Unionist Party of Northern Ireland facts for kids

The Unionist Party of Northern Ireland was a political party. It was started by Brian Faulkner in September 1974. The party aimed to bring back a way of sharing power in Northern Ireland's government. It existed for about seven years before closing down in 1981.

How the Party Started

The Unionist Party of Northern Ireland (UPNI) was formed because of disagreements within another party, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). These disagreements happened in 1973 and 1974.

The Sunningdale Agreement

One big reason for the split was the Sunningdale Agreement. This was a plan by the British government to share power in Northern Ireland. Brian Faulkner and his supporters believed in this plan. They wanted different groups to work together in the government.

Leaving the Old Party

In early 1974, Brian Faulkner was no longer the leader of the UUP. Many people in the UUP did not like the Sunningdale Agreement. Because of this, Faulkner's supporters decided to run in the February 1974 election as "Pro-Assembly Unionists." They wanted to show their support for the power-sharing idea.

Forming a New Party

However, these "Pro-Assembly Unionists" did not win any seats in the election. This made the power-sharing government fall apart. Even so, Faulkner's group stayed active. In September 1974, they officially formed their own party, the Unionist Party of Northern Ireland. They were still committed to finding a way for different groups to share power.

What Happened in Elections

The UPNI did not have much success in elections. They struggled to gain support from voters.

Early Elections

In the October 1974 election, the UPNI again found it hard to win. Not many local councillors who were elected in 1973 joined the new party. This showed that Faulkner's position within the wider Unionist community was weak.

The Constitutional Convention

The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention elections in 1975 were another tough time for the UPNI. Only five of their candidates who had been elected before managed to keep their seats. Brian Faulkner himself did not do as well as he had in his own area. This meant the UPNI and Faulkner had less influence.

New Leadership and More Elections

In 1976, Brian Faulkner stepped down as leader. He also stopped being active in politics. Anne Dickson took over as leader. She was the first woman to lead a political party in Northern Ireland. However, the party still struggled. In the 1977 local elections, the UPNI won only six local council seats.

The 1979 election was also disappointing. The UPNI's candidates sometimes split the votes of other moderate parties. This meant that their votes could accidentally help a different party win. For example, in North Belfast, Anne Dickson's votes were more than the difference between the two main parties.

The End of the Party

By 1981, the UPNI realized that their original idea of power-sharing from 1973 was no longer possible. They teamed up with another party for the 1981 local elections. But they only won two seats. Because of this, the Unionist Party of Northern Ireland officially closed down in autumn 1981.

Leadership of the Party

The party had two main leaders during its time.

Brian Faulkner

Brian Faulkner was the founder and first leader of the UPNI. He led the party from 1974 until 1976. He was a strong supporter of power-sharing in Northern Ireland. He passed away in a riding accident in 1977.

Anne Dickson

After Faulkner, Anne Dickson became the leader of the UPNI in 1976. She made history as the first woman to lead a political party in Northern Ireland. She led the party until it was dissolved in 1981.

Election results

February 1974 general election

October 1974 general election

1979 general election