Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness (Free subscription) | 03/12/2008
It was only a matter of time, but the DUP has decided to attack Sir Reg Empey because an obscure Conservative member of Croydon Council has a shadowy past , including a connection with the IRA. No matter that none of her colleagues had any inkling Maria Gatland had anything to hide, never mind that she immediately resigned her post and has since been suspended from the council’s Conservative group....
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 26/11/2008
UUP leader Reg Empey mentioned his party’s reservations over the Education Bill , and the way it appeared, on yesterday’s Stormont Live and today the Belfast Telegraph has more on the UUP opposition to the detail, but not the principle, of the legislation. Meanwhile, at the Assembly’s Education Committee, attempts by government officials to reassure voluntary grammars that, following the proposed transfer...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 25/11/2008
On Stormont Live today, UUP leader, and Employment Minister, Reg Empey was critical of the way the Northern Ireland Executive had resumed doing business. Meanwhile, during his appearance, Finance Minister, the DUP’s Nigel Dodds, was critical of the Assembly’s Business Committee.
SAOIRSE32 (Free subscription) | 21/11/2008
Belfast Telegraph Friday, 21 November 2008 Sinn Fein has forced the Democratic Unionists to accelerate the devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster, rival unionists claimed today. Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said the deal unveiled by the two parties this week amounted to Sinn Fein "bringing the DUP to heel". Sir Reg's comments came after his party last night agreed a new...
Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness (Free subscription) | 21/11/2008
I hailed the joint statement from David Cameron and Sir Reg Empey, in which the two leaders’ intention to forge a Conservative and Ulster Unionist political movement was announced, back in July. From its inception, I predicted that the two party working group set up to further these aims would encounter difficulties, but that the higher purpose behind it should prevail. At the moment Sir Reg Empey...
ConservativeHome's ToryDiary (Free subscription) | 20/11/2008
The Belfast News Letter and BBC Northern Ireland are reporting that tonight the Ulster Unionist Party's executive committee will be meeting to decide on its future relationship with the Conservative Party. Back in July, UUP leader Sir Reg Empey and...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 16/11/2008
Also from today’s Politics Show . Ulster Unionist Party leader Reg Empey seemed better prepared, than on Tuesday’s Stormont Live , to answer the question about “where stands things” with the UUP/Conservatives “electoral pact” , while the DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson did his best to introduce troublesome talking points for his former party [and its leader - Ed] .
BBC News (Free subscription) | 14/11/2008
University tuition fees could rise by as much as £80 under proposals by the Employment and Learning minister, Sir Reg Empey.
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 11/11/2008
Another statement, along with Turgon’s noting of Owen Paterson’s comments , to throw into the apparent confusion around the UUP/Conservatives “electoral pact”. On Stormont Live today Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey was asked “where stands things with the Ulster Unionists and Conservatives today'” [Was that a ‘nose tell’? - Ed] Or just an itchy nose..
Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness (Free subscription) | 10/11/2008
More speculation in the Irish Times that progress is imminent as regards Sir Reg Empey and David Cameron’s efforts to forge a new Conservative and Ulster Unionist political movement. Frank Millar reports that the two leaders have agreed to create a ‘joint Conservative-Unionist committee to oversee the forthcoming European and Westminster elections, with Mr Cameron and Sir Reg jointly nominating candidates’....
Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness (Free subscription) | 05/11/2008
If there is any lingering suspicion that Sir Reg Empey struck an electoral pact with the TUV, Jim Allister’s latest remark about the European election should dispel it. “A vote for any unionist other than a TUV candidate will be interpreted as an endorsement of Sinn Fein/IRA's place in government.” Whatever talks took place, the two parties are not on the same page.
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 15/10/2008
Liam Clarke claims that the UUP’s sole sitting MP Sylvia Hermon has: “… made it crystal clear that she will neither take the Tory whip nor stand aside for another candidate.” He argues that the UUP/Tory talks on marriage/f*ck buddies/good friends must be in serious trouble if Sir Reg Empey says: “...some people thought the Ulster Unionist Party was left at the side of the road for dead. Well we are...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 14/10/2008
Sir Reg Empey has denied that the UUP has made an electoral pact with the TUV : With the European election, as the next scheduled election, coming up in June, we agreed on the priority of retaining two unionist representatives in Europe. This should be the overriding priority of all unionists in respect of this election. Such is only attainable by full utilisation of transfers between the unionist...
Redemption's Son (Free subscription) | 14/10/2008
Sir Reg Empey MLA and Jim Allister MEP, respective leaders of the UUP and TUV, have held talks to discuss a unionist voting strategy for the upcoming Europeon Election to be held in June 2009. From Jim Allister's website : ”Leadership delegations from the Ulster Unionist Party and Traditional Unionist Voice have met to review the unfolding political situation and to discuss ways of maximising the Unionist...
ireland.com (Free subscription) | 11/10/2008
The Stormont Executive may not meet before the end of this year, according to Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey.
