Ulster Unionist Party

Leader

Sir Reg Empey MLA

Founded

1905

Ideology

Irish Unionist

Background

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) or Official Unionist Party (OUP) is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland, and was founded to resist any granting of home rule to Ireland within the United Kingdom.

It was the party of government in Northern Ireland between 1921 and 1972, and was Northern Ireland's largest party until 2003, when it was overtaken by the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party).

The UUP was led by David Trimble from 1995, who served as First Minister of Northern Ireland under the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement power-sharing administration. However, Trimble resigned as party leader after he lost his seat in the 2005 General Election.

There is currently 1 Member of Parliament from the UUP: Lady Hermon (North Down).