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11th September 1922

Act abolishes Proportional Representation

The Northern Ireland cabinet proposed a bill to end proportional representation in local elections. In the elections of 1922, proportional representation had led to many councils, such as Newry, Armagh and Strabane, being controlled by Nationalist-Sinn Féin coalitions. The removal of proportional representation, and the proposed changes to local government boundaries, ensured Unionists would have a majority in all but twelve councils in Northern Ireland.

Unionism, Nationalism, Republicanism, Voting Rights
Ulster Arithmetic - "Proportional representation, laddie, means confusion in 'Ulster'".
National Library of Ireland [PD 4309 Tx]