2018 West Tyrone by-election

2018 West Tyrone by-election
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West Tyrone constituency
Turnout55.1%
  First party Second party
 
Órfhlaith Begley (cropped).jpg
Thomas Buchanan 2021.jpg
Candidate Órfhlaith Begley Thomas Buchanan
Party Sinn Féin DUP
Popular vote 16,346 8,390
Percentage 46.7% 24.0%
Swing Decrease4.0% Decrease3.0%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Daniel McCrossan 2021.jpg
UUP
Candidate Daniel McCrossan Chris Smyth
Party SDLP UUP
Popular vote 6,254 2,909
Percentage 17.9% 8.3%
Swing Increase4.9% Increase3.1%
MP before election

Barry McElduff
Sinn Féin (susp.)

Elected MP

Órfhlaith Begley
Sinn Féin

A by-election was held in the UK Parliament constituency of West Tyrone on 3 May 2018, following the resignation of Barry McElduff, who had been the Member of Parliament (MP) since 2017.[1] McElduff had become embroiled in a social media controversy which had resulted in his suspension from Sinn Féin on 8 January.[2] He announced his resignation on 15 January 2018.[3][4]

This was the first by-election held during the 57th UK Parliament, which was elected in the 2017 general election. It was the first Parliamentary by-election held in Northern Ireland since the Mid Ulster by-election in 2013. Sinn Féin candidate Órfhlaith Begley held the seat with a slightly reduced majority, compared to the June 2017 snap election.

  1. ^ "Date is set for West Tyrone by-election". BBC News. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Statement from Michelle O'Neill on Barry McElduff MP". Sinn Féin. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Statement by Michelle O'Neill MLA on the resignation of Barry McElduff as MP for West Tyrone". Sinn Féin. 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Sinn Féin MP McElduff resigns over tweet". BBC News. 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.