On 31 March 1966, the 1966 United Kingdom general election was held in Northern Ireland, to elect all 630 members of the House of Commons, including the 12 Northern Ireland seats.
The Ulster Unionists lost one seat to Gerry Fitt, leader of the new Republican Labour Party.
In the election as a whole, the Labour Party increased their majority and Harold Wilson continued as Prime Minister. The Conservative Party, which included the Ulster Unionists, were now led by Edward Heath.
Candidates
Affiliation CandidatesUlster Unionist Party 12Independent Republican (Ireland) 5Northern Ireland Labour Party 4Ulster Liberal Party 3Republican Labour Party 1Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland) 1Unity (Northern Ireland) 1Total 27
Results
+PartySeatsAggregate Votes Total Gains Losses Net Of all (%) Total Of all (%) Difference 11 0 1 1 91.7 368,629 61.8 1.4 1 1 0 1 8.3 26,292 4.4 2.1 0 0 0 — 72,613 12.2 3.9 0 0 0 — 62,782 10.5 5.4 0 0 0 — 29,109 4.9 2.2 0 colspan="3" — 22,167 3.7 0 colspan="3" — 14,645 2.5 Total 12 596,237 66.1 5.6
MPs elected Constituency Party MPAntrim North Henry ClarkAntrim South Knox CunninghamArmagh John MaginnisBelfast East Stanley McMasterBelfast North Stratton MillsBelfast South Rafton PounderBelfast West Gerry FittDown North George CurrieDown South Lawrence OrrFermanagh and South Tyrone Marquess of AbercornLondonderry Robin Chichester-ClarkMid Ulster George Forrest
By-elections By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party CauseMid Ulster17 April 1969George Forrest Bernadette Devlin Death
See also 1966 United Kingdom general election in England 1966 United Kingdom general election in Scotland 1966 United Kingdom general election in Wales
References