Queen's University of Belfast (UK Parliament constituency)

UK former constituency infobox
Name = Queen's University, Belfast
Type = University
Year = 1918
Abolition = 1950

Queen's University of Belfast was a university constituency in both the United Kingdom Parliament (from 1918 until 1950) and the Parliament of Northern Ireland (from 1921 until 1969).

Boundaries

The constituency was not a physical area but was rather elected by the graduates of the Queen's University of Belfast.

The constituency returned one member to Westminster and four to Stormont, with the latter elected by Single Transferable Vote.

Westminster elections

MPs from 1918 until 1950

* 1918 - 1923: William Whitla Ulster Unionist Party
* 1923 - 1940 (resignation): Thomas Sinclair Ulster Unionist Party
* 1940 (by-election) - 1950: Professor Douglas Lloyd Savory Ulster Unionist Party

Politics and History of the constituency

University constituencies had existed in the United Kingdom Parliament and its predecessors since 1603 and in 1918 Queen's was enfranchised as such. When the Parliament of Northern Ireland was established, the same franchise was preserved - see Queen's University of Belfast (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency).

As with most other Northern Ireland seats in this period, the electorate was heavily inclined towards the Ulster Unionists, with no contests for the Westminster seat taking place at all in the interwar years.

In the late 1940s legislation was passed to abolish the university constituencies at Westminster.

Election results

Election box begin
title=General Election, 1945: Queen's University of BelfastElection box candidate with party link
party = Ulster Unionist Party
candidate = Douglas Lloyd Savory
votes = 1,923
percentage = 72.5
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent (politician)
candidate = Thomas Cusack
votes = 728
percentage = 27.5
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 1,195
percentage = 45.1
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes =
percentage = 51.6
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Ulster Unionist Party
swing = "N/A"

At the Queen's University of Belfast by-election, 1940, Douglas Lloyd Savory was elected unopposed.

At the 1923, 1924, 1929, 1931 and 1935 UK general elections, Thomas Sinclair was elected unopposed.

At the 1922 UK general election, William Whitla was elected unopposed.

Election box begin
title=General Election, 1918: Queen's University of BelfastElection box candidate with party link
party = Ulster Unionist Party
candidate = William Whitla
votes = 1,487
percentage = 92.7
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Sinn Féin
candidate = Sean Dolan
votes = 118
percentage = 7.4
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 1,369
percentage = 85.3
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Ulster Unionist Party
swing = "N/A"

ee also

*Queen's University of Belfast (Dáil Éireann constituency)