# 2023 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election

The 2023 election to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council was held on 18 May 2023, alongside other local elections in Northern Ireland, two weeks after local elections in England. The Northern Ireland elections were delayed by 2 weeks to avoid overlapping with the coronation of King Charles III.
The election returned 40 members to the council via Single Transferable Vote. This consisted of 14 Democratic Unionist Party members (who topped the polls in three districts: Castlereagh East, Downshire East and Lisburn South), 13 Alliance Party members (who topped the polls in two districts: Castlereagh South and Downshire West), 6 Ulster Unionist Party members, 4 Sinn Féin members (who topped the polls in two districts: Killultagh and Lisburn North), 2 Social Democratic and Labour Party members and 1 Independent member.

## Election results

2023 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election result :
| Party | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| | DUP | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 35.00 | 34.02 | 19,187 | 2.69 |
| | Alliance | 13 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 32.50 | 28.48 | 16,064 | 4.84 |
| | UUP | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 15.00 | 13.97 | 7,877 | 3.61 |
| | Sinn Féin | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10.00 | 10.98 | 6,193 | 5.57 |
| | SDLP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.00 | 6.69 | 3,774 | 1.99 |
| | Independent | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2.50 | 1.80 | 1,017 | 0.05 |
| | TUV | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 2.33 | 1,317 | 0.01 |
| | Green (NI) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.73 | 975 | 0.02 |
| Total | Total | 40 | | | | | | 56,404 | |
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

## Districts summary

Results of the 2023 Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council election by district :
| District Electoral Area (DEA) | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | Total cllrs |
| District Electoral Area (DEA) | DUP | DUP | Alliance | Alliance | UUP | UUP | Sinn Féin | Sinn Féin | SDLP | SDLP | Independents and others | Independents and others | | Total cllrs |
| Castlereagh East | 50.92 | 3 | 30.78 | 2 | 9.03 | 1 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 9.28 | 0 | 6 |
| Castlereagh South | 15.05 | 1 | 32.36 | 3 1 | 7.46 | 0 1 | 21.61 | 2 1 | 17.05 | 1 | 6.92 | 0 1 | 7 |
| Downshire East | 41.34 | 2 | 30.06 | 2 1 | 17.47 | 1 1 | 0.00 | 0 | 4.51 | 0 | 5.73 | 0 | 5 |
| Downshire West | 40.19 | 2 | 36.62 | 2 1 | 17.26 | 1 1 | 4.21 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 1.73 | 0 | 5 |
| Killultagh | 33.49 | 2 | 22.22 | 1 | 15.66 | 1 | 23.36 | 1 | 4.34 | 0 | 0.93 | 0 | 5 |
| Lisburn North | 26.47 | 1 1 | 23.61 | 1 | 13.65 | 1 1 | 14.67 | 1 1 | 11.07 | 1 | 10.54 | 1 1 | 6 |
| Lisburn South | 38.20 | 3 | 23.81 | 2 1 | 19.95 | 1 1 | 6.58 | 0 | 6.30 | 0 | 5.16 | 0 | 6 |
| Total | 34.02 | 14 1 | 28.48 | 13 4 | 13.97 | 6 5 | 10.98 | 4 2 | 6.69 | 2 | 5.87 | 1 | 40 |

## District results
### Castlereagh East

2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP
2023: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP
2019–2023 Change: No change
Castlereagh East - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | DUP | Sharon Skillen* | 21.04% | 1,655 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Martin Gregg* | 17.50% | 1,377 | | | | |
| | DUP | Samantha Burns | 11.17% | 879 | 1,165.72 | | | |
| | Alliance | Sharon Lowry* | 13.28% | 1,045 | 1,057.16 | 1,192.16 | | |
| | DUP | John Laverty* | 11.31% | 890 | 960.72 | 966.68 | 980.62 | 1,130.62 |
| | UUP | Hazel Legge* | 9.03% | 710 | 735.28 | 763.92 | 959.08 | 1,086.60 |
| | DUP | David Drysdale* | 7.40% | 582 | 678 | 682.96 | 703.70 | 931.76 |
| | TUV | Andrew Girvin | 6.79% | 534 | 558.32 | 566.64 | 589.76 | |
| | Green (NI) | Terry Winchcombe | 2.49% | 195 | 199.48 | | | |
| Electorate: 16,289 Valid: 7,867 (48.30%) Spoilt: 90 Quota: 1,124 Turnout: 7,957 (48.85%) |||||||||

### Castlereagh South

2019: 2 x Alliance, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x Green
2023: 3 x Alliance, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
2019–2023 Change: Alliance and Sinn Féin gain from Green and UUP
Castlereagh South - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Alliance | Michelle Guy* † | 14.26% | 1,452 | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Brian Higginson | 9.88% | 1,006 | 1,009 | 1,009.60 | 1,507.72 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Nancy Eaton | 10.96% | 1,116 | 1,121 | 1,183.16 | 1,186.16 | 1,188.76 | 1,416.76 | | |
| | SDLP | John Gallen* | 10.61% | 1,035 | 1,035 | 1,042.08 | 1,044.08 | 1,046.16 | 1,147.12 | 1,613.12 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Ryan Carlin* | 11.82% | 1,204 | 1,207 | 1,213.24 | 1,214.24 | 1,214.76 | 1,260.76 | 1,314.76 | |
| | Alliance | Martin McKeever | 7.14% | 727 | 734 | 793.88 | 795.88 | 803.12 | 926.04 | 1,048.76 | 1,269.89 |
| | Sinn Féin | Daniel Bassett | 9.79% | 997 | 998 | 1,000.88 | 1,000.88 | 1,000.88 | 1,036.24 | 1,095.60 | 1,192.80 |
| | UUP | Michael Henderson* | 7.46% | 760 | 764 | 768.92 | 786.92 | 1,001.68 | 1,039.08 | 1,059.60 | 1,077.42 |
| | SDLP | Simon Lee* | 6.44% | 656 | 662 | 683.36 | 686.36 | 688.44 | 761.64 | | |
| | Green (NI) | Jacinta Hamley | 6.44% | 656 | 667 | 675.16 | 675.16 | 677.76 | | | |
| | DUP | William Traynor | 5.17% | 527 | 528 | 528.18 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Andrew Miller | 0.48% | 49 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 18,120 Valid: 10,185 (56.21%) Spoilt: 95 Quota: 1,274 Turnout: 10,280 (56.73%) ||||||||||||

### Downshire East

2019: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
2023: 2 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP
2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from UUP
Downshire East - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | DUP | Andrew Gowan* | 26.01% | 1,798 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Uel Mackin* | 15.33% | 1,060 | 1,576.96 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Aaron McIntyre* | 15.94% | 1,102 | 1,123.96 | 1,139.00 | 1,253.00 | | |
| | Alliance | Kurtis Dickson | 14.12% | 976 | 981.04 | 985.84 | 1,147.84 | | |
| | UUP | James Baird* | 10.50% | 726 | 768.48 | 938.40 | 945.76 | 959.76 | 1,154.76 |
| | UUP | Alex Swan* | 6.97% | 482 | 498.92 | 600.36 | 605.36 | 626.36 | 749.36 |
| | TUV | Stewart Ferris | 5.73% | 396 | 428.76 | 564.12 | 566.48 | 570.48 | |
| | SDLP | John Drake | 4.51% | 312 | 314.52 | 317.08 | | | |
| Electorate: 12,763 Valid: 6,914 (54.17%) Spoilt: 62 Quota: 1,143 Turnout: 6,976 (54.66%) ||||||||||

### Downshire West

2019: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
2023: 2 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP
2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from UUP
Downshire West - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Alliance | Owen Gawith* | 23.58% | 1,693 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Gretta Thompson | 13.04% | 936 | 1,353.02 | | | | |
| | UUP | Alan Martin | 8.69% | 624 | 641.98 | 693.33 | 776.91 | 1,315.91 | |
| | DUP | Caleb McCready* | 13.87% | 996 | 1,014.56 | 1,020.85 | 1,032.40 | 1,059.86 | 1,093.46 |
| | DUP | Allan Ewart* | 13.53% | 971 | 975.06 | 987.35 | 992.81 | 1,039.51 | 1,082.56 |
| | DUP | William Leathem | 12.79% | 918 | 921.48 | 925.48 | 928.21 | 947.26 | 988.56 |
| | UUP | Liz McCord | 8.57% | 615 | 621.38 | 691.12 | 739.42 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Siobhán Murphy | 4.21% | 302 | 310.70 | | | | |
| | Green (NI) | Luke Robinson | 1.73% | 124 | 135.02 | | | | |
| Electorate: 13,284 Valid: 7,179 (54.04%) Spoilt: 72 Quota: 1,197 Turnout: 7,251 (54.58%) ||||||||||

### Killultagh

2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin
2023: 2 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP
2019–2023 Change: No change
Killultagh - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Sinn Féin | Gary McCleave* | 23.36% | 1,958 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Claire Kemp | 22.22% | 1,862 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Thomas Beckett* | 18.01% | 1,509 | | | | | |
| | DUP | James Tinsley* | 15.48% | 1,297 | 1,297.68 | 1,312.26 | 1,325.80 | 1,415.05 | |
| | UUP | Ross McLernon* | 7.80% | 654 | 657.74 | 732.80 | 765.65 | 776.78 | 1,398.14 |
| | SDLP | Jack Patton | 4.34% | 364 | 888.28 | 1,145.86 | 1,178.05 | 1,178.47 | 1,192.49 |
| | UUP | Laura Turner | 7.86% | 659 | 664.10 | 728.63 | 748.84 | 752.69 | |
| | Independent | Stuart Brown | 0.93% | 78 | 93.64 | 136.57 | | | |
| Electorate: 15,956 Valid: 8,381 (52.53%) Spoilt: 68 Quota: 1,397 Turnout: 8,449 (52.95%) ||||||||||

### Lisburn North

2019: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP
2023: 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent
2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin and Independent gain from DUP and UUP
Lisburn North - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Sinn Féin | Paul Burke † | 14.67% | 1,239 | | | | |
| | DUP | Jonathan Craig* | 14.45% | 1,220 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Nicola Parker | 13.47% | 1,137 | 1,147 | 1,900 | | |
| | SDLP | Pat Catney | 11.07% | 935 | 941 | 1,002 | 1,360 | |
| | UUP | Nicholas Trimble* | 7.43% | 627 | 1,035 | 1,070 | 1,242 | |
| | Independent | Gary Hynds | 10.54% | 890 | 933 | 946 | 1,045 | 1,162 |
| | DUP | Scott Carson* | 12.02% | 1,015 | 1,049 | 1,053 | 1,066 | 1,071 |
| | Alliance | Stephen Martin* | 10.14% | 856 | 874 | | | |
| | UUP | Linsey Gibson | 6.22% | 525 | | | | |
| Electorate: 16,680 Valid: 8,444 (50.62%) Spoilt: 89 Quota: 1,207 Turnout: 8,553 (51.28%) |||||||||

### Lisburn South

2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
2023: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP
2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from UUP
Lisburn South - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | DUP | Andrew Ewing* | 15.19% | 1,139 | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Amanda Grehan* | 14.82% | 1,111 | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Alan Givan* | 13.85% | 1,038 | 1,089.60 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Peter Kennedy | 8.99% | 674 | 674.24 | 677.30 | 707.33 | 707.55 | 949.27 | 1,324.27 | |
| | UUP | Tim Mitchell* | 11.61% | 870 | 871.44 | 962.86 | 963.58 | 965.12 | 971.12 | 1,007.29 | 1,065.29 |
| | DUP | Paul Porter* | 9.16% | 687 | 696 | 900.42 | 900.81 | 915.15 | 921.15 | 931.23 | 937.23 |
| | UUP | Jenny Palmer* | 8.34% | 625 | 628.42 | 692.90 | 693.59 | 694.27 | 706.42 | 727.48 | 745.48 |
| | Sinn Féin | Aisling Flynn | 6.58% | 493 | 493.42 | 494.42 | 494.90 | 494.94 | 671.09 | | |
| | SDLP | Dee French | 6.30% | 472 | 472.42 | 476.42 | 477.32 | 477.34 | | | |
| | TUV | Stewart McEvoy | 5.16% | 387 | 388.44 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 16,838 Valid: 7,496 (44.52%) Spoilt: 99 Quota: 1,071 Turnout: 7,595 (45.11%) ||||||||||||

## Changes during the term
### † Co-options

| Date co-opted | Electoral Area | Party | Party | Outgoing | Co-optee | Reason |
| 5 August 2024 | Castlereagh South | | Alliance | Michelle Guy | Jamie Harpur | Guy was co-opted to the Northern Ireland Assembly. |
| 1 November 2024 | Lisburn North | | Sinn Féin | Paul Burke | Declan Lynch | Burke resigned. |