UUP to finalise candidates as DUP link rejected
THE Ulster Unionists' rejection of a pact with the DUP at Tuesday night's UUP executive meeting was unanimous, it has emerged as the party works towards having all Westminster candidates in place within three weeks.
It is understood that when a motion rejecting 'bogus' unionist unity talks with the DUP was put to the UUP's decision-making body it was adopted without any of the more than 100 members present objecting.
The executive meeting was also told that the joint UUP-Tory committee would meet on February 19 to finalise candidates for the 18 Westminster seats and the UUP executive would meet the following day to ratify the selections.
The outcome of the executive meeting appears to have eased frictions which had developed both within the UUP and with its electoral partner the Conservative Party over secret Orange Order-hosted talks with the DUP about uniting the two parties, and the delay in selecting candidates.
Larne Councillor Andy Wilson, who tabled the motion discussed at Tuesday's executive, said that the statement had been put to the meeting as many rank-and-file members feared there was "too much drift" in the party position.
"There was a feeling that we needed to clarify what was going on. We wanted to give the leadership a flavour of what the grassroots in our branch were thinking," he said.
A UUP member who is close to the DUP described the mood at Tuesday's meeting as "vitriolically" anti-DUP.
He said that he had been surprised at the level of anger expressed towards the DUP, partly because individuals believed the DUP had leaked details of the Hatfield House UUP-DUP-Conservative talks to deflect attention from the Robinson scandal.
UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy, who is seen to be more open to closer ties with the DUP, said that there was "never any prospect of merger seriously discussed on our part" but said that amid the current uncertainty at Stormont it made sense to "continue discussions about issues of mutual concern".
Another UUP MLA who was at the meeting said that a merger with the DUP "is just not going to happen in the foreseeable future" while an MLA who was not at the meeting said that he felt the issue would not be revisited.
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said that the executive had been unhappy at reporting of the potential for a UUP-DUP merger, something which he said was not on the cards.
"If there's anything of substance, we will bring that back to the executive but there is general support for closer co-operation (between the DUP and UUP)," he said.
"The one place where we should be co-operating more is in the (Stormont) Executive.
"But you can only bring people together where their policies and values coincide."
Another UUP veteran who was at Tuesday's meeting said that Sir Reg Empey's leadership had been criticised by some at the meeting.
"He was criticised on the basis that he was going about doing things without consulting the executive.
"But the leader is elected to lead – he can't be going to the executive every day for approval."
He added that there was support for "working closer with the DUP in the Assembly" but said that any plan to amalgamate was out of the question.
There has been substantial internal disquiet among local Tories at the UUP-DUP talks but Tim Lewis, chairman of the local Conservative Party, said that the outcome of Tuesday's meeting had buoyed the partnership.
Speculation has mounted that David Cameron may abandon the electoral alliance as Labour had begun to attack the Tory-organised Hatfield House talks.
But Mr Lewis said: "We are delighted to welcome this overwhelming re-affirmation of support for the partnership to which both parties have committed.
"We look forward to being able to focus on delivering our message of change to all the people of Northern Ireland as Conservatives and Unionists, supporting David Cameron in becoming the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom."
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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