1986 Mid Ulster by-election

The 1986 Mid Ulster by-election was one of the fifteen 1986 Northern Ireland by-elections held on 23 January 1986, to fill vacancies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom caused by the resignation in December 1985 of all sitting Unionist Members of Parliament (MPs). The MPs, from the Ulster Unionist Party, Democratic Unionist Party and Ulster Popular Unionist Party, did this to highlight their opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Each of their parties agreed not to contest seats previously held by the others, and each outgoing MP stood for re-election.

1986 Mid Ulster by-election

23 January 1986
Constituency of Mid Ulster
Turnout	77.6% ( 6.7%)
First party Second party Third party   SDLP Candidate William McCrea Danny Morrison Adrian Colton Party DUP Sinn Féin SDLP Popular vote 23,695 13,998 13,021 Percentage 46.4% 27.1% 25.2% Swing 16.4% 2.8% 2.8%
MP before election William McCrea DUP Elected MP William McCrea DUP

The Unionist candidate was able to survive with less than 50% of the vote due to a split Nationalist vote and the seat was gained by Sinn Féin in later elections once Unionist pacts had broken down.

1986 Mid Ulster by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	DUP	William McCrea	23,695	46.4	+16.4
	Sinn Féin	Danny Morrison	13,998	27.1	−2.8
	SDLP	Adrian Colton	13,021	25.2	+2.8
	Workers' Party	Tommy Owens	691	1.4	0.0
Majority			9,697	19.3	+19.2
Turnout			51,405	77.6	−6.7
Registered electors			66,757
	DUP hold		Swing

Other References

• British Parliamentary By Elections: Campaign literature from the by-elections
• CAIN: Westminster By-Elections (NI) - Thursday 23 January 1986
• Northern Ireland Elections: Westminster by-elections 1986
• A Vision Of Britain Through Time (Constituency elector numbers)