1.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Northern Ireland Labour Party|candidate=Samuel Watt|votes=15,555|percentage=36.9|change=−0.3}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Independent Republican (Ireland)|candidate=David McConnell|votes=1,827|percentage=4.3|change=New}}

{{Election box majority||votes=9,249|percentage=21.9|change=–1.0}}

{{Election box turnout||votes=42,186|percentage=72.5|change=–18.2}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 58,196

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 1950s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1959: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Stanley McMaster

|votes = 26,510

|percentage = 60.1

|change = –2.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Northern Ireland Labour Party|candidate=James Gardner|votes=16,412|percentage=37.2|change=+7.0}}

{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Sinn Féin|candidate=Barney Boswell|votes=1,204|percentage=2.7|change=–4.6}}

{{Election box majority||votes=9,249|percentage=22.9|change=–9.4}}

{{Election box turnout||votes=44,126|percentage=90.7|change=+20.3}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 48,663

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1959 Belfast East by-election{{cite web|url=http://by-elections.co.uk/59.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010071857/http://by-elections.co.uk/59.html|title=1959 By Election Results|archive-date=2012-10-10|url-status=dead|access-date=2015-08-15}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Stanley McMaster

|votes = 19,524

|percentage = 57.8

|change = –4.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party

|candidate = James Gardner

|votes = 14,264

|percentage = 42.2

|change = +12.0

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 5,260

|percentage = 15.6

|change = –16.7

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 33,788

|percentage = 57.9

|change = –12.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 58,388

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1955: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Alan McKibbin

|votes = 26,938

|percentage = 62.5

|change = +0.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party

|candidate = Tom Boyd

|votes = 13,041

|percentage = 30.2

|change = –8.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Sinn Féin

|candidate = Liam Mulcahy

|votes = 3,156

|percentage = 7.3

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 13,897

|percentage = 32.3

|change = +8.9

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 43,135

|percentage = 70.4

|change = –4.1

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 61,258

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1951: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Alan McKibbin

|votes = 28,881

|percentage = 61.7

|change = –1.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party

|candidate = Tom Boyd

|votes = 17,910

|percentage = 38.3

|change = +1.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 10,971

|percentage = 23.4

|change = –3.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 46,791

|percentage = 74.5

|change = –2.1

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 62,798

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1950: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Alan McKibbin

|votes = 29,844

|percentage = 63.3

|change = +6.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party

|candidate = Tom Boyd

|votes = 17,338

|percentage = 36.7

|change = –6.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 12,506

|percentage = 26.6

|change = +13.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 47,182

|percentage = 76.6

|change = +13.4

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 61,561

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 1940s=

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1945: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Thomas Loftus Cole

|votes = 21,443

|percentage = 56.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party

|candidate = Tom Boyd

|votes = 17,338

|percentage = 43.6

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 4,869

|percentage = 12.8

|change =N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 38,017

|percentage = 63.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 60,175

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1940 Belfast East by-election{{cite book |last=Craig |first=F. W. S. |author-link= F. W. S. Craig |title=British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 |orig-year=1969 |edition= 3rd |year=1983 |publisher=Parliamentary Research Services |location=Chichester |isbn=0-900178-06-X |page=564}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Henry Harland

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 1930s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1935: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Herbert Dixon

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 59,101

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1931: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Herbert Dixon

|votes = 28,431

|percentage = 75.1

|change = 0.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party

|candidate = John Campbell

|votes = 9,410

|percentage = 24.9

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 19,021

|percentage = 50.2

|change = 0.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 37,841

|percentage = 66.2

|change = +0.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 57,166

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 1920s=

{{Election box begin no change| title=General election 1929: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Herbert Dixon

|votes = 27,855

|percentage = 75.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Ulster Liberal Party

|candidate = Denis Ireland

|votes = 9,230

|percentage = 24.9

}}

{{Election box majority no change|

|votes = 18,625

|percentage = 50.2

}}

{{Election box turnout no change|

|votes = 37,085

|percentage = 65.7

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1924: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Herbert Dixon

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1923: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Herbert Dixon

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|

|title=General election 1922: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Ulster Unionist Party

|candidate = Herbert Dixon

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box constituency recreated win|

|winner = Ulster Unionist Party

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 1910s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=1914 Belfast East by-election{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885–1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Irish Unionist Alliance

|candidate = Robert Sharman-Crawford

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Irish Unionist Alliance

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=December 1910 general election: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Irish Unionist Alliance

|candidate = Robert McMordie

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Irish Unionist Alliance

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=January 1910 general election: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Irish Unionist Alliance

|candidate = Gustav Wilhelm Wolff

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Irish Unionist Alliance

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 1900s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=1906 general election: Belfast East{{cite book|editor1-last=Walker|editor1-first=B.M.|title=Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922|date=1978|publisher=Royal Irish Academy|location=Dublin|isbn=0901714127|page=329}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Irish Unionist Alliance

|candidate = Gustav Wilhelm Wolff

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Irish Unionist Alliance

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1900 general election: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Irish Unionist Alliance

|candidate = Gustav Wilhelm Wolff

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Irish Unionist Alliance

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 1890s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=1895 general election: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Irish Unionist

|candidate = Gustav Wilhelm Wolff

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Irish Unionist

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1892 general election: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Irish Unionist

|candidate = Gustav Wilhelm Wolff

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Irish Unionist

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1892 Belfast East by-election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Irish Unionist

|candidate = Gustav Wilhelm Wolff

|votes = 4,746

|percentage = 64.6

|change = –15.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent Unionist

|candidate = William Thomas Charley

|votes = 2,607

|percentage = 35.4

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 2,139

|percentage = 29.2

|change = –31.6

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 7,353

|percentage = 64.8

|change = –7.8

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 11,339

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Irish Unionist

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Elections in the 1880s=

{{Election box begin | title=1886 general election: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Irish Conservative Party

|candidate = Edward de Cobain

|votes = 5,055

|percentage = 80.3

|change = +35.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Irish Parliamentary Party

|candidate = Robert McCalmont

|votes = 1,239

|percentage = 19.7

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 3,816

|percentage = 60.6

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 6,294

|percentage = 72.6

|change = –6.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 8,666

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Irish Conservative Party

|loser = Independent Conservative

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1885 general election: Belfast East}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Independent Conservative

|candidate = Edward de Cobain

|votes = 3,033

|percentage = 44.4

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Irish Conservative Party

|candidate = James Corry

|votes = 2,929

|percentage = 42.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Wallace Murray

|votes = 870

|percentage = 12.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 104

|percentage = 1.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 6,832

|percentage = 78.8

|change =

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 8,666

}}

{{Election box new seat win|

|winner = Independent Conservative

}}

{{Election box end}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20180216152334/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/edates.htm Politics Resources] (Election results from 1922 onwards)
  • [http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/flatfile.html Electoral Calculus] (Election results from 1955 onwards)
  • [https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Belfast+East Electoral Calculus, Belfast East, seat overview]
  • [http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf 2017 Election] House of Commons Library 2017 Election report
  • [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/ A Vision Of Britain Through Time] (Constituency elector numbers)
  • [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/489.stm BBC News, Election 2005]
  • [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/489.stm BBC News, Vote 2001]
  • [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/history/0,9338,-1259,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics]
  • {{Rayment-hc|external links=y|b|2|date=March 2012}}
  • [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/ Politicsresources.net - Official Web Site ✔] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090702081222/http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/ |date=2 July 2009 }} (Election results from 1951 to the present)
  • [https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/66124.html Belfast East UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
  • [https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/169037.html Belfast East UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

{{Current Westminster constituencies in Northern Ireland}}

{{County Antrim constituencies}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Westminster Parliamentary constituencies in Belfast

Category:Westminster Parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1885

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1918

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1922