LABOUR POLITICS IN WEST BELFAST, 1918-83

A one-day conference

Friday 16 January 2026, 10am to 4pm, Institute of Irish Studies, 27 University Square

Labour had a chequered history in the West Belfast constituency over this period. Harry Midgley came very close to winning the West Belfast Westminster seat in 1923 and 1924. Jack Beattie was elected Westminster MP (1943-50; 1951-55), as was Gerry Fitt (1966-83), both winning their seats from a Unionist. Harry Diamond, Billy Boyd and Paddy Devlin were elected Stormont MPs for the area at different times. While these individuals were elected under different Labour banners from the Northern Ireland Labour Party to the Republican Labour Party, from the Socialist Republican Party to the Irish Labour Party and to Independent Labour – all were in the mainstream Labour tradition. The conference traces the resilience of this tradition in the constituency.

Speakers at the conference will include Connal Parr, Anne Devlin, Graham Walker, Boyd Black, Henry Patterson. A full programme will follow. Tea and coffee will be provided on the day.

This seminar will be available in hybrid form, in-person and online via Teams. 

Please register here