Ulster Unionist Party leadership election, 2010
Encyclopedia
An election for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP) was held on 22 September 2010.
, in which Reg Empey
was successful. Empey formed an electoral coalition with the Conservative Party
, but the UUP's only MP resigned from the party, and the coalition won no seats in the UK general election, 2010. Following the election, some party members urged him to remain leader but, on 15 May, Empey announced that he would resign in time for an election to be completed by the party's annual conference, in October or November. On 9 August 2010, it was announced that Empey would resign on 22 September 2010 and that the election would be held the same day. Nominations are due by 31 August 2010.
named five potential candidates for the leadership: Tom Elliott
, Danny Kennedy
, Basil McCrea
, Michael McGimpsey
and David McNarry
.
Kennedy reportedly ruled himself out on 14 June 2010. Elliott announced on 22 June 2010 he would stand in the election, stating that he had a "vision for a progressive party". He was flanked by Kennedy, McNarry and McGimpsey when he announced, as well as by Mike Nesbitt
and Assembly Chief Whip
Fred Cobain
. McCrea officially announced his intention to stand on 23 August 2010.
. While Kennedy repeatedly called for a pact or an alliance with the DUP, McCrea was strongly against it, claiming that such an alliance would only increase voter support for SF in the republican camp.
Elliott stated on 25 August 2010 that he was also opposed to a single Unionist party and that he would seek to reform the electoral link with the Conservative Party in order that candidates would stand as UUP and not Ulster Conservatives and Unionists - New Force.
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
(UUP) was held on 22 September 2010.
Background
Following poor results in the UK general election, 2005, the UUP held a leadership electionUlster Unionist Party leadership election, 2005
The 2005 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election began on 7 May 2005 when David Trimble resigned as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party following his party's poor performance in the 2005 general election when it lost all but one of its seats, including Trimble's own...
, in which Reg Empey
Reg Empey
Reginald Norman Morgan Empey, Baron Empey of Shandon, OBE, – known as Sir Reg Empey prior to 2011 – is a former Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for East Belfast...
was successful. Empey formed an electoral coalition with the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, but the UUP's only MP resigned from the party, and the coalition won no seats in the UK general election, 2010. Following the election, some party members urged him to remain leader but, on 15 May, Empey announced that he would resign in time for an election to be completed by the party's annual conference, in October or November. On 9 August 2010, it was announced that Empey would resign on 22 September 2010 and that the election would be held the same day. Nominations are due by 31 August 2010.
Potential candidates
In May 2010, BBC NewsBBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
named five potential candidates for the leadership: Tom Elliott
Tom Elliott
Tom Elliott MLA is a Northern Ireland Ulster Unionist MLA and the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and former UDR member...
, Danny Kennedy
Danny Kennedy
Danny Kennedy MLA is a unionist politician in Northern Ireland a former deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Group and current Minister for Regional Development.-Background:...
, Basil McCrea
Basil McCrea
Basil McCrea MLA is a unionist politician in Northern Ireland. He was elected in 2007 to the Northern Ireland Assembly as a Ulster Unionist Party member for Lagan Valley. He unsuccessfully contested the 2005 UK General Election in Lagan Valley for the UUP...
, Michael McGimpsey
Michael McGimpsey
Michael McGimpsey MLA is an Ulster Unionist Party Member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast South who has twice served in the Northern Ireland Executive...
and David McNarry
David McNarry
David McNarry MLA is a Unionist politician from Northern Ireland. He stood for the Ulster Unionist Party in North Down in the 1982 Assembly elections but failed to be elected. He is now a UUP MLA for Strangford, elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. He is currently UUP chief whip...
.
Kennedy reportedly ruled himself out on 14 June 2010. Elliott announced on 22 June 2010 he would stand in the election, stating that he had a "vision for a progressive party". He was flanked by Kennedy, McNarry and McGimpsey when he announced, as well as by Mike Nesbitt
Mike Nesbitt
Michael Nesbitt MLA is a politician, journalist and former broadcaster from Northern Ireland. He is married to broadcaster, and former on-screen colleague, Lynda Bryans.-Broadcasting career:...
and Assembly Chief Whip
Ulster Unionist Chief Whip
This is a list of people who served as Chief Whip of the Ulster Unionist Party in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Parliament of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Assembly.-Parliament of the United Kingdom:...
Fred Cobain
Fred Cobain
Fred Cobain, MBE is a Unionist politician from Northern Ireland and was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 1998 until 2011.Cobain was first elected to Belfast City Council in 1985. He served as Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1990-1991...
. McCrea officially announced his intention to stand on 23 August 2010.
Policy divide
One of the most prominent issues in the leadership choice was relations with the other major unionist party, the Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
. While Kennedy repeatedly called for a pact or an alliance with the DUP, McCrea was strongly against it, claiming that such an alliance would only increase voter support for SF in the republican camp.
Elliott stated on 25 August 2010 that he was also opposed to a single Unionist party and that he would seek to reform the electoral link with the Conservative Party in order that candidates would stand as UUP and not Ulster Conservatives and Unionists - New Force.
Results
| Name | Votes | % share |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Elliot | 643 | 68.62 |
| Basil McCrea | 294 | 31.37 |
| Total | 937 | 100 |