The Most Popular Party in Northern Ireland, Ranked

Choose the party you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 20, 2024 07:25
In the vibrant landscape of Northern Ireland, the popularity of social gatherings plays a crucial role in shaping community and cultural dynamics. Knowing which party tops the list not only feeds curiosity but also guides those planning to host or attend events, ensuring they are aligned with the most favored trends. This dynamic ranking shifts with real-time votes from users like you, reflecting current preferences and opinions. By participating, you contribute to a broader understanding while tailoring the list to represent the true pulse of communal celebrations. Your vote matters here, helping everyone stay connected with the most celebrated gatherings.

What Is the Most Popular Party in Northern Ireland?

  1. 1
    72
    votes
    The largest unionist party in Northern Ireland, with a focus on promoting Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom.
    The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is a political party in Northern Ireland. Founded in 1971 by Ian Paisley, it is the largest unionist party in the region and has been a key player in Northern Irish politics since the late 20th century.
    • Political ideology: Unionism, conservative, Christian democracy
    • Party leader: Arlene Foster
    • Current Members of Parliament (MPs): 8
    • Seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly: 28
    • Policy on Brexit: Supports leaving the European Union
  2. 2
    26
    votes

    Sinn Féin

    Arthur Griffith
    The largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland, with a focus on promoting Irish reunification and Irish nationalism.
    Sinn Féin is a left-wing political party in Northern Ireland. It advocates for a united Ireland and has historical ties to Irish nationalism. The party seeks to promote social justice, equality, and environmental sustainability.
    • Founded: 28 November 1905
    • Ideology: Irish republicanism, Left-wing politics
    • Headquarters: Belfast and Dublin
    • President: Mary Lou McDonald
    • Vice President: Michelle O'Neill
    Sinn Féin in other rankings
  3. 3
    25
    votes
    A unionist party with a history dating back to the early 20th century, with a focus on promoting Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom.
    The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is one of the main political parties in Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1905 with the primary objective of defending the union between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom.
    • Unionist ideology: The UUP advocates for preserving the union between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom and ensuring Northern Ireland remains a part of the UK.
    • Conservative values: The party espouses conservative principles and often aligns itself with the Conservative Party in the UK.
    • Power-sharing: The UUP supports the concept of power-sharing in Northern Ireland and has been involved in various power-sharing agreements, such as the Good Friday Agreement.
    • Membership: It has a diverse membership base, consisting of individuals from different religious, ethnic, and social backgrounds.
    • Leader: The party is led by a leader who is democratically elected by its members.
  4. 4
    18
    votes
    A nationalist party with a focus on promoting peace, social justice, and reconciliation between the different communities in Northern Ireland.
    The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) is a political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1970 as a social democratic and Irish nationalist party. The main goal of the SDLP is to achieve a united Ireland through peaceful means and to promote social justice and equality in Northern Ireland. The party advocates for non-violent resolution of conflicts and has been involved in various peace and reconciliation efforts.
    • Political ideology: Social democracy and Irish nationalism
    • Foundation year: 1970
    • Leader: Colum Eastwood
    • Ideological position: Center-left
    • Key issues: Peaceful resolution, social justice, equality, Irish unity
  5. 5
    11
    votes
    A centrist party with a focus on promoting cross-community cooperation and reconciliation, particularly in regards to the sectarian divide between unionists and nationalists.
    The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a centrist political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1970 with the aim of promoting a shared future and reconciliation between the unionist and nationalist communities. The party advocates for integrated education, equal rights, transparency, and non-sectarian governance.
    • Founded: 1970
    • Political ideology: Centrism
    • Members: Approximately 6,500
    • Key priorities: Shared future, integrated education, equal rights
    • Party leader: Naomi Long
  6. 6
    13
    votes
    A small unionist party that emerged in the late 2000s, with a focus on promoting traditional unionist values and opposing power-sharing with Sinn Féin.
    The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) is a right-wing political party in Northern Ireland. It was established in December 2007 as a result of a split from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and advocates for the maintenance of the union between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, opposing any power-sharing arrangements with Irish nationalists.
    • Founding Year: 2007
    • Political Position: Right-wing
    • Unionism: Advocates for the union with the UK
    • Nationalism: Opposes Irish nationalism
    • Power-sharing: Against power-sharing arrangements
  7. 7
    13
    votes
    A left-wing party that emerged in the Republic of Ireland in the late 2000s, with a focus on promoting socialism, workers' rights, and opposition to austerity measures.
    The People Before Profit Alliance is a left-wing political party that operates in Northern Ireland. It champions socialist and progressive policies with a focus on social justice, workers' rights, and equality. The party seeks to represent the interests of ordinary people and challenge the dominance of big corporations and the wealthy elite.
    • Ideology: Socialism
    • Key Focus: Social justice, workers' rights, and equality
    • Economic Policy: Advocates for wealth redistribution and fair taxation
    • Education: Supports investment in public education and opposes tuition fees
    • Healthcare: Calls for a publicly-funded, accessible, and equitable healthcare system
  8. 8
    6
    votes
    A party that focuses on promoting environmentalism, social justice, and human rights.
    The Green Party in Northern Ireland is a political party in Northern Ireland that advocates for environmentalism, social justice, and peace. It is part of the wider Green Party of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The party was founded in 1983 and has steadily gained support over the years.
    • Environmentalism: The party places a strong emphasis on environmental policies, promoting sustainability, renewable energy, and biodiversity conservation.
    • Social Justice: The Green Party in Northern Ireland campaigns for equality, fairness, and social justice by addressing issues such as poverty, healthcare, education, and housing.
    • Peace: The party actively works towards achieving peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, promoting dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among different communities.
    • Non-violence: The Green Party advocates for non-violent means to address conflicts and opposes all forms of violence and terrorism.
    • Devolved Government: The party supports the establishment and functioning of a devolved government in Northern Ireland, with a focus on sustainable development, inclusive policies, and democratic decision-making.
  9. 9
    4
    votes
    A small unionist party with a focus on promoting working-class interests and opposition to paramilitarism.
    The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) is a political party in Northern Ireland that was founded in 1979. It is considered to be a small but notable party within the unionist community.
    • Ideology: The PUP is a left-of-center party that promotes social justice and equality while maintaining a pro-union stance.
    • Representation: The PUP primarily represents working-class unionists and seeks to address their concerns and issues.
    • Loyalist background: The party has historical connections to loyalist paramilitary groups, but has distanced itself from violence and condemns all forms of terrorism.
    • Leadership: Since its founding, the PUP has had various leaders, including David Ervine, Dawn Purvis, and Billy Hutchinson.
    • Peace process involvement: The PUP played a role in the Northern Ireland peace process and supported the Good Friday Agreement.
  10. 10
    3
    votes
    The Northern Ireland branch of the UK Conservative Party, with a focus on promoting conservative values and Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom.
    The Conservative and Unionist Party (NI) is a political party in Northern Ireland. It is a branch of the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom, specifically operating in Northern Ireland. The party seeks to promote conservative and unionist principles in the region.
    • Founder: William Johnston
    • Ideology: Conservatism, Unionism
    • Leadership: Various leaders appointed by the party
    • Membership: Active members throughout Northern Ireland
    • Relationship with the Conservative Party: Operates as a branch of the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom

Missing your favorite party?

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Discussion

Ranking factors for popular party

  1. Number of seats won
    Examine how many seats each party has secured in various legislative bodies, including local councils, the Northern Ireland Assembly, or the UK Parliament. A party with more elected representatives would generally be considered more popular.
  2. Membership numbers
    Consider the number of registered members that each party has. Larger membership numbers may indicate stronger grassroots support and potentially greater popularity.
  3. Alignment with key public issues
    Evaluate each party's stance on important issues in Northern Ireland, such as social, economic, or constitutional matters. Parties that hold positions aligning with popular opinions may be more likely to gain support.
  4. Historical trends
    Analyze patterns of electoral performance over time, as some parties may have a consistent track record of success, while others might experience fluctuating levels of popularity.
  5. Media coverage and public perception
    Assess the amount and nature of media coverage that each party receives, as well as public opinion on the party's leadership, policies, and actions. A positive public perception and media presence can contribute to a party's overall popularity.
  6. Electoral performance in different areas
    Examine the geographic distribution of support for each party, as certain parties may be more popular in particular regions or communities in Northern Ireland.
  7. Unity within the party
    Consider the degree of unity and cohesion within each party. Parties with internal divisions and conflicts may be less appealing to the public and could negatively impact their popularity.
  8. Effectiveness of party leadership
    Evaluate the ability of each party's leaders to rally support and successfully advocate their policies. Charismatic and skilled leaders might have a significant impact on their party's popularity.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular party in Northern Ireland. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or party is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 1618 views
  • 189 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each party once every 24 hours. The rank of each party is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular party in northern ireland

Northern Ireland has a unique political landscape, with a history of conflict and division between the two main communities - Unionist and Nationalist. This has resulted in a range of political parties representing different views and aspirations. The most popular party in Northern Ireland is a matter of debate, with different polls and surveys offering varying results. Some of the major parties include the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sinn Féin, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). Each of these parties has its own specific ideologies, policies, and support base, and their popularity fluctuates depending on a range of factors such as current events and local issues. Polls and rankings on StrawPoll provide a platform for the people of Northern Ireland to have their say on the most popular party and to engage in democratic discourse.

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