PUP’s future in doubt as leader Ervine quits
Brian Ervine (brother of David Ervine) has put his name forward selection as PUP leader. picture:Diane Magill
BRIAN Ervine has announced he will be standing down as Progressive Unionist Party leader within days.
His imminent departure has raised questions over the party’s future and its Belfast office remained closed yesterday.
The east Belfast politician, who failed to win a seat in last month’s assembly election, had been forced to resign from his job teaching literacy to young adults due to strict rules on political activity.
No PUP MLAs means the party has no source of income and accounts published by the Electoral Commission show it ran a deficit of £57,000 last year.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Ervine says he will probably remain a party member but would be relinquishing the leadership in order to resume his teaching career.
“The party understands completely. Basically, if we didn’t win an assembly seat it was going to be very difficult, but we still have two local councillors so the party will continue at branch level,” he said.
Mr Ervine, who was elected PUP leader following the resignation of Dawn Purvis over the UVF murder of Bobby Moffett, said he was concerned any collapse of the party will breed “alienation, frustration and resentment” in working-class Protestant areas.
“It will also be an opportunity for those scoundrels who use patriotism and wrap themselves in a flag as a cloak for drug dealing and racketeering. I hope those elected in east Belfast will step into the breach, engage with people and give them a voice.”
Accusing the mainstream unionist parties of “cynically manipulating” the working-class communities, Mr Ervine added: “The future of the PUP isn’t looking good and if the loyalist communities are left unrepresented that would be a crying shame.”
East Belfast GP and PUP councillor Dr John Kyle served as interim party leader prior to Mr Ervine’s appointment.
He said his successor, the brother of late PUP chief David, did “a great job” as leader.
“He did better than anybody expected but we failed to get him elected. It puts a question mark over whether we can continue to function as a political party.”
Mr Kyle added: “The mainstream unionist parties have an abysmal record on the issues affecting working-class areas so I hope this isn’t the end of the PUP.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
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