Ulster Conservatives and Unionists | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ulster Unionist Leader | Sir Reg EmpeyMLA (2009-10) Tom ElliottMLA (2010-12) |
| Conservative Leader | David CameronMP (2009-12) |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Dissolved | 2012 |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| European Parliament group | European Conservatives and Reformists |
| International affiliation | International Democrat Union |
| Colours | Light blue |
| Member parties | Ulster Unionist Party Conservative Party |
| Website | |
| www | |
TheUlster Conservatives and Unionists, officially registered as theUlster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force (UCUNF), was anelectoral alliance in Northern Ireland between theUlster Unionist Party (UUP) and theConservative Party.[2]
The alliance was launched in 2009.[3] Conservatives and Unionists candidates were first selected for the2009 European Parliament election.[4] The first candidate to stand for election using this description was Ulster UnionistJim Nicholson,[5] who polled 82,893 votes, 17.0% of the total, and was elected as aMember of the European Parliament (MEP).
On 24 February 2010, the alliance announced 9 of the 18 candidates who were to run in the2010 United Kingdom general election.[6] The UUP's sole Member of Parliament (MP) from the 2005 general election,Sylvia, Lady Hermon forNorth Down, had expressed public dissatisfaction with the arrangement since early 2009,[7] and left the UUP in March 2010, deciding to contest theforthcoming general election as anIndependent.[8] As such, the alliance had no incumbent MPs. On 7 April 2010 the candidate forFermanagh and South Tyrone,Tom Elliott, withdrew in favour ofIndependentRodney Connor, leaving that constituency without a Unionist Party candidate.[9]
'As things stand, Northern Ireland MPs need to be involved in decisions about their lives that are not devolved. I want the most talented people to form my government and that will mean people from all corners of the UK. Why are there great Ulstermen and women on our television screens, in our boardrooms and in our military but not in our Cabinet? The semi-detached status of Northern Ireland politics needs to end. This is not true representative democracy and it has got to change.'
— David Cameron[10]
The Conservative and UUP alliance failed to gain any seats in the election. The UUP lost their only seat in North Down to Hermon's independent campaign, and Connor also lost Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Across Northern Ireland, the joint share of the vote was 15.2%.
After failed calls for the UUP to disband and join the Conservatives, the Conservatives in Northern Ireland were relaunched asNI Conservatives on 14 June 2012.[11]
In October 2023, Ulster Unionist leaderDoug Beattie attendedConservative Party conference inManchester.[12]
| Election | First Preference Vote | Vote % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 82,892 | 17.0% | 1 / 3 |
| Election | House of Commons | Share of votes | Seats | +/- | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 55th | 15.2% | 0 / 18 |  1 | No seats |
| Election | Body | First preference votes | Vote % | Seats | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 4th Assembly | 87,531 | 13.2% | 16 / 108 | Coalition |