Tangled Blog (Free subscription) | 03/10/2008
I feel a bit sorry for David Cameron in respect of his idea t o try and restore the link to the Ulster Unionist Party. "Attempts by the Conservative Party and the UUP to form a new political movement are facing some difficulties, Tory leader David Cameron has admitted. The Ulster Unionists' only MP, uberlibersll Lady Sylvia Hermon, has so far not committed to taking the Conservative whip. "It's a lot...
Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness (Free subscription) | 02/10/2008
I’ve encountered two attacks on the UUP / Tory talks today. One is from the perspective of Irish nationalism , penned by Fionnula O’Connor in the Irish Times. The other is written (poorly) from the ‘ourselves alone’ standpoint of the DUP and was purportedly first carried in Fortnight magazine. O’Connor’s piece is a dismissive canter through the whys and wherefores of any proposed deal. The central...
AndrewDavidCharles.co.uk (Free subscription) | 02/10/2008
As the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and Conservative Party embark on making history in a new political setup, questions have been raised about such an alliance. Will it help the UUP re-establish themselves as the main Unionist party? Or is this new relationship one of convenience, or one of political survival? As the Conservative’s look to the next general election with excitement, given recent showing...
The UK Daily Pundit (Free subscription) | 02/10/2008
I missed this story in Tuesday's edition of the Guardian : '....by Christmas there could be two Conservative ministers of the crown in the United Kingdom... Negotiations to merge the Tories with the Ulster Unionist party are now said to be advanced and could conclude by Christmas.' Not so said the Belfast Telegraph the following day: 'Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey has ruled out any formal merger...
ElBlogador.co (Free subscription) | 01/10/2008
It's not often that a politician manages to sum up perfectly a situation, but hats off to Reg Empey. The Ulster Unionist leader, speaking at the Tory conference, commented that Sinn Féin are saying "no Executive" until policing and justice is sorted at a time when the Executive could be dealing with the fuel poverty issue. He added that a package was on the table from Margaret Ritchie to help people...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 30/09/2008
At the Our Kingdom blog, Tom Griffin rounds-up the sceptical voices on the proposed UUP/Conservative Party link-up - much as fair deal did. Meanwhile, UUP leader Reg Empey was on Stormont Live today from the Conservative Party Conference and, whilst he was keen to emphasise a positive meeting with David Cameron, he was also stressing that any link-up would not be a merger and that the process was at...
THE WILTED ROSE (Free subscription) | 30/09/2008
The Conservatives are being advised by David “Lundy” Trimble, who sold out the people of Ulster with the Belfast Agreement, and then failed to deliver, and watched while terrorist prisoners were released, arms were not decommissioned, and the police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, was dismantled. Common sense Ulster people ejected Trimble even from his prosperous [...]
The Irish Times (Free subscription) | 30/09/2008
DAVID CAMERON is due to meet Reg Empey this morning to review progress in the ongoing Conservative/Ulster Unionist negotiations about the possible creation of a new Northern Ireland Conservative and Unionist Party.
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 29/09/2008
David Cameron has admitted that there are some difficulties in established the future UUP/Tory relationship. Devenport seems to focus upon where Sylvia Hermon stands. Lord Trimble’s intervention seems to have contributed to some electoral and relationship concerns . The subtext seems to be the Conservatives looking for a full merger with Ulster Unionists happier with what has been described as the...
Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness (Free subscription) | 29/09/2008
As the moment when the Ulster Unionist and Conservative parties must reveal the detail of their new relationship draws closer, perhaps some of those in the smaller party can be forgiven the odd wobble of resolve . With the modalities as yet unclear, and the stakes for the UUP undoubtedly higher, it is natural for party members to wonder whether the course their leader has set is the correct one. If,...
Redemption's Son (Free subscription) | 29/09/2008
David Trimble has emerged at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham to inform us that the Tories will be contesting every seat in the UK - with, what he hopes is forthcoming, the help of the UUP in Northern Ireland. Sunday was an unusually busy day for those of us who are following the UUP-Conservative talks as before Lord Trimble made his speech the Shadow Secretary of State, Owen Patterson,...
The Herald (Free subscription) | 29/09/2008
The Conservative Party yesterday signalled that Ulster Unionists could secure a Cabinet post in any future Tory government - although a final deal between the parties has yet to be announced.
Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness (Free subscription) | 23/09/2008
DUP anxiety about the welfare of Ulster Unionist party members has rapidly become an obsession. Previously their concern was for North Belfast MLA Fred Cobain and whether talks between the UUP and the Conservatives were upsetting for him. It soon transpired that there was nothing to worry about . Now that Cobain has become the party’s chief whip , the dupes are no longer so attentive. Instead they...
Redemption's Son (Free subscription) | 23/09/2008
Mick Fealty posted an exclusive over on Slugger yesterday, namely that the UUP MLA for Strangford, David McNarry, has been replaced as Chief Whip and moved to spokesman on Finance. The DUP have been quick to state that David McNarry has been sacked over his defence of the Orange Order when attacked by Jeffrey Peel of the Northern Ireland Conservatives. Rev. Willie McCrea has stated: That Mr. McNarry...
SAOIRSE32 (Free subscription) | 23/09/2008
Irish News 22/09/08 A senior Ulster Unionist was tonight replaced as chief whip amid claims from the DUP he was sacked after clashing with his party’s would-be partners – the UK's Conservative Party . The UUP said Strangford Assembly member David McNarry was leaving the Stormont role to concentrate on the progress of two private members bills in the devolved assembly. He is being replaced by North...
