Full list of candidates running in Belfast South and Mid Down in General Election 2024

Lauren Harte

16 June 2024 at 6:59 am·1-min read

Ormeau Road, Belfast — -Credit: (Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)

With the second biggest majority in the 2019 UK General Election, the SDLP's Claire Hanna is the favourite to retain her seat in Belfast South and Mid Down.

Five years ago, Claire Hanna won South Belfast with a majority of 15,401 in a crushing victory over the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly with 27,079 votes to Little-Pengelly's 11,678. The Alliance Party's Paula Bradshaw finished on 6,786, the UUP's Michael Henderson on 1,259 and Aontu's Chris McHugh finishing on 550.

The newly created Belfast South and Mid Down seat is regarded as Northern Ireland's most diverse constituency and has seen its electorate increase by around 1,850 voters.

It now takes in the Belvoir, Blackstaff, Carryduff East, Central and Knockbracken wards, as well as Drumbo (formerly Lagan Valley) with Moneyreagh and Saintfield both transferring in from South Down.

In the running for the DUP this time is Tracey Kelly while Alliance are fielding former Lord Mayor of Belfast, Kate Nicholl. Sinn Fein is not putting forward a candidate for the second time.

Despite having stepped aside in 2019 to endorse Hanna, the Green Party is running Belfast City Councillor Áine Groogan. Michael Henderson is on the UUP ticket again alongside Dan Boucher (TUV).

The full list of candidates running in Belfast South and Mid Down:

Dan Boucher (TUV)

Áine Groogan (Green Party)

Claire Hanna (SDLP)

Michael Henderson (UUP)

Tracey Kelly (DUP)

Kate Nicholl (Alliance)

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