List of political parties in Northern Ireland facts for kids

Political parties in Northern Ireland lists political parties in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Assembly uses the D'Hondt system, with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments. Party affiliation is generally based on religious and ethnic background.

Although Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom, it has a quite distinct political scene from the rest of the country, as the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats do not contest elections there (though the Liberal Democrats have links with the Alliance Party), and the Conservative Party has received only limited support in recent elections.

Some parties, such as Sinn Féin and the Workers' Party, are organised on an all-Ireland basis. Others such as the Conservative Party are organised on an all-United Kingdom basis. There are many Northern Ireland-specific parties and these, on the whole, predominate.

The distinction between "unionist/loyalist", "nationalist/republican" and "other" is not always easy with some parties and individuals. Some have defined themselves less by their position on the "Border Question" than on other political issues.

For example the former Republican Labour Party/Social Democratic and Labour Party MP Gerry Fitt's career suggests he was first and foremost a socialist rather than a nationalist and he eventually left the SDLP claiming it had drifted from its founding intentions. Similarly the Workers' Party has its roots in the republican Official IRA but nowadays is considered to be a non-violent socialist and nationalist party. Several parties strive to be avowedly non-sectarian and would not consider themselves to be either unionist or nationalist. The Northern Ireland Assembly requires MLAs to designate themselves either "Unionist", "Nationalist" or "Other." This is a designation that is particularly resented by those who designate as "Other", as they have no input on who becomes First or Deputy First Minister.

There are some who see the terms "Unionist" and "Nationalist"/"Republican" as being of more relevance to the community that the party seeks to represent rather than the position on the border question. Several of the "Other" parties strive to be non-sectarian but have a clear position on the border.

Political parties with elected representation at a local, national, UK or European level

Party details

Party representation

Other registered parties

Unionist and loyalist

• Northern Ireland Conservatives
• Protestant Coalition - (Dissolved Party, defunct since 2015)

Nationalist and republican

• Communist Party of Ireland (CPI)
• Éirígí - Registered to contest local elections only
• Fianna Fáil (FF) - Registered, but has not yet contested elections
• Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) - Registered to contest local elections only
• Republican Network for Unity (RNU) - Registered, but has not yet contested elections

Others

• Labour Party in Northern Ireland - The British Labour Party have a policy not to stand in Northern Ireland. Until recently it was not possible for residents to even join the party; however this was changed on legal advice. The Labour Party has recently set up an officially recognised branch party in the region. The SDLP MPs unofficially take the Labour whip.
• Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats - The Liberal Democrats currently have a policy not to stand in Northern Ireland but to support their sister party, the Alliance, with many holding membership of both, and Alliance peers take the Liberal Democrat whip.
• Official Monster Raving Loony Party - Registered, but has not yet contested elections
• Socialist Party
• Socialist Workers Party
• Veritas - Registered, but has not yet contested elections
• Workers' Party of Ireland

Unregistered parties

Candidates for unregistered parties may choose either to be listed as "Non-Party", or to leave the section blank on the ballot paper, in the same manner as independent candidates.

• 32 County Sovereignty Movement - Does not contest elections, operates as a pressure group
• Republican Sinn Féin (RSF)
• Respect – The Unity Coalition - Previously registered and has no plans to contest future elections

Inactive parties

Unionist and loyalist

• British Ulster Dominion Party
• Commonwealth Labour Party
• Independent Unionist Association
• Labour Unionist Party
• Northern Ireland Unionist Party - deregistered 2008
• Protestant Unionist Party (evolved into the DUP)
• Ulster Constitution Party
• Ulster Democratic Party
• Ulster Loyalist Democratic Party
• Ulster Popular Unionist Party
• Ulster Progressive Unionist Association
• Ulster Protestant League
• Ulster Resistance
• Ulster Unionist Labour Association
• Unionist Party of Northern Ireland
• United Kingdom Unionist Party - deregistered 2008
• United Ulster Unionist Council
• United Ulster Unionist Party
• United Unionist Coalition (UUC)
• Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party
• Volunteer Political Party

Nationalist and Republican

• All Ireland Anti-Partition League
• Federation of Labour
• Fianna Uladh
• Irish Anti-Partition League
• Independent Socialist Party
• Irish Independence Party
• National Democratic Party
• National Democrats
• National League of the North
• National Unity
• Nationalist Party
• Northern Council for Unity
• Official Sinn Féin (now Workers' Party of Ireland)
• People's Democracy
• Red Republican Party
• Republican Congress
• Republican Labour Party
• Saor Éire
• Socialist Republican Party
• Unity

Communist

• Communist Party of Ireland (CPI)
• World Socialist Party (Ireland)

Others

• Belfast Labour Party
• Commonwealth Labour Party
• Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist-Leninist)
• Communist Party of Northern Ireland
• Irish Labour Party (contests elections in the Republic)
• Labour coalition
• Labour Party of Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland Labour Party
• Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
• Newtownabbey Labour Party
• Newtownabbey Ratepayers Association
• Natural Law Party
• Social Democratic Party - The post-1988 rump of the party stood in a Northern Ireland by-election in 1990; the party as a whole existed and was more prominent in Great Britain from 1981-1990 although the post 1990 rump group still has two seats on local councils in England and Wales.
• Ulster Independence Movement
• Ulster Liberal Party
• Ulster Movement for Self-Determination
• United Labour Party (Northern Ireland)
• Ulster Third Way - deregistered 2005
• Vote for Yourself Party - disbanded April 2009, de registered 8 June 2009

Party leaders

Party leaders serving 10 years or more are