1977 Belfast City Council election
18 May 1977
All 51 seats to Belfast City Council
26 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Ulster Unionist Alliance SDLP
Seats won 15 13 8
Seat change Decrease 10 Increase 5 Increase 1
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Party DUP Republican Clubs Unionist Party NI
Seats won 7 3 2
Seat change Increase 5 Increase 1 Increase 2
  Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party
 
Party Ind. Unionist Independent Others
Seats won 2 1 0
Seat change Steady 0 Increase 1 Decrease 5
Lord Mayor before election

Myles Humphreys
Ulster Unionist

 Lord Mayor

James Stewart
Ulster Unionist

Elections to Belfast City Council were held on 18 May 1977 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used nine district electoral areas to elect a total of 51 councillors, most representing the more heavily populated north and west.

The UUP remained the largest party, and James Stewart became Lord Mayor. The narrow unionist majority of one on the council resulted in David Cook from Alliance becoming Lord Mayor in 1978, the first non-unionist Lord Mayor since 1898.

Election results

Belfast Local Election Result 1977[1]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Ulster Unionist 15 1 11 Decrease10 29.4 26.8 30,087 Decrease23.9
  Alliance 13 5 0 Increase5 25.5 18.6 20,929 Increase5.2
  SDLP 8 1 0 Increase1 15.7 18.9 20,920 Increase7.5
  DUP 7 5 0 Increase5 13.7 13.3 14,926 Increase11.0
  Republican Clubs 3 1 0 Increase1 5.9 4.7 5,238 Increase0.7
  Unionist Party NI 2 2 0 Increase2 3.9 5.0 5,584 New
  Ind. Unionist 2 0 0 Steady0 3.9 4.1 4,567 Increase1.1
  Independent 1 1 0 Increase1 2.0 2.6 3,431 Increase2.6
  NI Labour 0 0 2 Decrease2 0.0 2.6 2,959 Decrease2.9
  UUUP 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 2.3 2,557 New
  Vanguard 0 0 1 Decrease1 0.0 0.7 780 Decrease0.1
  Communist 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 0.1 115 Steady0.0
  British Ulster Dominion Party 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 0.1 114 New
  Independent Socialist 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 0.1 107 Increase0.1

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

Districts summary

[1]

Results of the Belfast City Council election, 1977
by district
Ward  %
Cllrs
  %
Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
 Total
Cllrs
UUP Alliance SDLP DUP RC UPNI Others
Area A 29.2 2 20.1 2 8.5 1 21.5 2 1.7 0 5.9 0 13.1 0 7
Area B 33.0 3 30.7 2 0.0 0 11.0 1 0.0 0 15.1 1 10.2 0 7
Area C 25.3 2 33.8 3 6.4 0 10.2 0 0.0 0 10.0 1 14.3 0 6
Area D 0.0 0 13.5 1 69.2 4 0.0 0 16.4 1 0.0 0 0.9 0 6
Area E 35.1 2 9.0 1 0.0 0 18.3 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 37.6 2 6
Area F 31.2 2 10.7 1 27.8 1 14.7 1 14.4 1 0.0 0 1.2 0 6
Area G 29.2 2 3.2 1 29.9 1 21.1 1 13.2 1 0.0 0 3.4 0 6
Area H 29.8 2 16.9 2 21.1 1 11.7 1 0.0 0 2.8 0 17.7 1 7
Total 26.8 15 18.6 13 18.6 8 13.3 7 4.7 3 5.0 2 13.0 3 51

District results

Area A

1973: 4 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Vanguard, 1 x NILP
1977: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP
1973-1977 Change: DUP (two seats), Alliance and SDLP gain from UUP (two seats), Vanguard and NILP

Area A - 7 seats[2]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456789101112131415
Alliance Basil Glass 16.03% 2,580                            
Ulster Unionist Grace Bannister* 14.70% 2,367                            
DUP Raymond McCrea 11.88% 1,912 1,914.31 1,918.6 1,918.66 1,918.66 1,918.66 1,963.81 2,076.21              
Ulster Unionist William Blair* 6.37% 1,026 1,035.66 1,270.56 1,275.07 1,276.07 1,290.28 1,349.33 1,465.68 1,466.9 1,709.49 1,774.11 2,358.11      
DUP Robert Newman 9.62% 1,549 1,549.63 1,552.33 1,552.33 1,554.33 1,601.78 1,618.78 1,631.23 1,682.47 1,708.38 1,724.38 1,764.02 1,798.02 2,368.02  
Alliance Denis Loretto 4.14% 667 1,109.47 1,115.17 1,130.01 1,152.43 1,156.85 1,168.42 1,174.29 1,174.29 1,187.64 1,542.09 1,602.75 1,649.75 1,711.71 1,723.71
SDLP Alasdair McDonnell 8.47% 1,364 1,397.6 1,398.2 1,408.56 1,566.55 1,567.55 1,571.55 1,571.55 1,571.55 1,573.55 1,633.23 1,636.23 1,638.23 1,643.44 1,644.44
Unionist Party NI Thomas Jordan 5.93% 954 970.8 979.5 979.5 981.5 988.65 1,002.88 1,015.48 1,016.7 1,055.08 1,122.16 1,195.53 1,300.53 1,481.48 1,609.48
UUUP Benjamin Horan* 4.20% 676 679.99 687.79 687.79 687.79 897.24 954.05 960.26 963.92 990.78 1,013.78 1,100.7 1,202.7    
Ulster Unionist Thomas Gildea* 3.00% 483 486.78 524.88 527.88 527.88 534.03 573.53 651.89 656.16 936.8 978.4        
NI Labour Brian Garrett 3.69% 594 610.17 614.37 667.21 697.63 699.84 715.84 719.14 719.14 728.14          
Ulster Unionist Walter Shannon 2.81% 452 454.52 475.07 476.07 476.07 480.43 489.03 654.82 656.04            
Ulster Unionist Alfred Shaw 2.35% 378 379.89 393.84 396.84 396.84 400.14 409.74                
Ind. Unionist William Elliott* 2.35% 379 380.05 385.75 387.38 387.38 388.38                  
UUUP Philip Moles 2.14% 345 345.84 347.79 347.79 349                    
Republican Clubs Terence McGrattan 1.73% 278 280.73 280.88 280.88                      
NI Labour Derek Peters 0.58% 93 95.94 96.54                        
Electorate: 24,230   Valid: 16,097 (66.43%)   Spoilt: 801   Quota: 2,013   Turnout: 16,898 (69.74%)  

    Area B

    1973: 5 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x United Loyalist
    1977: 3 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UPNI, 1 x DUP
    1973-1977 Change: Alliance, UPNI and DUP gain from UUP (two seats) and United Loyalist

    Area B - 7 seats[2]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456789101112
    Unionist Party NI Joshua Cardwell* 15.11% 2,722                      
    Alliance Oliver Napier 15.00% 2,703                      
    Ulster Unionist Thomas Patton* 12.26% 2,209 2,268.58                    
    Alliance Michael Brown* 7.55% 2,045 2,120.6 2,350.44                  
    Ulster Unionist John Allen* 10.56% 1,903 1,994.08 2,004.79 2,008.51 2,010.4 2,196.94 2,249.22 2,662.22        
    DUP Henry Evans 5.87% 1,058 1,069.52 1,070.88 1,090.88 1,090.88 1,095.41 1,105.58 1,114.2 1,118.2 1,947.41 2,707.41  
    Ulster Unionist Dorothy Dunlop 3.45% 622 683.02 691.69 697.77 699.45 934.73 963.93 1,274.06 1,620.06 1,637.13 1,979.01 2,337.01
    Alliance David Wonnacott 4.33% 781 812.5 984.88 989.41 1,073.62 1,083.29 1,487.12 1,524.51 1,535.51 1,541.4 1,573.3 1,595.3
    UUUP Reg Empey 5.44% 981 1,013.22 1,016.11 1,182.4 1,182.75 1,211.09 1,227.99 1,249.29 1,264.29 1,374.54    
    DUP Thomas McIntyre 5.11% 920 927.2 928.05 957.23 957.23 966.59 977.77 982.56 984.56      
    Ulster Unionist William Corry* 3.69% 664 716.02 722.31 725.67 726.3 817.75 833.09          
    NI Labour William Gunning 3.50% 631 645.76 659.02 660.2 662.93 664.11            
    Ulster Unionist Joseph Hanna 3.00% 541 562.78 565.16 571.86 572.56              
    UUUP Stanley Morgan 1.32% 237 245.1 246.29                  
    Electorate: 37,176   Valid: 18,017 (48.46%)   Spoilt: 724   Quota: 2,253   Turnout: 18,741 (50.41%)  

      Area C

      1973: 4 x UUP, 2 x Alliance
      1977: 3 x Alliance, 2 x UUP, 1 x UPNI
      1973-1977 Change: Alliance and UPNI gain from UUP (two seats)

      Area C - 6 seats[2]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      123456789101112
      Alliance David Cook* 18.93% 2,748                      
      Ulster Unionist Andrew Cairns 8.86% 1,287 1,290.6 1,293.6 1,321.84 1,340.84 1,346.84 1,387.08 1,547.8 1,579.8 1,981.52 1,981.52 2,330.52
      Alliance William Jeffrey 6.14% 892 1,368.64 1,368.64 1,372.88 1,389.88 1,514.04 1,537.28 1,551.48 1,554.48 1,571.96 2,037.16 2,076.12
      Alliance Muriel Pritchard* 8.78% 1,274 1,394.24 1,398.24 1,401.24 1,435.72 1,529.12 1,543.12 1,554.8 1,557.8 1,582 2,002.28 2,047.44
      Ulster Unionist Mary Crooks 7.87% 1,142 1,148.72 1,151.72 1,180.72 1,212.72 1,217.2 1,307.44 1,445.68 1,496.68 1,824.92 1,833.92 2,035.64
      Unionist Party NI Victor Brennan 9.96% 1,446 1,455.84 1,458.84 1,479.84 1,493.84 1,519.56 1,568.56 1,609.04 1,623.04 1,702 1,727 1,928.44
      DUP Alexander McMeekin 6.01% 872 872 884 957 976.24 978.24 990.24 1,010.24 1,493.24 1,523.48 1,525.48 1,650.72
      Vanguard Raymond Jordan 5.37% 780 784.32 788.32 825.56 876.56 882.56 914.56 963.8 1,022.8 1,068.04 1,072.04  
      SDLP Mary Scott 6.36% 923 937.4 938.4 938.4 950.4 992.4 994.4 996.4 997.4 999.4    
      Ulster Unionist John William Kennedy* 4.34% 630 634.08 635.08 657.08 665.08 672.08 726.08 952.04 975.04      
      DUP William Spence 4.16% 604 604 607 629 667 673 691 697        
      Ulster Unionist John Gilmore 4.26% 619 624.76 626.76 639.76 652.76 660.76 682.76          
      Ind. Unionist John Webster* 2.34% 340 340.96 343.96 349.2 369.2 371.2            
      NI Labour Ronald Macartney 2.27% 330 335.76 335.76 336.76 348.76              
      Independent William Weir 2.16% 313 313.72 314.72 319.72                
      UUUP Reginald Johnston 1.37% 199 199.96 276.96                  
      UUUP James Robinson 0.82% 119 119                    
      Electorate: 29,635   Valid: 14,518 (48.99%)   Spoilt: 523   Quota: 2,075   Turnout: 15,041 (50.75%)  

        Area D

        1973: 4 x SDLP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
        1977: 4 x SDLP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
        1973-1977 Change: No change

        Area D - 6 seats[2]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        12345678
        SDLP Paddy Devlin* 53.13% 7,087              
        SDLP Cormac Boomer 6.79% 905 2,925.84            
        SDLP Liam Hunter 3.58% 477 1,741.64 2,290.74          
        SDLP Mary Sullivan 5.70% 760 1,669.72 2,006.4          
        Alliance Dan McGuinness 9.26% 1,235 1,612.72 1,664.78 1,827.8 1,891.3 1,915.19    
        Republican Clubs Bernard McDonagh 7.06% 942 1,119.08 1,129.34 1,158.22 1,178.72 1,189.17 1,496.57 1,607.82
        Republican Clubs Martin Lynch 5.42% 723 862.08 873.48 905.02 944.58 955.79 1,228.61 1,338.67
        Alliance Robert Turkington 4.31% 575 660.88 667.34 745.62 762.5 785.68 824.15  
        Republican Clubs Kevin Smyth 3.95% 527 622 629.98 660 675.04 682.45    
        Independent Socialist Gerard Campbell 0.80% 107 187.56 212.64 235.44        
        Electorate: 35,266   Valid: 13,338 (37.82%)   Spoilt: 1,594   Quota: 1,906   Turnout: 14,932 (42.34%)  

          Area E

          1973: 1 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x NILP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x United Loyalist, 1 x Independent Unionist
          1977: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent, 1 x Independent Unionist
          1973-1977 Change: UUP and Independent gain from NILP and United Loyalist

          Area E - 6 seats[2]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          123456789
          Ulster Unionist Billy Bell 24.38% 3,297                
          Independent James Weir 16.15% 2,184                
          DUP Fred Proctor* 12.98% 1,755 1,860.84 1,873.52 1,874.36 1,898.12 2,512.12      
          Alliance Samuel Egerton 9.04% 1,223 1,263.32 1,352.32 1,497.22 1,506.88 1,513.84 1,518.84 1,561.28 2,084.28
          Ulster Unionist Alfie Ferguson 2.71% 366 1,106.04 1,118.98 1,123.04 1,323.24 1,366.76 1,497.76 1,566.38 1,748.98
          Ind. Unionist Hugh Smyth* 8.43% 1,140 1,174.44 1,179.44 1,180.42 1,214.98 1,240.58 1,353.58 1,657.4 1,714.82
          Ulster Unionist David Smylie* 4.93% 667 798.46 811.88 812.16 1,062.46 1,109.5 1,249.5 1,390.36 1,501.78
          NI Labour George Chambers 5.98% 809 872.84 930.52 998.84 1,022.92 1,031.32 1,051.32 1,108.2  
          Independent Hugh Stockman 5.31% 718 741.94 767.36 785.98 801.98 822.08 891.08    
          DUP Bill Lavery 5.29% 715 760.78 765.88 767.42 784.94        
          Ulster Unionist James Sands 3.05% 412 577.48 859.58 590.56          
          Independent Peter Emerson 1.75% 236 248.6              
          Electorate: 30,109   Valid: 13,522 (44.91%)   Spoilt: 706   Quota: 1,932   Turnout: 14,228 (47.25%)  

            Area F

            1973: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Republican Clubs
            1977: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
            1973-1977 Change: Alliance gain from UUP

            Area F - 6 seats[2]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            123456789
            SDLP Owen Allen 18.81% 1,886                
            Ulster Unionist James Stewart* 16.76% 1,681                
            Republican Clubs Jim Sullivan* 10.96% 1,099 1,113.16 1,113.31 1,131.55 1,433.35        
            Ulster Unionist Harry Fletcher* 10.78% 1,081 1,082.92 1,185.22 1,193.67 1,194.67 1,504.97      
            DUP William Dickson 9.46% 949 958.36 975.01 981.61 982.61 1,009.76 1,474.76    
            Alliance Will Glendinning 10.74% 1,077 1,142.04 1,152.09 1,173.96 1,188.27 1,211.97 1,221.92 1,287.92 1,316.92
            SDLP Thomas Lappin 8.97% 899 1,232.84 1,233.29 1,247.49 1,265.24 1,267.48 1,270.38 1,273.38 1,277.38
            DUP John Parkes 5.24% 525 525.72 534.27 538.57 538.57 575.67      
            Ulster Unionist Thomas Murphy* 3.68% 369 369.48 470.88 480.88 480,88        
            Republican Clubs Sean O'Hare 3.45% 346 355.12 355.87 369.11          
            Communist James Stewart 1.15% 115 117.4 119.2            
            Electorate: 21,177   Valid: 10,027 (47.35%)   Spoilt: 1,013   Quota: 1,433   Turnout: 11,040 (52.13%)  

              Area G

              1973: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist
              1977: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
              1973-1977 Change: DUP and Republican Clubs gain from UUP and Independent Unionist

              Area G - 6 seats[2]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              1234567
              SDLP Gerry Fitt* 29.81% 3,006            
              Republican Clubs Seamus Lynch 13.12% 1,323 2,124.04          
              Alliance Mary McKeown* 3.17% 320 1,051.6 1,632.54        
              DUP Frederick Ashby 13.66% 1,377 1,380.72 1,381.34 1,383.2 1,445.2    
              Ulster Unionist Herbert Ditty* 10.34% 1,043 1,049.2 1,050.44 1,057.88 1,093.74 1,203.74 1,519.74
              Ulster Unionist Cecil Walker 7.73% 779 779.62 782.72 792.64 812.74 1,027.38 1,318.68
              DUP George Haffey 7.36% 742 743.24 743.24 743.86 772.86 889.1 968.72
              Ulster Unionist Margaret Laird* 5.87% 592 598.82 598.82 605.64 662.36 774.98  
              Ulster Unionist Samuel Millar* 5.11% 515 515.62 518.72 532.36 618.84    
              Ind. Unionist Hugh Kidd* 3.84% 387 396.92 398.16 406.22      
              Electorate: 20,959   Valid: 10,084 (48.11%)   Spoilt: 886   Quota: 1,441   Turnout: 10,970 (52.34%)  

                Area H

                1973: 5 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP
                1977: 2 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Independent Unionist
                1977-1981 Change: Alliance, DUP and Independent Unionist gain from UUP (three seats)

                Area H - 7 seats[2]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                123456789101112
                SDLP Paschal O'Hare 14.52% 2,414                      
                Ind. Unionist Frank Millar* 13.96% 2,321                      
                Ulster Unionist John Carson* 13.53% 2,250                      
                Ulster Unionist Myles Humphreys* 11.68% 1,942 1,942.14 2,000.11 2,016.76 2,073.53 2,360.53            
                Alliance John Cushnahan 11.21% 1,865 1,881.1 1,883.19 1,885.3 1,887.4 1,896.08 1,901.08 1,902.19 2,104.19      
                DUP William Annon 9.06% 1,507 1,507.14 1,561.59 1,590.34 1,597.55 1,608.82 1,613.82 2,041.03 2,048.37 2,064.18 2,290.18  
                Alliance Robert Jamison 5.68% 944 951.14 956.75 959.75 961.15 977.02 990.02 995.79 1,116.18 1,323.08 1,680.41 1,770.41
                SDLP Alban Maginness 6.61% 1,099 1,406.44 1,406.99 1,407.99 1,408.2 1,408.2 1,409.2 1,409.42 1,444.26 1,445.26 1,451.31 1,461.31
                Ulster Unionist Mary Creighton* 1.99% 331 331 367.85 399.16 469.65 577.41 821.41 848.99 925.06 1,160.88    
                Unionist Party NI Joseph Gibson 2.78% 462 462.14 472.48 482.7 486.69 506.04 515.04 522.41 546.63      
                NI Labour Alan Carr 3.02% 502 504.24 508.97 513.41 515.23 517.34 518.34 519.74        
                DUP Cynthia McDowell 2.65% 441 441 472.13 484.46 486.77 492.07 495.07          
                Ulster Unionist James Kennett 2.64% 439 439 455.17 458.83 466.39              
                Dominion Party Alexander Beattie 0.69% 114 114 124.78                  
                Electorate: 35,074   Valid: 16,631 (47.42%)   Spoilt: 684   Quota: 2,079   Turnout: 17,315 (49.37%)  

                  References

                  1. 1 2 "Local Government Elections 1973 - 1981: Belfast". Retrieved 8 July 2021.
                  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Local Government Results 1977". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
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