I feel that I should respond to the letter from Ciaran McClean, (published Wed 29th July), not only for his benefit but for the benefit of all those who still don’t seem to understand the relationship the Ulster Unionist Party has with the Conservative Party. I organised the Ulster Unionist Party stand at Omagh Show, and as Mc McLean will have noticed we were the only political Party present, and similarly Jim Nicholson MEP, who was the first unionist elected in the June poll, was also the only member of the European Parliament present on the day. I had found this odd as prior to the election there was not a photo of a cow printed that diodnt have Mrs Dodds standing beside it, and this would have been the perfct oppertunity for her to add to her album.
However, returning to the important point, I shall explain this as simply as possible.
The Ulster Unionist Party, is a political Party. The Conservative Party, is a political Party. The Ulster Unionist Party and The Conservative Party are two separate political parties. (I hope everyone is keeping up).
The Ulster Unionist Party and the Conservative Party have formed a joint committee. The joint committee is made up of eight people, four people from the Ulster Unionist Party and four people from the Conservative Party. The joint committee will run joint candidates in European elections and Westminster elections under the title of Ulster Conservatives and Unionists. Mr Jim Nicholson MEP was the first joint candidate to be run under this title. Mr Jim Nicholson MEP was a candidate for Ulster Conservatives and Unionists and was the first unionist elected to the European Parliament from Northern Ireland. Although Mr Jim Nicholson MEP was a joint candidate he is still a member of the Ulster Unionist Party.
In the next General election, sometimes called a Westminster Election, the joint committee will run candidates in each constituency. There are 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland. The candidates, when elected, will sit as members in the National government. The candidates will be running under the title of Ulster Conservatives and Unionists. They may either members of the Conservative Party or members of the Ulster Unionist Party. This will be decided through an internal selection process.
Again just to clarify for those who are still confused - The Ulster Unionist Party, is a political Party. The Conservative Party, is a political Party. The Ulster Unionist Party and The Conservative Party are two separate political parties. They are workin together to promote and stregnthen the Union and to maximise the pro-Union vote.