BBC Profile:
Since 1966, this seat has been held by Nationalist MPs. Apart from a five-year Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) interlude between 1992 and 1997, Gerry Adams has held this seat since winning it for Sinn Fein from the SDLP's Gerry Fitt in 1983.

In the general election of 2005 a swing of 4.4% from the SDLP handed Adams a 19,315 vote lead, the fourth-biggest percentage majority in the UK.

At this election, the seat gains one ward and part of another from the Lagan Valley constituency, Dunmurry and the part of Derriaghy north of the boundary with Lagmore. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result above.

This constituency is overwhelmingly Catholic and nationalist with the highest proportion of Catholics of any Northern Ireland seat.

West Belfast has the highest proportion of unskilled workers in Northern Ireland, plus the highest number of partly-skilled and of skilled non-manual workers in Belfast as well as the smallest proportion of professionals. The Royal Victoria Hospital is the largest single employer.

The area has placed great emphasis on boosting the local economy through tourism based around its history during the Troubles. Tours around the famous murals of the Falls and Shankill and other political curiosities, often in one of the city's famous black cabs, are among the most popular tourist attractions in Belfast.

Rallings & Thrash

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BBC Profile:
Since 1966, this seat has been held by Nationalist MPs. Apart from a five-year Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) interlude between 1992 and 1997, Gerry Adams has held this seat since winning it for Sinn Fein from the SDLP's Gerry Fitt in 1983.

In the general election of 2005 a swing of 4.4% from the SDLP handed Adams a 19,315 vote lead, the fourth-biggest percentage majority in the UK.

At this election, the seat gains one ward and part of another from the Lagan Valley constituency, Dunmurry and the part of Derriaghy north of the boundary with Lagmore. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result above.

This constituency is overwhelmingly Catholic and nationalist with the highest proportion of Catholics of any Northern Ireland seat.

West Belfast has the highest proportion of unskilled workers in Northern Ireland, plus the highest number of partly-skilled and of skilled non-manual workers in Belfast as well as the smallest proportion of professionals. The Royal Victoria Hospital is the largest single employer.

The area has placed great emphasis on boosting the local economy through tourism based around its history during the Troubles. Tours around the famous murals of the Falls and Shankill and other political curiosities, often in one of the city's famous black cabs, are among the most popular tourist attractions in Belfast.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
No Boundary Changes

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