15/02/2017

UUP Councillor Quits In Second-Preference Vote Dispute

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon County Councillor, Carol Black, has resigned from the Ulster Unionist Party in a dispute over second-preference votes.

Ms Black, who beat the DUP in a Dromore by-election in 2008, said that she was stepping down from the party after leader Mike Nesbitt said that he would give his second-preference vote to the SDLP in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Announcing her resignation on Tuesday, 14 February, Ms Black said that the whole ethos of the Ulster Unionist Party "has been destroyed".

Mr Nesbitt has received widespread criticism after stating that he wouldn't give his second-preference vote to another unionist party. However, he stressed that this was a personal decision and not party policy. He said that other UUP members could vote as they wished.

Voters are due to go to the polls to elect a new Stormont Assembly on 02 March.

(MH/JP)

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

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.
07 August 2001
UUP dismiss IICD report and peace blueprint
Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble’s response to the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) report has been to again reiterate that the IRA must put its arms beyond use and must decommission its weapons.
19 August 2024
Doug Beattie Resigns As UUP Leader
Doug Beattie has announced his resignation as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), citing "irreconcilable differences" with party officers.
19 January 2012
UUP Respond To Call For 'United-Unionism'
The Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party has spoken about proposals for a single unionist party in Northern Ireland saying that it will not necessarily increase unionism political power.
10 October 2003
Rebel MP's set to retake whip
The Ulster Unionist Party's three rebel MP's are set to retake the party whip next week. Jeffrey Donaldson, David Burnside and the Rev Martin Smyth are said to have discussed the matter privately at a special meeting.