Ulster Unionist Party leadership election, September 1995
Encyclopedia
The September 1995 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election began on 28 August 1995 when James Molyneaux
resigned as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
following a year of political setbacks for his party. Lee Renyolds, a Young Unionist had contested the leadership
at the Ulster Unionist Council AGM in March 1995, receiving a small but significant number of votes. It was widely speculated that David Trimble
was one of those behind Renyolds's candidature, although Trimble, his aides and Reynolds's supporters all denied this at the time and subsequently.
The UUP has held a leadership election every March since at least the Ulster Unionist Council constitution was altered in 1973, however it is rarely contested.
Molyneaux's successor was elected by delegates to the Ulster Unionist Council met on 8 September 1995. After three rounds of voting the election was won by David Trimble
.
No candidate won an outright victory and Martin Smyth, as the lowest placed candidate, was eliminated.
William Ross, as the lowest placed candidate, was eliminated. Ken Maginnis also withdrew.
David Trimble was elected.
James Molyneaux
James Henry Molyneaux, Baron Molyneaux of Killead, KBE, PC is a Northern Irish Unionist politician and was leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 1979 to 1995. He was a leading member and sometime Vice-President of the Conservative Monday Club...
resigned as leader of 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...
following a year of political setbacks for his party. Lee Renyolds, a Young Unionist had contested the leadership
Ulster Unionist Party leadership election, March 1995
The March 1995 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election occurred at the Annual General Meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council on 18 March 1995. The UUP has had a leadership election every March since at least 1973, and this is one of the few occasions when it has been contested.-Candidates:*James...
at the Ulster Unionist Council AGM in March 1995, receiving a small but significant number of votes. It was widely speculated that David Trimble
David Trimble
William David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC , is a politician from Northern Ireland. He served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party , was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland , and was a Member of the British Parliament . He is currently a life peer for the Conservative Party...
was one of those behind Renyolds's candidature, although Trimble, his aides and Reynolds's supporters all denied this at the time and subsequently.
The UUP has held a leadership election every March since at least the Ulster Unionist Council constitution was altered in 1973, however it is rarely contested.
Molyneaux's successor was elected by delegates to the Ulster Unionist Council met on 8 September 1995. After three rounds of voting the election was won by David Trimble
David Trimble
William David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC , is a politician from Northern Ireland. He served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party , was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland , and was a Member of the British Parliament . He is currently a life peer for the Conservative Party...
.
Candidates
- Ken Maginnis, MP for Fermanagh and South TyroneFermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)Fermanagh and South Tyrone is a Parliamentary constituency in the British House of Commons. The current MP for the constituency is Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Féin....
- William RossWilliam Ross (Northern Ireland politician)William Ross is a Northern Ireland unionist politician. He served as the Ulster Unionist Party member of Parliament for Londonderry from February 1974 until 2001...
, MP for East LondonderryEast Londonderry (UK Parliament constituency)East Londonderry is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in boundary changes in 1983, as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17, and was predominantly made up from the old Londonderry constituency... - Martin SmythMartin SmythReverend William Martin Smyth is a Northern Irish unionist politician, and was Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Belfast South from 1982-2005...
, MP for Belfast SouthBelfast South (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast South is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
and Grand MasterGrand Master (order)Grand Master is the typical title of the supreme head of various orders of knighthood, including various military orders, religious orders and civil orders such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Orange Order...
of the Orange OrderOrange InstitutionThe Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland... - John TaylorJohn Taylor, Baron KilclooneyJohn David Taylor, Baron Kilclooney, PC , is a former Ulster Unionist Party MP and a life peer. He was deputy leader of the UUP from 1995 to 2001, and a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.-Career and family:...
, MP for StrangfordStrangford (UK Parliament constituency)Strangford is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in boundary changes in 1983, as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17, and was predominantly made up from parts of North Down...
and a former minister in the Government of Northern IrelandExecutive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern IrelandThe Executive Committee or the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland was the government of Northern Ireland created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Generally known as either the Cabinet or the Government, the Executive Committee existed from 1922 to 1972... - David TrimbleDavid TrimbleWilliam David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC , is a politician from Northern Ireland. He served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party , was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland , and was a Member of the British Parliament . He is currently a life peer for the Conservative Party...
, MP for Upper BannUpper Bann (UK Parliament constituency)Upper Bann is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current Member of Parliament for Upper Bann is David Simpson.-Boundaries:...
who had recently received strong attention for his role in a disputed Orange Order march at DrumcreeDrumcree conflictThe Drumcree conflict or Drumcree standoff is an ongoing dispute over a yearly parade in the town of Portadown, Northern Ireland. The dispute is between the Orange Order and local residents. The residents are currently represented by the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition ; before 1995 they were...
Results
At the meeting delegates to the Ulster Unionist Council voted in a succession of ballots until one candidate had an absolute majority.Round 1
Votes were cast as follows- David TrimbleDavid TrimbleWilliam David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC , is a politician from Northern Ireland. He served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party , was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland , and was a Member of the British Parliament . He is currently a life peer for the Conservative Party...
- 287 - John TaylorJohn Taylor, Baron KilclooneyJohn David Taylor, Baron Kilclooney, PC , is a former Ulster Unionist Party MP and a life peer. He was deputy leader of the UUP from 1995 to 2001, and a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.-Career and family:...
- 226 - Ken Maginnis - 117
- William RossWilliam Ross (Northern Ireland politician)William Ross is a Northern Ireland unionist politician. He served as the Ulster Unionist Party member of Parliament for Londonderry from February 1974 until 2001...
- 116 - Martin SmythMartin SmythReverend William Martin Smyth is a Northern Irish unionist politician, and was Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Belfast South from 1982-2005...
- 60
No candidate won an outright victory and Martin Smyth, as the lowest placed candidate, was eliminated.
Round 2
- David TrimbleDavid TrimbleWilliam David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC , is a politician from Northern Ireland. He served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party , was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland , and was a Member of the British Parliament . He is currently a life peer for the Conservative Party...
- 353 - John TaylorJohn Taylor, Baron KilclooneyJohn David Taylor, Baron Kilclooney, PC , is a former Ulster Unionist Party MP and a life peer. He was deputy leader of the UUP from 1995 to 2001, and a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.-Career and family:...
- 255 - Ken Maginnis - 110
- William RossWilliam Ross (Northern Ireland politician)William Ross is a Northern Ireland unionist politician. He served as the Ulster Unionist Party member of Parliament for Londonderry from February 1974 until 2001...
- 91
William Ross, as the lowest placed candidate, was eliminated. Ken Maginnis also withdrew.
Round 3
- David TrimbleDavid TrimbleWilliam David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC , is a politician from Northern Ireland. He served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party , was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland , and was a Member of the British Parliament . He is currently a life peer for the Conservative Party...
- 466 - John TaylorJohn Taylor, Baron KilclooneyJohn David Taylor, Baron Kilclooney, PC , is a former Ulster Unionist Party MP and a life peer. He was deputy leader of the UUP from 1995 to 2001, and a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.-Career and family:...
- 333
David Trimble was elected.