Ulster Conservatives and Unionists explained

Country:Northern Ireland
Ulster Conservatives and Unionists
Leader1 Title:Ulster Unionist Leader
Leader1 Name:Sir Reg Empey MLA (2009-10)
Tom Elliott MLA (2010-12)
Leader2 Title:Conservative Leader
Leader2 Name:David Cameron MP (2009-12)
Foundation:2009
Dissolved:2012
Position:Centre-right
International:International Democrat Union
Blank1 Title:Member parties
Blank1:Ulster Unionist Party
Conservative Party
Europarl:European Conservatives and Reformists
Colours: Light blue

The Ulster Conservatives and Unionists, officially registered as the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force (UCUNF), was an electoral alliance in Northern Ireland between the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Conservative Party.[1]

2009 European Parliament campaign

The alliance was launched in 2009.[2] Conservatives and Unionists candidates were first selected for the 2009 European Parliament election.[3] The first candidate to stand for election using this description was Ulster Unionist Jim Nicholson,[4] who polled 82,893 votes, 17.0% of the total, and was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP).

2010 UK general election campaign

On 24 February 2010, the alliance announced 9 of the 18 candidates who were to run in the 2010 United Kingdom general election.[5] The UUP's sole Member of Parliament (MP) from the 2005 general election, Sylvia, Lady Hermon for North Down, had expressed public dissatisfaction with the arrangement since early 2009,[6] and left the UUP in March 2010, deciding to contest the forthcoming general election as an Independent.[7] As such, the alliance had no incumbent MPs. On 7 April 2010 the candidate for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Tom Elliott, withdrew in favour of Independent Rodney Connor, leaving that constituency without a Unionist Party candidate.[8]

The Conservative and UUP alliance failed to gain any seats in the election. The UUP lost their only seat in North Down to Hermon's independent campaign, and Connor also lost Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Across Northern Ireland, the joint share of the vote was 15.2%.

End of the alliance

After failed calls for the UUP to disband and join the Conservatives, the Conservatives in Northern Ireland were relaunched as NI Conservatives on 14 June 2012.[9]

In October 2023, Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie attended Conservative Party conference in Manchester.[10]

Electoral results

Westminster

ElectionHouse of CommonsShare of votesSeatsalign=center +/-Outcome
201015.2% 1No seats

Stormont

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Can rebranded Northern Ireland Conservatives deliver? . BBC News . 14 June 2012.
  2. News: Conservative quits over UUP pact . The BBC . London . BBC . NI . 6 March 2009 . 16 June 2012.
  3. Web site: UUP / Conservative talks – What it means for you? . Ulster Unionist Party . 12 January 2009.
  4. Web site: European Election 2009 results . Electoral Office of Northern Ireland.
  5. News: Tories and UUP agree candidates . BBC News . 24 February 2010.
  6. News: Hermon: why she rejected Tory deal. 14 May 2009. Belfast Telegraph.
  7. News: MP Lady Sylvia Hermon quits Ulster Unionists . 25 March 2010 . 14 April 2010 . BBC News .
  8. News: Unionists agree NI constituency pact . RTÉ News . 7 April 2010.
  9. News: NI Conservatives launch as fresh, centre-right party, in Belfast . NI Conservatives . Belfast . Owen . Polley . 14 June 2012 . 15 June 2012.
  10. Web site: 2023-10-03 . Staying out of Stormont for 18 months has achieved absolutely nothing, says Doug Beattie as he attends Tory conference . 2023-10-07 . Yahoo News . en-GB.