23/08/2010

McCrea Bids For Unionist Leadership

The NI Policing Board member and Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea is to stand for leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).

He has today ended speculation and confirmed he intends to enter the race to succeed Sir Reg Empey as Ulster Unionist Party leader as he believes "he could turn around the party's fortunes by promoting a strong united message and with changes to its Assembly team".

Meanwhile, Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliot has already said he will challenge for the UUP leadership.

Party members will meet on 22 September to select their new leader after it was announced in May that Sir Reg Empey will stand down as UUP leader in the autumn, following the party's disastrous failure to win any seats at the general election, including his own unsuccessful attempt to capture the South Antrim Westminster seat from the DUP.

(BMcC/KMcA)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

09 December 2002
Trimble fends off Tory ambition speculation
Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble has rebuffed suggestions that he is eyeing up the leadership of the Conservative Party and spoken of his desire to see closer links between the Tories and his party.
03 January 2007
Former UUP MP dies aged 81
Former Ulster Unionist MP Cecil Walker has died today after suffering a heart attack. The MP for north Belfast between 1983 and 2001, Sir Cecil lost his seat to the DUP's Nigel Dodds. Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey said: “I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the Walker family at this sad time.
06 January 2004
War of words erupt between Trimble and Donaldson
A war of words erupted today between Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble and Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson. It follows Mr Donaldson's high profile defection from the Ulster Unionist Party to the Democratic Unionist Party on Monday.
18 October 2001
Midnight withdrawal of UUP ministers
Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble has announced the resignation of the three UUP ministers in the Northern Ireland’s power sharing executive. Mr Trimble made the announcement at Stormont around 4pm on Thursday October 18. He said that resignation letters from all ministers had been lodged and would take effect as of midnight tonight.
13 May 2021
Robbie Butler Will Not Stand For UUP Leadership
UUP MLA Robbie Butler has confirmed he will not stand for the leadership of the party. Doug Beattie is the only contender in the running to replace current leader Steve Aiken. In a statement Mr Butler said: "Whilst I have given thought to the idea of leading the party at some stage, I did not expect to be considering it this week.