UUP leader rejects Tory merger plan

The leader of the Ulster Unionists has rejected a British Conservative Party proposal that they disband and become a Northern Ireland wing of the Tories.

The two parties fought the last general election on a joint ticket in the North, but failed to win a single seat in the region.

Now Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott has publicly rejected the Conservative Party’s surprise proposal for a full merger, which is said to have had the backing of British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The latest development follows a poor general election campaign when the two parties fought under the title of Ulster Conservative and Unionist New Force (UCUNF).

The merger proposal was made in a letter sent by the Conservative Party, but after news of the approach became public, Mr Elliott said the move was not on the cards “There is no question of the Ulster Unionist Party being dissolved,” he said.

“As indicated at our recent party conference, the party is planning significant research throughout Northern Ireland to test opinion on a number of issues, including any potential future relationships with the Conservatives.”

The Ulster Unionists fought the Stormont Assembly elections in May under their traditional banner, but still saw their tally of 18 seats at the 108 member legislature drop to 16.

The party once dominated the Northern Ireland political scene, but has fallen behind the Democratic Unionists over the last decade.

The Northern Ireland Conservative Party, however, has little or no presence on the region’s political scene.

Mr Elliott said: “Any further development needs to be based on evidence that the electorate will respond favourably, and that we are able to start to mobilise unionist voters who have decided not to vote for any party in recent elections. I would not contemplate taking any significant decisions without such research.

“I remain committed to continuing to work with the Conservative Party and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. I have suggested a meeting with Andrew Feldman to discuss his latest offer, as well as to talk over how we see our two parties moving forward for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland.”

He added: “Having recently received [the] letter from the Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, Andrew Feldman, I was pleased to see that he still wishes to build upon the close working relationship between our two parties.

“I will discuss his most recent proposal of a full merger between the Ulster Unionist Party and Conservative Party in Northern Ireland within the party, however it is unacceptable to me and I know also in my political opinion it would be to the vast majority of the Ulster Unionist Party’s members and voters.

“I was elected leader with a clear mandate that only the Ulster Unionist Party would decide upon our branding, select our candidates and determine our policies.

“The Ulster Unionist Party has a long and renowned 106-year history in Northern Ireland, and as we move into 2012 and the centenary of the signing of the Ulster Covenant, I look back at all my party has achieved from the establishment of our Province in 1921 to the brokering of peace in 1998. I am convinced that there is still much that this party has to offer both now and for the future.”

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “The Conservative Party has a long-standing relationship with the Ulster Unionist Party and as part of our continued commitment to bringing mainstream Westminster politics to Northern Ireland, we have made a broad generous offer to the Ulster Unionist Party to join forces with the Conservatives.”