Independent Unionist Association
Encyclopedia
The Independent Unionist Association or Independent Unionist Party was a political party
in Northern Ireland
.
The organisation was founded in 1937, shortly before the announcement of the Northern Ireland general election, 1938
. It consisted of a disparate group of independent Unionist
s, and included member of the Northern Ireland House of Commons Tommy Henderson
. The party called for more action to relieve unemployment
, and for tighter control of government spending. William McConnell Wilton was elected as Chairman of the new organisation.
The party stood several candidates in the general election, including Henderson in Belfast Shankill
and Wilton in Belfast Clifton
. The Ulster Unionist Party
claimed that the Independent Unionist challenge made a united Ireland
more likely, a charge which Henderson described as "a deliberate attempt to fool the Ulster people". Only Henderson was elected for the group at the general election.
The party launched a monthly newspaper in January 1939, aiming to appeal to both their own supporters, and to those of the Ulster Progressive Unionist Association
. By the Northern Ireland general election, 1945, the party was greatly weakened, but supported Henderson and also John William Nixon
in Belfast Woodvale
. Later in the year, Wilton was elected to served in the Senate of Northern Ireland
. The party then faded from view, although an "Independent Unionist Association" in Belfast released a manifesto in 1954 on a similar platform.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
The organisation was founded in 1937, shortly before the announcement of the Northern Ireland general election, 1938
Northern Ireland general election, 1938
-References:*...
. It consisted of a disparate group of independent Unionist
Independent Unionist
See also Independent .Independent Unionist has been a label sometimes used by candidates in elections in the United Kingdom, indicating a support for Unionism, retaining the unity of the British state....
s, and included member of the Northern Ireland House of Commons Tommy Henderson
Tommy Henderson
Thomas Gibson Henderson was an Ulster independent Unionist politician. He served in the House of Commons of Northern Ireland from 1925 to 1953 in vigorous opposition to the Unionist governments on all issues other than the partition of Ireland, and is famous for having at one stage spoken for...
. The party called for more action to relieve unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
, and for tighter control of government spending. William McConnell Wilton was elected as Chairman of the new organisation.
The party stood several candidates in the general election, including Henderson in Belfast Shankill
Belfast Shankill (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Shankill was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Shankill was a borough constituency comprising part of northern Belfast...
and Wilton in Belfast Clifton
Belfast Clifton (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Clifton was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Clifton was a borough constituency comprising part of northern Belfast...
. The Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
claimed that the Independent Unionist challenge made a united Ireland
United Ireland
A united Ireland is the term used to refer to the idea of a sovereign state which covers all of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. The island of Ireland includes the territory of two independent sovereign states: the Republic of Ireland, which covers 26 counties of the island, and the...
more likely, a charge which Henderson described as "a deliberate attempt to fool the Ulster people". Only Henderson was elected for the group at the general election.
The party launched a monthly newspaper in January 1939, aiming to appeal to both their own supporters, and to those of the Ulster Progressive Unionist Association
Ulster Progressive Unionist Association
The Ulster Progressive Unionist Association was a political group which was founded in 1938 and was active in Northern Ireland for a few years thereafter....
. By the Northern Ireland general election, 1945, the party was greatly weakened, but supported Henderson and also John William Nixon
John William Nixon
John William Nixon, MBE was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Graddum, County Cavan, Nixon became a district inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary, and transferred to its successor in the new state of Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary...
in Belfast Woodvale
Belfast Woodvale (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Woodvale was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Woodvale was a borough constituency comprising part of western Belfast...
. Later in the year, Wilton was elected to served in the Senate of Northern Ireland
Senate of Northern Ireland
The Senate of Northern Ireland was the upper house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It was abolished with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.-Powers:...
. The party then faded from view, although an "Independent Unionist Association" in Belfast released a manifesto in 1954 on a similar platform.