Strangford (Assembly constituency)

Strangford is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. It was first used in elections for the Assembly held in 1998.

The constituency encompasses the area of the Ards and North Down Borough Council.

Strangford currently elects five Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) using the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system, a form of proportional representation.

Historically, Strangford has been a strongly unionist constituency, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) generally securing the majority of seats. However, the constituency has also seen representation from other parties, including the Alliance Party and, historically, the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP).

The boundaries of the Strangford constituency have remained relatively consistent since its creation, though minor adjustments have been made to reflect changes in population distribution. The electoral landscape within the constituency has evolved, influenced by factors such as shifting demographics, changing political allegiances, and the performance of individual candidates.

Key towns and areas within the Strangford constituency include Newtownards, Bangor, Comber, and Portaferry. The economy of the area is diverse, encompassing agriculture, tourism, and service industries.

Past and present MLAs for Strangford have included prominent figures in Northern Irish politics, reflecting the range of political viewpoints within the constituency.