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South Antrim

Notional 2005 Results:
DUP: 13266 (39%)
UUP: 10142 (29.8%)
SDLP: 4065 (11.9%)
Alliance: 2944 (8.6%)
SF: 3619 (10.6%)
Majority: 3124 (9.2%)

2005 Result:
DUP: 14507 (38.2%)
UU: 11059 (29.1%)
SDLP: 4706 (12.4%)
SF: 4407 (11.6%)
Alliance: 3278 (8.6%)
Majority: 3448 (9.1%)

Boundary Changes: Loses Glengormley to North Belfast.

Profile: South Antrim covers the suburban fringes of northern Belfast and the rural hinterland beyond it, including the towns of Antrim, Crumlin and Ballyclare which largely look towards Belfast where many residents work. Antrim houses several overflow estates for Belfast and Crumlin is rapidly expanding to meet the housing demand. The seat also includes Belfast International Airport.

The population is around two thirds protestant and this is a solidly unionist seat. It was held by the Ulster Unionists continuously until 2000 (for thirteen years by Jim Molyneaux). After the death of Clifford Forsythe in 2000 the DUP’s candidate Willie McCrea took the seat in the ensuing by-election, defeating the UUP’s David Burnside in an election dominated by the issue of IRA disarmament. In 2001 Burnside again stood, defeating McCrea. In 2005 they faced each other again, with McCrea retaking the seat. Returns 2 DUP, 1 UUP, 1 SF, 1 Alliance and 1 SDLP to the Assembly.

portraitCurrent MP: Willie McCrea (DUP) born 1948, Stewartstown. Educated at Cookston Grammar School. Free Presbyerian minister and gospel singer, having released 27 albums. Magherafelt councillor since 1973. Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Mid-Ulster 1998-2007, South Antrim since 2007. Contested Belfast South 1982. MP for Mid-Ulster from 1983-1997. First elected as MP for South Antrim in 2000 by-election. Lost the seat in 2001, but regained it in 2005.

Candidates:
portraitWillie McCrea (DUP) born 1948, Stewartstown. Educated at Cookston Grammar School. Free Presbyerian minister and gospel singer, having released 27 albums. Magherafelt councillor since 1973. Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Mid-Ulster 1998-2007, South Antrim since 2007. Contested Belfast South 1982. MP for Mid-Ulster from 1983-1997. First elected as MP for South Antrim in 2000 by-election. Lost the seat in 2001, but regained it in 2005.
portraitMel Lucas (TUV) Antrim councillor.
portraitAlan Lawther (Alliance)
portraitSir Reg Empey (UCUNF)
portraitMichelle Byrne (SDLP)
portraitMitchel McLaughlin (Sinn Fein)

NB - The constituency guide is now archived and is no longer being updated. The new guide is at http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide