Northern Ireland general election, 1949

Northern Ireland general election, 1949

19 February 1949
All 52 seats to the Northern Ireland House of Commons 27 seats were needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Basil Brooke James McSparran Harry Diamond Party UUP Nationalist Socialist Republican Leader since 1 May 1943 15 November 1945 1944 Leader's seat Lisnaskea Mourne Belfast Falls Last election 33 seats, 50.4% 9 seats, 9.1% 1 seat, 1.5% Seats won 37 9 1 Seat change 4 1 Popular vote 237,411 101,445 Unopposed Percentage 62.7% 26.8% — Swing 12.3% 17.6% 1.5%
Election results by constituency.
Prime Minister before election Basil Brooke UUP Elected Prime Minister Basil Brooke UUP

Northern Ireland 1921–72
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Northern Ireland 1921–72
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Parliament Acts Statutory Rules and Orders Senate Speaker of the Senate Leader of the Senate House of Commons Speaker Leader of the Opposition Members 1921, 1925, 1929, 1933 1938, 1945, 1949, 1953 1958, 1962, 1965, 1969 Senate
Elections Elections in Northern Ireland 1921, 1925, 1929, 1933 1938, 1945, 1949, 1953 1958, 1962, 1965, 1969 By-elections Constituencies Political parties
See also Fourth Home Rule Bill Constitution Act 1973
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The Northern Ireland general election, 1949 was held on 19 February 1949. The election became known as the Chapel-gate election because collections were held at churches in the Republic of Ireland to support the Nationalist Party campaign.

The election was held just after the Republic of Ireland's declaration of a republic. The Unionists were able to use their majority in the Parliament of Northern Ireland to schedule the election at a time when many Protestants felt uneasy about development south of the border and as a result might be more likely to vote Unionist than for Labour candidates. This appears to have been bourne out in the collapse of the Labour vote.

Results

All parties shown. The only Socialist Republican Party candidate was elected unopposed. Electorate 846,719 (477,354 in contested seats); Turnout 79.3% (378,458).

References

• Northern Ireland Parliamentary Election Results

See also

• MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1949