2010 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2010 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election
| country =
| type = presidential
| ongoing =
| previous_election = 2005 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election
| previous_year = 2005
| next_election = 2012 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election
| next_year = 2012
| election_date = 22 September 2010
| image1 = 150x150px
| candidate1 = Tom Elliott
| party1 = Ulster Unionist Party
| popular_vote1 = 643
| percentage1 = 68.6%
| image2 = 150x150px
| candidate2 = Basil McCrea
| party2 = Ulster Unionist Party
| popular_vote2 = 294
| percentage2 = 31.4%
| title = Leader
| before_election = Reg Empey
| after_election = Tom Elliott
}}
An election for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) was held on 22 September 2010.{{Cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/sir-reg-empey-confirms-resignation-28551746.html |title=Sir Reg Empey confirms resignation |date=9 August 2010 |website= Belfast Telegraph |location=Belfast |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511015646/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/sir-reg-empey-confirms-resignation-28551746.html |archive-date=11 May 2021}}
Background
Following poor results in the 2005 general election, the UUP held a leadership election, in which Reg Empey was successful. Empey formed an electoral coalition with the Conservative Party, but the UUP's only MP resigned from the party, and the coalition won no seats in the 2010 general election. Following the election, some party members urged him to remain leader but, on 15 May, Empey announced that he would resign in time for an election to be completed by the party's annual conference, in October or November."[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8683678.stm Sir Reg Empey to stand down as UUP leader in autumn]", BBC News, 15 May 2010 On 9 August 2010, it was announced that Empey would resign on 22 September 2010 and that the election would be held the same day. Nominations are due by 31 August 2010.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10913567 | work=BBC News | title=UUP confirms Sir Reg to resign | date=9 August 2010 | access-date=20 June 2018 | archive-date=14 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414031342/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10913567 | url-status=live }}
Potential candidates
In May 2010, BBC News named five potential candidates for the leadership: Tom Elliott, Danny Kennedy, Basil McCrea, Michael McGimpsey and David McNarry."[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8672656.stm Who could be next UUP leader?]", BBC News, 11 May 2010
Kennedy reportedly ruled himself out on 14 June 2010.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/northern_ireland/northern_ireland_politics/10315030.stm |title=Danny Kennedy rules himself out of UUP leadership race |publisher=BBC News |date=2010-06-14 |access-date=2010-07-27}} Elliott announced on 22 June 2010 he would stand in the election, stating that he had a "vision for a progressive party". He was flanked by Kennedy, McNarry and McGimpsey when he announced, as well as by Mike Nesbitt and Assembly Chief Whip Fred Cobain.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/northern_ireland/northern_ireland_politics/10378239.stm |title=Elliott announces UUP leadership bid |publisher=BBC News |date=2010-06-22 |access-date=2010-07-27 |archive-date=2010-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626095611/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/northern_ireland/northern_ireland_politics/10378239.stm |url-status=live }} McCrea officially announced his intention to stand on 23 August 2010.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11053798 | work=BBC News | title=Basil McCrea enters Ulster Unionist leadership contest | date=23 August 2010 | access-date=20 June 2018 | archive-date=9 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034522/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11053798 | url-status=live }}
Policy divide
One of the most prominent issues in the leadership choice was relations with the other major unionist party, the Democratic Unionist Party. While Kennedy repeatedly called for a pact or an alliance with the DUP, McCrea was strongly against it, claiming that such an alliance would only increase voter support for SF in the republican camp.{{cite web |url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/39Unionist-unity-would-increase-SF.6391058.jp |title='Unionist unity would increase SF vote' - Belfast Today |publisher=Newsletter.co.uk |access-date=2010-07-27 |archive-date=2010-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803235855/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/39Unionist-unity-would-increase-SF.6391058.jp |url-status=live }}
Elliott stated on 25 August 2010 that he was also opposed to a single Unionist party {{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-11085966 | work=BBC News | title=Tom Elliott sets out his plans for UUP | date=25 August 2010 | access-date=20 June 2018 | archive-date=26 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826043809/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-11085966 | url-status=live }} and that he would seek to reform the electoral link with the Conservative Party in order that candidates would stand as UUP and not Ulster Conservatives and Unionists - New Force.{{cite news |last1=McBride |first1=Sam |title=Dump UCUNF but keep the link with Tories, says Elliott Tom Elliott launches his bid for the leadership of the UUP Tom Elliott launches his bid for the leadership of the UUP |url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/politics/Dump-UCUNF-but-keep-the.6495812.jp |url-status=dead |access-date=3 June 2021 |work=The News Letter |date=26 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101124921/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/politics/dump-ucunf-but-keep-the.6495812.jp |archive-date=1 January 2011 |location=Belfast}}
Results
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! rowspan="2" |Candidate ! colspan="3" |Total | |
| colspan="2" |Votes
! % | |
|---|---|
| Tom Elliot {{Y}}
| 643 | align=center |{{percentage bar|68.6 | 48A5EE}}
| 68.6 |
| Basil McCrea
| 294 | align=center |{{percentage bar|31.4 | 48A5EE}}
| 31.4 |
| Total
! colspan="2" |937 ! 100 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Ulster Unionist Party}}
{{2010 United Kingdom party elections|state=collapsed}}
Ulster Unionist Party leadership election
Ulster Unionist Party leadership election