Unity (Northern Ireland): Difference between revisions
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⚫ | "'''Unity'''" was the political label for a series of |
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⚫ | "'''Unity'''" was the political label for a series of electoral pacts by [[Nationalists (Ireland)|Irish nationalist]], [[Irish Republicanism|Irish Republican]] and [[socialist]] candidates in [[Northern Ireland]] elections in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It also contested elections as a party in its own right, electing six councillors in the [[1973 Northern Ireland local elections|1973 local council elections]] in the Fermanagh and Dungannon areas,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Government Elections 1973 |url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/flg73.htm |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.ark.ac.uk}}</ref> although this was reduced to two members of Fermanagh council in the [[1977 Northern Ireland local elections|next election in 1977]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Government Elections 1973 - 1981: Fermanagh |url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/73-81lgfermanagh.htm |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.ark.ac.uk}}</ref> |
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The first victory came in [[1969]] in the [[Mid Ulster by-election, 1969|Mid Ulster by-election]] which was won by the radical student [[Bernadette Devlin McAliskey|Bernadette Devlin]]. She held her seat in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1970|1970 general election]], when [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone]] was won by her colleague [[Frank McManus (Irish politician)|Frank McManus]]. Due to realignments in nationalist politics and opposition to Devlin's radical political and social views, both lost their seats in the [[United Kingdom general election, February 1974|February 1974 general election]]. |
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The first victory came in 1969 in the [[1969 Mid Ulster by-election|Mid Ulster by-election]] which was won by 21-year old student [[Bernadette Devlin McAliskey|Bernadette Devlin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bernadette Devlin Wins Election |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/1042-northern-ireland-1969/1044-bernadette-devlin/320211-bernadette-wins-election/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=[[RTÉ]] Archives |language=en}}</ref> She held her seat in the [[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970 general election]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=1970 Westminster Elections |url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fw70.htm |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.ark.ac.uk}}</ref> when [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone]] was won by her colleague [[Frank McManus (Irish politician)|Frank McManus]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1950-1970 |url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/dfst.htm |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.ark.ac.uk}}</ref> Both lost their seats in the [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|February 1974 general election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1974-03-01 |title=Hard‐Line Protestants Win 11 of the 12 Northern Ireland Seats |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/02/archives/hardline-protestants-win-11-of-the-12-northern-ireland-seats.html |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The New York Times |pages=10 |language=en-US |publication-date=1974-03-02 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Bernadette would later go on to join the [[Irish Republican Socialist Party|IRSP]]. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Holland |first=Kitty |date=2016-11-22 |title=Bernadette McAliskey: ‘I am astounded I survived. I made mad decisions’ |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/bernadette-mcaliskey-i-am-astounded-i-survived-i-made-mad-decisions-1.2798293 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> |
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In the [[United Kingdom general election, October 1974|October 1974 general election]] the spirit of Unity was revived, if not the name, when [[Frank Maguire]] won Fermanagh and South Tyrone as an agreed independent Republican. He held the seat until his death in [[1981]]. In 1978 Unity merged with the remnants of the [[Nationalist Party (Ireland)]] to form the [[Irish Independence Party]]. |
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In the [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|October 1974 general election]] the spirit of Unity was revived, if not the name, when [[Frank Maguire (politician)|Frank Maguire]] won Fermanagh and South Tyrone as an agreed independent Republican.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1973-1982 |url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/cfst.htm |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.ark.ac.uk |quote=Westminster Election, 10 October 1974 (one seat). Frank Maguire (Independent) 32,795 (51.8%)}}</ref> He held the seat until his death in 1981.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=1981-03-06 |title=Frank Maguire, Ulster M.P., Dies; Helped Defeat Callaghan in 1979 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/06/obituaries/frank-maguire-ulster-mp-dies-helped-defeat-callaghan-in-1979.html |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The New York Times |pages=16 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 1978 Unity merged with the remnants of the [[Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)|Nationalist Party]] to form the [[Irish Independence Party]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Government Elections 1981 |url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/flg81.htm |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.ark.ac.uk |quote=On the Nationalist side, the Irish Independence Party emerged from the remnants of the old Nationalist Party and the Unity movement.}}</ref> |
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{{poli-stub}} |
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== Election Results == |
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=== By-election === |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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! colspan="2" |Election |
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!First-Preference Votes |
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!FPv% |
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|- |
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! colspan="2" |[[1969 Mid Ulster by-election]] |
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|'''33,648''' |
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|'''53.3%''' |
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|- |
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| {{Party name with colour|Unity (Northern Ireland)}} gain from [[Ulster Unionist Party|UUP]] |
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|} |
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=== General elections === |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|+Westminster |
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!Election |
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!First-Preference Votes |
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!FPv% |
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!'''±%''' |
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!Seats |
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!Seats % |
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!'''±%''' |
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|- |
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|[[1966 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland|1966 United Kingdom general election]] |
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|14,645 |
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|2.5% |
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|''New'' |
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|{{Composition bar|0|12|hex={{party color|Unity}}}} |
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|0.00% |
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|{{Steady}} |
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|- |
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|[[1970 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland|1970 United Kingdom general election]] |
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|140,930 |
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|18.1% |
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|{{Increase}} 15.6% |
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|{{Composition bar|2|12|hex={{party color|Unity}}}} |
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|16.67% |
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|{{Increase}} 1 |
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|- |
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|[[February 1974 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland|Feb 1974 United Kingdom General Election]] |
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|17,593 |
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|2.4% |
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|{{Decrease}} 15.7 |
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|{{Composition bar|0|12|hex={{party color|Unity}}}} |
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|0.00% |
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|{{Decrease}} 2 |
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|} |
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=== Local elections === |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|+ |
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!Election |
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!First-Preference Votes |
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!FPv% |
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!'''±%''' |
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!Seats |
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!Seats % |
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!'''±%''' |
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|- |
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|[[1973 Northern Ireland local elections]] |
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|10,281 |
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|1.5% |
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|''New'' |
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|{{Composition bar|6|462|hex={{party color|Unity}}}} |
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|1.30% |
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|''New'' |
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|- |
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|[[1977 Northern Ireland local elections]] |
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|5,528 |
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|1.0% |
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|{{Decrease}} 0.5 |
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|{{Composition bar|2|462|hex={{party color|Unity}}}} |
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|0.43% |
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|{{Decrease}} 4 |
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|} |
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== References == |
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<references /> |
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{{Defunct political parties in Northern Ireland}} |
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{{1970 United Kingdom general election|state=collapsed}} |
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[[Category:Defunct political parties in Northern Ireland]] |
[[Category:Defunct political parties in Northern Ireland]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Irish republican parties]] |
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[[Category:Political parties disestablished in 1978]] |
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[[Category:Socialist parties in Ireland]] |
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[[Category:1978 disestablishments in Northern Ireland]] |
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{{Northern-Ireland-party-stub}} |
Latest revision as of 10:40, 9 July 2024
"Unity" was the political label for a series of electoral pacts by Irish nationalist, Irish Republican and socialist candidates in Northern Ireland elections in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It also contested elections as a party in its own right, electing six councillors in the 1973 local council elections in the Fermanagh and Dungannon areas,[1] although this was reduced to two members of Fermanagh council in the next election in 1977.[2]
The first victory came in 1969 in the Mid Ulster by-election which was won by 21-year old student Bernadette Devlin.[3] She held her seat in the 1970 general election,[4] when Fermanagh and South Tyrone was won by her colleague Frank McManus.[5] Both lost their seats in the February 1974 general election.[6] Bernadette would later go on to join the IRSP. [7]
In the October 1974 general election the spirit of Unity was revived, if not the name, when Frank Maguire won Fermanagh and South Tyrone as an agreed independent Republican.[8] He held the seat until his death in 1981.[9] In 1978 Unity merged with the remnants of the Nationalist Party to form the Irish Independence Party.[10]
Election Results
[edit]By-election
[edit]Election | First-Preference Votes | FPv% | |
---|---|---|---|
1969 Mid Ulster by-election | 33,648 | 53.3% | |
Unity gain from UUP |
General elections
[edit]Election | First-Preference Votes | FPv% | ±% | Seats | Seats % | ±% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1966 United Kingdom general election | 14,645 | 2.5% | New | 0 / 12
|
0.00% | |
1970 United Kingdom general election | 140,930 | 18.1% | 15.6% | 2 / 12
|
16.67% | 1 |
Feb 1974 United Kingdom General Election | 17,593 | 2.4% | 15.7 | 0 / 12
|
0.00% | 2 |
Local elections
[edit]Election | First-Preference Votes | FPv% | ±% | Seats | Seats % | ±% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1973 Northern Ireland local elections | 10,281 | 1.5% | New | 6 / 462
|
1.30% | New |
1977 Northern Ireland local elections | 5,528 | 1.0% | 0.5 | 2 / 462
|
0.43% | 4 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Local Government Elections 1973". www.ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Local Government Elections 1973 - 1981: Fermanagh". www.ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Bernadette Devlin Wins Election". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "1970 Westminster Elections". www.ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1950-1970". www.ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Hard‐Line Protestants Win 11 of the 12 Northern Ireland Seats". The New York Times (published 2 March 1974). 1 March 1974. p. 10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Holland, Kitty (22 November 2016). "Bernadette McAliskey: 'I am astounded I survived. I made mad decisions'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1973-1982". www.ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
Westminster Election, 10 October 1974 (one seat). Frank Maguire (Independent) 32,795 (51.8%)
- ^ "Frank Maguire, Ulster M.P., Dies; Helped Defeat Callaghan in 1979". The New York Times. 6 March 1981. p. 16. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Local Government Elections 1981". www.ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
On the Nationalist side, the Irish Independence Party emerged from the remnants of the old Nationalist Party and the Unity movement.