Tom Elliott quits as leader of Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party has been left reeling after resignation of leader Tom Elliott.
They are due to meet for their annual meeting on March 31 to vote on who should take on the huge challenge of saving a struggling party which was once the dominant force in Northern Ireland politics, but now without an MP at Westminster.
Mr Elliott’s leadership was under mounting pressure, but his decision to stand down had not been expected. When he announced his decision to go last night, he claimed there had been internal opposition since his election in August 2010.
He said: “I am aware that some people have not given me a fair opportunity at developing and progressing many initiatives. Some of this obstruction and hostility began immediately following my election as leader and has been relentless since then. However I accept that is part and parcel of politics.”
The party polled badly in the elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly in May last year. That followed a disastrous general election campaign after they agreed to an electoral arrangement with the Conservatives – a pact which caused serious tensions.
Basil McCrea and Danny Kennedy, a minister in the Stormont Executive, are likely to face pressure to put their names forward for a leadership contest, but some sources in Belfast believe John McCallister from South Down, who is also an MLA, might emerge as a possible candidate who stands the best chance of securing most support for a fresh start.
Mr Kennedy was one of the first senior members to wish him well. He said Mr Elliott had given loyal and dedicated service.
He added: “I want to pay a warm and genuine tribute to his many fine qualities of honesty, integrity and leadership which he has displayed throughout his tenure as leader.”
The Ulster Unionists were once the most powerful political party in Northern Ireland, but now trail far behind the Democratic Unionist Party for the traditional Unionist vote. Senior party officials had been involved in talks with the DUP with the aim of agreeing some sort of electoral pact for future elections in an attempt to strengthen the overall unionist vote.
The Ulster Unionists had the backing of the Conservative Party at the last General Election, but the arrangement failed to heighten party support and Mr Elliott resisted calls earlier this year for the party to disband and form a coalition with the Tories in Northern Ireland.
A farmer from Co Fermanagh, he was the party’s 14th leader – but it was a position he was never really comfortable with.
A number of supporters who became increasing disillusioned with his leadership left.
With little hope of overtaking the rival Democratic Unionists, many senior members fear the party could be in real danger of going out of business unless they start winning back the thousands of former supporters who walked away – disillusioned with the lack of direction and confidence – or who simply stayed at home and refused to vote.
