The 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election was held on Wednesday, 26 November 2003, after being suspended for just over a year. It was the second election to take place since the devolved assembly was established in 1998. Each of Northern Ireland's eighteen Westminster Parliamentary constituencies elected six members by single transferable vote, giving a total of 108 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). The election was contested by 18 parties and many independent candidates.
Several sitting MLAs stood under a different label to the one they had used in the 1998 election. Some had failed to be selected by their parties to stand and so stood as independents, whilst others had changed parties during the course of the assembly. Most of these realignments occurred within the unionist parties, with several defections between existing parties, and two new parties being formed – the United Unionist Coalition (formed by the three MLAs elected as independent unionists, though one later joined the DUP) and the Northern Ireland Unionist Party (formed by four of the five MLAs elected as the UK Unionist Party, though one later left them, joined the DUP for a period, then contested the election as an independent unionist).
The SDLP, which had been Northern Ireland's dominant Irish nationalist party during the 1980s and 1990s, went into this election with concerns that they could lose numerous seats to fellow nationalists Sinn Féin, who had overtaken the SDLP in terms of votes and seats at the 2001 United Kingdom general election.[3][4][5] Commentator, Brian Feeney, said: "The SDLP has a series of baronial figures - John Hume, Seamus Mallon, Eddie McGrady - who hung on to power and didn't groom their successors early enough. They just don't have enough people on the ground in some areas of the province. Sinn Féin, by contrast, has deliberately cultivated collective leadership, bringing forward wave after wave of young, articulate, highly politicised heirs apparent, and their grassroots organisation is awesome."[6]
Results
On the unionist side, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) became Northern Ireland's biggest party for the first time in any election, overtaking the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). They gained ten seats, primarily at the expense of smaller unionist parties,[7] to become the largest party both in seats and votes, winning thirty overall.[8] The UUP increased their vote slightly, despite slipping to third place in first preference votes, and won 27 seats, a net loss of one. Shortly after the election three Ulster Unionist MLAs, Jeffrey Donaldson, Norah Beare and Arlene Foster, quit the party[9][10] and later defected to the DUP.[11]
The biggest surprise of the election came in West Tyrone with the election of the independent Kieran Deeny, a doctor campaigning on the single issue of hospital provision in Omagh.[12]
^ abElliott, Sydney (2007). "Sinn Féin: Is There Any Limit to Its Electoral Ambitions? DUP: An Increase in Electoral Advantage over the UUP?". Fortnight (450): 6–8. ISSN 0141-7762.
^ ab"The Northern Ireland (Date of Next Assembly Poll) Order 2003". from the original on 3 May 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2006.
^"2001 General Election - the last election in Northern Ireland". WesleyJohnston.com. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
^Cowan, Rosie (13 June 2001). "Sinn Fein builds on success while SDLP licks wounds" – via The Guardian.
^Murray, Gerard (2005). Sinn Féin and the SDLP: From Alienation to Participation. Jonathan Tonge. London: Hurst. ISBN1-85065-648-7. OCLC 48784064.
^Cowan, Rosie (24 November 2003). "Poll could put SDLP on the road to oblivion, say critics". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 March 2023. Once secure as the mainstream nationalist group, the party is being warned that Sinn Féin has stolen its thunder
^ abSproule, Luke (11 May 2022). "NI election 2022: How UUP and SDLP lost their place as Northern Ireland's top parties". BBC News NI. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
^"CAIN: Issue: Politics: Elections: Assembly Election (NI) Wednesday 26 November 2003". cain.ulster.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
^Moriarty, Gerry (19 December 2003). "Donaldson quits UUP for place on DUP talks team". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
^McNaney, James (24 February 2022). "Would DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson have defected to the UUP?". UTV. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
^Tempest, Matthew (5 January 2004). "Ulster Unionist rebels defect to DUP". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
^"Hospital campaigner forms party". BBC News. 13 February 2004. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
Manifestos
Alliance Works, Alliance
Fair Deal Manifesto 2003, Democratic Unionist Party
Meeting the Challenges - Seizing the Opportunities, Green Party Northern Ireland
Change the Face of Politics, Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
2003 Election Manifesto, Progressive Unionist Party
Agenda for Government, Sinn Féin
Reshaping Government, Rebuilding Public Services, Social Democratic and Labour Party
Turn the Tide, Socialist Environmental Alliance
Manifesto 2003, Ulster Unionist Party
It Wont Work... Without the Workers' Party, Workers' Party
May 03, 2023
2003, northern, ireland, assembly, election, held, wednesday, november, 2003, after, being, suspended, just, over, year, second, election, take, place, since, devolved, assembly, established, 1998, each, northern, ireland, eighteen, westminster, parliamentary,. The 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election was held on Wednesday 26 November 2003 after being suspended for just over a year It was the second election to take place since the devolved assembly was established in 1998 Each of Northern Ireland s eighteen Westminster Parliamentary constituencies elected six members by single transferable vote giving a total of 108 Members of the Legislative Assembly MLAs The election was contested by 18 parties and many independent candidates 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election 1998 26 November 2003 2007 outgoing membersMLAs elected All 108 seats to the Northern Ireland AssemblyTurnout63 1 6 7 1 First party Second party Third party Leader Ian Paisley David Trimble Gerry AdamsParty DUP Ulster Unionist Sinn FeinLeader since 30 September 1971 8 September 1995 13 November 1983Leader s seat North Antrim Upper Bann Belfast WestLast election 20 seats 18 5 28 seats 21 3 18 seats 16 7 Seats won 30 27 24Seat change 10 1 6Popular vote 177 944 156 931 162 758Percentage 25 7 22 7 23 5 Swing 7 2 1 4 6 8 Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party Leader Mark Durkan David Ford David ErvineParty SDLP Alliance PUPLeader since 10 November 2001 6 October 2001 2002Leader s seat Foyle South Antrim Belfast EastLast election 24 seats 22 0 6 seats 5 6 2 seats 2 6 Seats won 18 6 1Seat change 6 0 1Popular vote 117 547 25 372 8 032Percentage 17 0 3 7 1 2 Swing 5 0 1 9 1 4 Seventh party Leader Robert McCartneyParty UK UnionistLeader since 1995Last election 5 seats 4 5 Seats won 1Seat change 4Popular vote 5 700Percentage 0 8 Swing 3 7 Seats won by each party and combined first preference vote share of the largest party Break down of each party and sectarian camp s seats in constituenciesElection results Voters elect 6 assembly members from the 18 constituencies First Minister before electionSuspended First Minister after election Suspended Contents 1 Background 2 Results 3 References 4 ManifestosBackground EditThe election was originally planned for May 2003 2 but was delayed by Paul Murphy the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 2 Several sitting MLAs stood under a different label to the one they had used in the 1998 election Some had failed to be selected by their parties to stand and so stood as independents whilst others had changed parties during the course of the assembly Most of these realignments occurred within the unionist parties with several defections between existing parties and two new parties being formed the United Unionist Coalition formed by the three MLAs elected as independent unionists though one later joined the DUP and the Northern Ireland Unionist Party formed by four of the five MLAs elected as the UK Unionist Party though one later left them joined the DUP for a period then contested the election as an independent unionist The SDLP which had been Northern Ireland s dominant Irish nationalist party during the 1980s and 1990s went into this election with concerns that they could lose numerous seats to fellow nationalists Sinn Fein who had overtaken the SDLP in terms of votes and seats at the 2001 United Kingdom general election 3 4 5 Commentator Brian Feeney said The SDLP has a series of baronial figures John Hume Seamus Mallon Eddie McGrady who hung on to power and didn t groom their successors early enough They just don t have enough people on the ground in some areas of the province Sinn Fein by contrast has deliberately cultivated collective leadership bringing forward wave after wave of young articulate highly politicised heirs apparent and their grassroots organisation is awesome 6 Results EditOn the unionist side the Democratic Unionist Party DUP became Northern Ireland s biggest party for the first time in any election overtaking the Ulster Unionist Party UUP They gained ten seats primarily at the expense of smaller unionist parties 7 to become the largest party both in seats and votes winning thirty overall 8 The UUP increased their vote slightly despite slipping to third place in first preference votes and won 27 seats a net loss of one Shortly after the election three Ulster Unionist MLAs Jeffrey Donaldson Norah Beare and Arlene Foster quit the party 9 10 and later defected to the DUP 11 On the nationalist side Sinn Fein saw a big increase in their vote gaining six seats at the net expense of the Social Democratic and Labour Party 7 for a total of 24 seats 1 The minor parties all saw a significant fall in their support The Alliance Party managed to hold all six of its seats despite their vote falling by a third the Women s Coalition United Unionist Coalition and Northern Ireland Unionist Party were all wiped out and the Progressive Unionist Party and UK Unionist Party won just one seat each Neither the United Unionist Assembly Party nor the Northern Ireland Unionists won any seats The biggest surprise of the election came in West Tyrone with the election of the independent Kieran Deeny a doctor campaigning on the single issue of hospital provision in Omagh 12 Result by constituencies Preferable vote PartyVotes Seats DUP177 94425 6630 10Sinn Fein162 75823 4724 6UUP156 93122 6327 1SDLP117 54716 9518 6Alliance25 3723 666 0PUP8 0321 161 1NI Women s Coalition5 7850 830 2UK Unionist5 7000 821 4United Unionist Council2 7050 39 Green NI 2 6880 39 Socialist Environmental Alliance2 3940 35 Workers Party1 8810 27 NI Conservatives1 6040 23 NI Unionist1 3500 19 Socialist Party3430 05 Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket1240 02 Ulster Third Way160 00 Independent20 2342 921 1Total693 408100 00108 Registered voters turnout1 097 52663 05Source ARKReferences Edit a b Elliott Sydney 2007 Sinn Fein Is There Any Limit to Its Electoral Ambitions DUP An Increase in Electoral Advantage over the UUP Fortnight 450 6 8 ISSN 0141 7762 a b The Northern Ireland Date of Next Assembly Poll Order 2003 Archived from the original on 3 May 2007 Retrieved 4 January 2006 2001 General Election the last election in Northern Ireland WesleyJohnston com Retrieved 3 March 2023 Cowan Rosie 13 June 2001 Sinn Fein builds on success while SDLP licks wounds via The Guardian Murray Gerard 2005 Sinn Fein and the SDLP From Alienation to Participation Jonathan Tonge London Hurst ISBN 1 85065 648 7 OCLC 48784064 Cowan Rosie 24 November 2003 Poll could put SDLP on the road to oblivion say critics The Guardian Retrieved 3 March 2023 Once secure as the mainstream nationalist group the party is being warned that Sinn Fein has stolen its thunder a b Sproule Luke 11 May 2022 NI election 2022 How UUP and SDLP lost their place as Northern Ireland s top parties BBC News NI Retrieved 3 March 2023 CAIN Issue Politics Elections Assembly Election NI Wednesday 26 November 2003 cain ulster ac uk Retrieved 11 March 2023 Moriarty Gerry 19 December 2003 Donaldson quits UUP for place on DUP talks team The Irish Times Retrieved 3 March 2023 McNaney James 24 February 2022 Would DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson have defected to the UUP UTV Retrieved 3 March 2023 Tempest Matthew 5 January 2004 Ulster Unionist rebels defect to DUP The Guardian Retrieved 3 March 2023 Hospital campaigner forms party BBC News 13 February 2004 Retrieved 3 March 2023 Manifestos EditAlliance Works Alliance Fair Deal Manifesto 2003 Democratic Unionist Party Meeting the Challenges Seizing the Opportunities Green Party Northern Ireland Assembly Election 2003 Northern Ireland Conservatives Change the Face of Politics Northern Ireland Women s Coalition 2003 Election Manifesto Progressive Unionist Party Agenda for Government Sinn Fein Reshaping Government Rebuilding Public Services Social Democratic and Labour Party Turn the Tide Socialist Environmental Alliance Manifesto 2003 Ulster Unionist Party It Wont Work Without the Workers Party Workers Party Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election amp oldid 1151774392, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
