1986 Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election

The 1986 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 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 Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election

23 January 1986
Constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Turnout	80.4% ( 8.2%)
First party Second party Third party   UUP SF Candidate Ken Maginnis Owen Carron Austin Currie Party UUP Sinn Féin SDLP Popular vote 27,857 15,278 12,081 Percentage 49.7% 27.2% 21.5% Swing 2.1% 7.6% 5.0%
MP before election Ken Maginnis UUP Elected MP Ken Maginnis UUP

The Ulster Unionist candidate Ken Maginnis was able to survive with less than 50% of the vote due to a split Nationalist vote.

1986 Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	UUP	Ken Maginnis	27,857	49.7	+2.1
	Sinn Féin	Owen Carron	15,278	27.2	−7.6
	SDLP	Austin Currie	12,081	21.5	+5.0
	Workers' Party	David Kettyles	864	1.5	−0.4
Majority			12,579	22.5	+9.7
Turnout			56,080	80.4	−8.2
Registered electors			69,767
	UUP 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