Londonderry was a parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament, as well as a constituency in elections to various regional bodies. It was replaced in boundary changes in 1983. Londonderry returned two MPs (1801–1885) and later one (1922–1983).
Politics and history of the constituency From its inception, Londonderry had a unionist majority, though by the 1970s the nationalist vote was approaching 40% in some elections.
In 1951, it was one of the last four seats to be uncontested in a United Kingdom general election.
In 1974 the Ulster Unionist Party repudiated the Sunningdale Agreement and so did not reselect Robin Chichester-Clark, who had been a Minister in the government of Edward Heath. Instead they ran William Ross, who held the seat until the 1983 general election. He was then elected for the new East Londonderry constituency.
For the history of the area post-1983, see Foyle (UK Parliament constituency) and East Londonderry.
Boundaries The constituency consisted, in 1801–1885, of the whole of County Londonderry, except for the parliamentary boroughs of Coleraine and Londonderry City.
The seat was re-created in 1922. As part of the consequences of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was reduced from 30 to 13. The seat was focused on County Londonderry. From 1922 to 1950, it comprised the administrative county of Londonderry and the County Borough of Londonderry. From 1950 onwards, the rural district of Magherafelt in the south of the county was removed to form part of the new Mid Ulster constituency.
In 1983 the number of seats for Northern Ireland was increased from 12 to 17 and Londonderry was split in two, forming Foyle and East Londonderry.
Members of Parliament
1801–1885 ElectionFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party 1801 Hon. Charles Stewartknown as Sir Charles Stewart from 1813 Tory Vacant 1801 by-election Sir George Hill, 2nd Bt Tory 1802 Lord George Beresford 1812 Hon. William Ponsonby 1814 by-election Alexander Stewart Tory 1815 by-election George Robert Dawson Tory 1818 Alexander Robert Stewart Tory 1830 Theobald Jones Tory Sir Robert Bateson, 1st Bt Tory 1834 Conservative Conservative 1842 by-election Robert Bateson Conservative 1844 by-election Thomas Bateson 1857 by-election James Johnston Clark 1857 Samuel MacCurdy Greer Radical 1859 Robert Peel Dawson Conservative Sir Frederick Heygate, 2nd Bt 1874 Richard Smyth Liberal Hugh Law Liberal 1878 by-election Sir Thomas McClure, 1st Bt 1881 by-election Andrew Porter 1884 by-election Samuel Walker 1885 constituency abolished: see North Londonderry & South Londonderry
1922–1983
ElectionMemberParty 1922 Sir Malcolm Macnaghten Ulster Unionist 1929 by-election Sir Ronald Ross 1951 by-election William Wellwood 1955 Robin Chichester-Clark February 1974 William Ross 1983constituency abolished: see Foyle & East Londonderry
Westminster elections
Elections in the 1830s
Elections in the 1840s
Caused by Bateson's resignation by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds
Caused by Bateson's death
Elections in the 1850s
Caused by Bateson's appointment as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
Caused by Bateson's resignation.
Elections in the 1860s
Elections in the 1870s
Caused by Smyth's death.
Elections in the 1880s
Caused by Law's appointment as Attorney-General for Ireland
Caused by Law's appointment as Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Caused by Porter's appointment as Master of the Rolls
Elections in the 1920s
anti-partition
Elections in the 1930s
Elections in the 1940s
Elections in the 1950s
In the 1951 Londonderry by-election and the 1951 United Kingdom general election, William Wellwood was elected unopposed.
Elections in the 1960s
Elections in the 1970s
Notes
References