2001 Election Results

Westminster and Local Councils

From May 2000 until March 2001 DemocraShe developed women's political skills to boost their position within political parties. In addition, it provided one-to-one media training in April and May 2001 for candidates in parliamentary and local government elections. All major political parties took part: Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Sinn Fein, Democratic Ulster Party (DUP), Alliance Party, Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) and Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition (NIWC).

Around 110 women from seven political parties spanning the entire political spectrum were trained. Nearly 70 went on to be actively involved in an election campaign including 30 who ran for office in local government; 15 were elected, an unprecedented success rate. The program helped to increase women’s representation in local government from 14% to 19%. With 50% of our candidates who ran for office winning their election, this was an unprecedented success rate.

The 2001 General Election saw the unprecedented situation of three women elected to Westminster. One of these women was trained by DemocraShe.

Lady Sylvia Herman of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
Michele Gildernew of Sinn Fein
Iris Robinson of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

Another, Bríd Rodgers of the SDLP, was also a prominent contender. Michele Gildernew paid tribute to NIWI for the DemocraShe training that prepared her for the 2001 contest.