The 1938 Northern Ireland general election was held on 9 February 1938. Like all previous elections to the Parliament of Northern Ireland, it produced a large majority for the Ulster Unionist Party, who won three-quarters of the seats.

Quick Facts All 52 seats to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland 27 seats were needed for a majority, First party ...

1938 Northern Ireland general election

← 1933 9 February 1938 1945 →
← outgoing members MPs elected →
All 52 seats to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland 27 seats were needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader James Craig Thomas Campbell Party Ulster Unionist Nationalist Leader since 7 June 1921 18 January 1934 Leader's seat North Down Belfast Central Last election 36 seats, 43.5% 9 seats, 13.2% Seats won 39[u 1] 8[n 1] Seat change 3 1 Popular vote 187,684 16,167 Percentage 56.8% 4.9% Swing 13.3% 8.3%   Third party Fourth party   Leader William Wilton Harry Midgley Party Ind. Unionist Party NI Labour Leader since 1937 1933 Leader's seat Belfast Oldpark (Defeated) Belfast Dock (Defeated) Last election Did not stand 2 seats, 8.5% Seats won 1 1[l 1] Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 28,459 18,775 Percentage 8.6% 5.7% Swing New party 2.8%
Election results by constituency
Prime Minister before election James Craig Ulster Unionist Prime Minister after election James Craig Ulster Unionist

Close

The newly-formed Ulster Progressive Unionist Association came second in vote share, but won no seats. 21 MPs were elected unopposed (40%), the vast majority of whom were Ulster Unionists.

More information Party, Candidates ...

1938 Northern Ireland general election
Party		Candidates						Votes
		Stood	Elected	Gained	Unseated	Net	% of total	%	No.	Net %
	Ulster Unionist	43	39	3	0	+3	75.0	56.8	187,684	+13.3
	Progressive Unionist	10	0	0	0	0	—	12.4	41,028	N/A
	Ind. Unionist Party	6	1	1	0	+1	1.9	8.6	28,459	N/A
	Ind. Unionist	5	2	1	2	-1	3.8	6.8	22,354	-14.5
	NI Labour	7	1	1	2	-1	1.9	5.7	18,775	-2.8
	Nationalist	9	8	0	1	-1	15.4	4.9	16,167	-8.3
	Independent	3	0	0	0	0	—	2.2	7,482	+2.0
	Independent Labour	1	1	1	0	+1	1.9	1.7	5,480	N/A
	Ind. Progressive Unionist	1	0	0	0	0	—	0.9	2,926	N/A

Close

Electorate: 825,101 (464,860 in contested seats); Turnout: 71.1% (330,355).

• Northern Ireland Parliamentary Election Results Archived 16 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine