Belfast Victoria (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Victoria was a parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland. It existed as a single-member seat in the Northern Ireland House of Commons from 1929 to 1972, and subsequently as a constituency for the Northern Ireland Assembly from 1973 to 1982.
History
The constituency was created under the House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929, which abolished multi-member constituencies and introduced single-member constituencies throughout Northern Ireland. Belfast Victoria covered a portion of the city of Belfast and was named after Victoria Barracks (later renamed Girdwood Barracks).
The seat was abolished for the 1982 Assembly election, with its territory largely incorporated into the Belfast North constituency.
Boundaries
The boundaries of Belfast Victoria shifted slightly over its lifespan to accommodate population changes and administrative rearrangements within Belfast. However, it consistently encompassed a section of North Belfast. Detailed boundary descriptions can be found in relevant parliamentary boundary commission reports.
Politics
Belfast Victoria was a predominantly unionist constituency, typically returning Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) representatives. However, it also saw electoral challenges from other unionist factions and, on occasion, non-unionist candidates. The sectarian demographic makeup of the area played a significant role in election results.
Members of Parliament (Northern Ireland House of Commons)
- 1929-1945: Thomas Somerset (UUP)
- 1945-1958: William Grant (UUP)
- 1958-1969: Brian Faulkner (UUP)
- 1969-1972: Vivian Simpson (UUP)
Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- 1973-1974: William Craig (Vanguard)
- 1973-1974: John Carson (UUP)
- 1973-1974: David Bleakley (NILP)
- 1975-1982: William Craig (Vanguard/UUUP/DUP)
- 1975-1982: John Carson (UUP)
- 1975-1982: David Bleakley (NILP)
(Abbreviations: UUP - Ulster Unionist Party, Vanguard - Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party, NILP - Northern Ireland Labour Party, UUUP - Ulster Unionist Party of Ulster, DUP - Democratic Unionist Party)