[2] Following Sands' victory and death shortly afterwards, the British government passed the Representation of the People Act barring prisoners from standing for Parliament.

Instead Owen Carron, who had served as Sands' agent in the earlier election, was nominated as an "Anti-H-Block Proxy Political Prisoner".

Maginnis was on the liberal wing of the party, and was unusual amongst Ulster Unionist candidates in that he had never been a member of the Orange Order.

Two fringe candidates also stood: Martin Green on a "General Amnesty" ticket and Simon Hall-Raleigh as "The Peace Lover.

[2] Compared to the April election, turnout rose by 1.7%, whilst there were over two and a half thousand fewer spoilt papers.