Ulster Unionist Party facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ulster Unionist Party
Abbreviation	UUP
Leader	Doug Beattie
Chairman	Jill Macauley
Deputy leader	Robbie Butler
Founded	3 March 1905
Preceded by	Irish Unionist Alliance
Headquarters	Strandtown Hall 2–4 Belmont Road Belfast BT4 2AN
Youth wing	Young Unionists
Women's wing	Ulster Women's Unionist Council
Ideology	British unionism Conservatism
Political position	Centre-right
European affiliation	European Conservatives and Reformists Party (Global partner)
National affiliation	Conservative Party (1922–1972; 2009–2012)
Colours	Blue
Slogan	For the Union
House of Commons (NI seats)	Parliament dissolved
House of Lords	2 / 777
NI Assembly	9 / 90
Local government in Northern Ireland	53 / 462
Politics of Northern Ireland Political parties

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is a political party in Northern Ireland. It supports keeping Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom. The party started in 1905 as the Ulster Unionist Council. It grew from another group called the Irish Unionist Alliance.

A famous leader, Edward Carson, led the party against the idea of "Home Rule" for Ireland. This was a plan to give Ireland more control over its own laws. After Ireland was divided in 1921, the UUP was the main ruling party in Northern Ireland for over 50 years, until 1972. During the time of conflict known as the Troubles, many people called it the Official Unionist Party.

Later, under David Trimble, the UUP helped create the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. This agreement was a big step towards ending the conflict. Trimble became the first First Minister of Northern Ireland. However, in 2003, another party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), became the largest unionist party. Today, the UUP is the fourth-largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Since 2017, the party has not had any members in the UK Parliament in London. Doug Beattie has been the party's leader since 2021.

For many years, from 1905 to 1972, UUP politicians in the UK Parliament worked closely with the Conservative Party. They were almost like the Northern Ireland branch of that party. This changed in 1972 because of disagreements over a plan called the Sunningdale Agreement. The two parties have mostly stayed separate since then.

What is the Ulster Unionist Party's History?

The Ulster Unionist Party officially began as the Ulster Unionist Council in 1905.

How did the UUP Begin? (1886-1905)

The idea of organised unionism grew after 1886. This was when William Ewart Gladstone tried to introduce "Home Rule Bills" for Ireland. These bills would have given Ireland more power to govern itself. In 1891, a new group called the Irish Unionist Alliance (IUA) was formed. It brought together different unionist groups. Most of its support came from Ulster, which is now Northern Ireland.

In 1904, the government suggested some limited self-rule for Ireland. Unionists were worried about this. So, in March 1905, the Ulster Unionist Council was created. This group later became the Ulster Unionist Party. It aimed to bring together local political activities.

The Early Years of the UUP (1905-1921)

From the start, the UUP had strong ties with the Orange Order. This is a Protestant group. Many Orange Order members were part of the Ulster Unionist Council.

The early leaders of the Ulster unionists were not all from Northern Ireland. Edward Carson, a politician from Dublin, became the first leader of the Ulster Unionist Party in 1910. He strongly fought against Irish Home Rule. He also helped create the Ulster Volunteers in 1912. This was a group formed to oppose Home Rule.

In 1912, the Liberal Unionist Party joined with the Conservatives. This led to the Conservative Party being called the "Conservative and Unionist Party." The UUP was formally linked to them for many years.

After a plan for Home Rule failed, Ireland was divided in 1920 by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. This created Northern Ireland. The UUP then took control of the new government there in 1921. Carson did not want Ireland to be divided. He refused to become the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Instead, Sir James Craig became the leader of the UUP and Northern Ireland.

Carson inspecting the UVF before 1914.

The Stormont Era: A Time of Power (1920-1972)

For most of its time in power, the UUP was led by wealthy landowners and important business people. All but 11 of the 149 UUP politicians in the Northern Ireland Parliament (called Stormont) were members of the Orange Order. All the Prime Ministers were also members.

Sir James Craig led the Northern Ireland government from its beginning until he died in 1940. His successor, J. M. Andrews, was criticised for choosing older politicians for his government. In 1943, Andrews resigned and Sir Basil Brooke became Prime Minister.

Lord Brookeborough was Prime Minister for a long time. He retired in 1963. Terence O'Neill then became the leader.

Changes and Challenges (1963-1972)

In the 1960s, people started to campaign for civil rights in Northern Ireland. They wanted fairer housing and voting rules. O'Neill tried to make some changes, but this caused big arguments within the UUP. The party became very divided. O'Neill resigned in 1969.

James Chichester-Clark took over as leader. He continued to make reforms. But public unrest grew. In August 1969, there were big riots in Derry. Chichester-Clark resigned in 1971 after the British government refused to send more military help. Brian Faulkner became the next leader.

Faulkner's government faced many challenges. After an event called Bloody Sunday in 1972, the British government decided to take control of security in Northern Ireland. Faulkner and his government resigned. The British government then suspended, and later closed, the Parliament of Northern Ireland. This led to "Direct Rule" from London.

Some liberal unionists left the UUP and formed the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland in 1970. Also, Ian Paisley's Protestant Unionist Party started to gain support from some working-class unionists.

The UUP After Direct Rule (1972-1995)

Ulster Unionist Party, 1974.

In 1973, the UUP won most seats in a new Assembly. However, the party was divided over the Sunningdale Agreement. This agreement aimed to create a power-sharing government. The UUP leader, Brian Faulkner, led this new government. But many in the party were against the agreement. Faulkner was eventually replaced, and he formed his own party.

Harry West led the Ulster Unionists from 1974 to 1979. In the February 1974 election, the UUP joined with other unionist parties. They won 11 out of 12 seats in Northern Ireland. This strong opposition led to the collapse of the power-sharing government.

Before 1972, UUP politicians in the UK Parliament usually voted with the Conservative Party. They acted like the Conservative Party's branch in Northern Ireland. But in 1972, they stopped this alliance to protest the closing of the Northern Ireland Parliament. In 1985, they also left a larger Conservative group because of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Since then, the Conservative Party has tried to organise separately in Northern Ireland, but with little success.

Under James Molyneaux (1979–95), the party gained members from other unionist groups that had split up.

David Trimble's Leadership (1995-2005)

David Trimble led the UUP from 1995 to 2005. His support for the Belfast Agreement caused a split within the party. Some members supported the agreement, while others did not. Trimble became the First Minister of Northern Ireland in the power-sharing government created by the agreement.

In 2005, the Orange Order decided to end its official ties with the UUP. Trimble faced criticism from the Orange Order for attending a Catholic funeral. This funeral was for a young boy killed in the Omagh bombing. To show unity, Trimble and the President of Ireland Mary McAleese walked into the church together.

In the 2001 election, the UUP lost several seats in the UK Parliament. Their problems continued in the 2005 election. They lost five of their six seats. David Trimble himself lost his seat and resigned as party leader. Reg Empey then became the new leader.

Reg Empey's Leadership (2005-2010)

In 2006, UUP leader Empey tried to create a new group in the Northern Ireland Assembly. This group would have included the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP). Many in the UUP, including their only remaining UK Parliament member, Sylvia Hermon, were against this idea.

The party lost 9 seats in the 2007 Assembly election. They kept 18 members.

In 2009, the UUP and the Conservative Party announced they would work more closely together. They agreed to run joint candidates in elections under the name "Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force" (UCUNF). This meant UUP politicians could sit in a Conservative government again. However, Sylvia Hermon, the UUP's only UK Parliament member, was against this. She resigned from the party in 2010 and ran as an independent candidate.

Because of this, the UUP had no members in the UK Parliament for the first time since it was created. In the 2010 election, the UCUNF group won no seats.

After the election, Empey resigned as leader. Tom Elliott became the new leader. Some people thought his election meant the UUP was moving to a more traditional, right-wing position.

The UUP in the 2010s (2011-2021)

UUP Headquarters – Strandtown Hall, Belfast

The party lost two seats in the 2011 Assembly elections. They also lost seats in local elections.

Tom Elliott resigned in March 2012. He said some people had not given him a fair chance to develop the party. Mike Nesbitt was elected leader on 31 March 2012.

In the 2014 European election, Jim Nicholson kept his seat as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). The party also gained 15 seats in the local elections that same day.

In the 2015 general election, the UUP returned to the UK Parliament. They won two seats.

In 2016, the UUP decided not to join the Northern Ireland government. Instead, they formed an official opposition. This was the first time the UUP was not part of the devolved government.

In the 2016 vote on leaving the European Union, the UUP was the only unionist party to support staying in the EU.

In the 2017 general election, the UUP lost both of its UK Parliament seats. They failed to win any other seats.

In the 2019 local elections, the UUP won 75 council seats, which was 13 fewer than in 2014. They also lost their only MEP in the 2019 European Parliament elections. Steve Aiken became leader in November 2019.

The party did not win any seats in the 2019 general election. The UUP currently has no members in the UK Parliament.

Doug Beattie's Leadership (2021-Present)

Steve Aiken resigned in May 2021. Doug Beattie was elected as the new leader on 17 May 2021. Beattie, a former soldier, is seen as a more modern unionist. People thought he might help the party win back support from the middle ground.

After Beattie became leader, several new members joined the party. However, in October 2021, a UUP councillor resigned. He said it was because of Beattie's "liberal values."

In January 2022, Beattie apologised for some controversial jokes he had made on social media before he became a politician.

In the 2022 Assembly election, the UUP won 9 seats. This was one less than in 2017.

In the 2023 local elections, the UUP ran 101 candidates. They promised things like "city and growth deals" and "below inflation rate rises." They won 54 councillors, which was 21 fewer than in 2019. After these losses, Beattie said that unionism was likely to "take a hit" because of gains made by Sinn Féin.

For the upcoming 2024 general election, the UUP has said they will not make an agreement to work with the Democratic Unionist Party. Robbie Butler, the UUP's deputy leader, said that politics is about "maximising and having confidence in your own voice." In January 2024, it was announced that Tim Collins, a former soldier, had joined the UUP. He will be a candidate for the North Down area.

In May 2024, a councillor left the UUP. He said the party was run "like a dictatorship" after a decision to change the Health Minister.

Who are the Leaders of the UUP?

Image	Name	Time as Leader		Notes
	Colonel Edward Saunderson	1905	1906	Also led the Irish Unionist Party
	Walter Hume Long	1906	1910	Also led the Irish Unionist Party
	Sir Edward Carson	1910	1921	Also led the Irish Unionist Party
	The Viscount Craigavon	1921	1940	First Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
	J. M. Andrews	1940	1943	Second Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
	The Viscount Brookeborough	1943	1963	Third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
	Captain Terence O'Neill	1963	1969	Fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
	James Chichester-Clark	1969	1971	Fifth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
	Brian Faulkner	1971	1974	Sixth and final Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
	Harry West	1974	1979
	James Molyneaux	1979	1995
	David Trimble	1995	2005	First Minister of Northern Ireland
	Sir Reg Empey	2005	2010
	Tom Elliott	2010	2012
	Mike Nesbitt	2012	2017
	Robin Swann	2017	2019
	Steve Aiken	2019	2021
	Doug Beattie	2021	present

How is the UUP Organised?

The UUP is built around the Ulster Unionist Council. Until 2004, this council was the only official part of the party. Now, the UUP is its own organisation, but the Council is still the main decision-making body. All UUP members are part of the Ulster Unionist Council. They can vote for the leader and on important party decisions.

Each area in Northern Ireland has a UUP group. These groups are made up of smaller local branches. There are also four special groups: the Ulster Women's Unionist Council, the Ulster Young Unionist Council, the Westminster Unionist Association (for members in Great Britain), and the Ulster Unionist Councillors Association. Each of these groups sends members to the executive committee, which helps run the party.

The UUP had a formal link with the Orange Order from its start until 2005. The Orange Order ended this connection in 2004.

What is the UUP's Youth Wing?

The UUP has a youth group called the Young Unionists. It was restarted in 2004 by young members. There is also a Young Unionist student group at Queen's University Belfast.

Who are the UUP's Representatives?

Members of the UK Parliament

The UUP lost its two seats in the 2017 election. They did not win any seats in the 2019 election either.

Members of the House of Lords (as of June 2017):

• The Lord Empey
• The Lord Rogan

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in May 2022:

• Steve Aiken – South Antrim
• Andy Allen – Belfast East
• Doug Beattie – Upper Bann
• Robbie Butler – Lagan Valley
• Alan Chambers – North Down
• Tom Elliott – Fermanagh and South Tyrone
• Mike Nesbitt – Strangford
• John Stewart – East Antrim
• Robin Swann – North Antrim

Northern Ireland Government Ministers

Party Spokespersons

These people speak for the party on different topics:

Party Officers

These are the current main people in charge of the party:

How has the UUP Performed in Elections?

UK Parliament Elections

Map showing election results in Northern Ireland for the UK Parliament from 1997 to 2019.

Election	UK Parliament	Share of votes	Seats Won	Change	Outcome
1922	32nd	57.2%	10 / 13	10	Part of Government (with Conservative)
1923	33rd	49.4%	10 / 13		In Opposition
1924	34th	83.8%	10 / 13		Part of Government (with Conservative)
1929	35th	68.0%	9 / 13	1	In Opposition
1931	36th	56.1%	11 / 13	2	Part of National government
1935	37th	64.9%	9 / 13	2	Part of National government
1945	38th	61.0%	9 / 13		In Opposition
1950	39th	62.8%	10 / 12	1	In Opposition
1951	40th	59.4%	9 / 12	1	Part of Government (with Conservative)
1955	41st	68.5%	10 / 12	1	Part of Government (with Conservative)
1959	42nd	77.2%	12 / 12	2	Part of Government (with Conservative)
1964	43rd	63.2%	12 / 12		In Opposition
1966	44th	61.8%	9 / 12	3	In Opposition
1970	45th	54.3%	8 / 12		Part of Government (with Conservative) until 1973.
Feb 1974	46th	32.3%	7 / 12	1	In Opposition
Oct 1974	47th	36.5%	6 / 12	1	In Opposition
1979	48th	36.6%	5 / 12	1	In Opposition
1983	49th	34.0%	11 / 17	6	In Opposition
1987	50th	37.8%	9 / 17	2	In Opposition
1992	51st	34.5%	9 / 17		In Opposition
1997	52nd	32.7%	10 / 18	1	In Opposition
2001	53rd	26.7%	6 / 18	4	In Opposition
2005	54th	17.7%	1 / 18	5	In Opposition
2010	55th	15.2%	0 / 18	1	N/A
2015	56th	16.0%	2 / 18	2	In Opposition
2017	57th	10.3%	0 / 18	2	N/A
2019	58th	11.7%	0 / 18		N/A

Northern Ireland Assembly Elections

Local Government Elections

European Parliament Elections

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See Also

• Ulster Unionist Party politicians
• List of Ulster Unionist Party peers
• List of Ulster Unionist Party MPs
• Ulster Unionist Chief Whip
• Ulster Unionist Party Presidents and General Secretaries