Ulster Unionist vote collapses in Northern Ireland , hardliners routed
By: Patrick Roberts | Published Thursday, June 17, 2010, 6:57 PM | Updated Friday, September 9, 2011, 9:40 PM
The
Ulster Unionist party has been wiped out in the Northern Irish elections. It is akin to the Democrats failing to win any seats in the
U.S. senate.
Not too long ago the Ulster Unionists were the unquestioned masters in
Northern Ireland.
They had every prime minster in the state's history from 1921 and led every power sharing government from the 1970s up until 2007 when
Ian Paisley of the rival
Democratic Unionist Party went into power with
Martin McGuinness,
While the defeat of
Peter Robinson, now head of the Democratic Unionist Party and of the power sharing government, was a sensational result there were many obvious reason for it, the scandal involving his wife and dubious land deals being the key ones.
Robinson's role as head of the power sharing government is still intact but he may face pressure to step down.
Think of it as still being co-governor with
Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness of the state of Northern Ireland while he lost a federal election to the
Westminster parliament
The UUP though is a party that has simply imploded.
The party leader party
Sir Reg Empey was defeated handily while their only previous MP Lady Sylvia Hermon,ran and won as an independent this time because she disagreed with the party signing a deal with the Tory party in
Britain before the vote.
The Tradional Unionist Voice, an even harder line unionist party also had a very bad election., Their leader was easily defeated by Ian Paisley's son Ian Junior in their big shot at an upset
Reg Empey's decision to try a harder line unionism than the DUP has failed spectacularly and he is probably doomed as party leader. The other big winner on the night was the Alliance Party. the moderate centrist group whose candidate Naomi Long, took Peter Robinson's seat.
Nationalist parties fared as expected with
Gerry Adams winning the biggest majority in Northern Ireland. Adams certainly answered his critics who had said he was on the down slope after recent controversies. Sinn Fein easily returned four MPs
A recount was ordered in
Fermanagh /South
Tyrone where Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Fein and an agreed unionist candidate Roderick O'Connor are in a tense third recount. Gildernew emerged victorious by just four votes
17 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.HughesDohmann | Jul 05, 2010, 09:55 PM EDT
Ian Paisley sounds like he could easily attend a KK meeting. Back in the day Rev.'s were usually the persons for leading such meetings. Calling people vermin. Kind of sounds like a Nazi. Maybe there is safety in numbers. 1.5 Billion Catholics and what, 25 or thirty million non-catholic. Or " Christians" as they like to say as if Catholics are not. The Catholic Church is just the first Christian church founded by Jesus and his apostles that's all. They better start being little bunnies you know,haha!
Gerry57 | May 10, 2010, 04:48 PM EDT
The elections proved that we can unite Ireland within the political system;slow as always.Thumbs up for Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein.
wmeehan678 | May 09, 2010, 05:28 PM EDT
Excellent article. Keep them coming.
johhnyb | May 09, 2010, 10:46 AM EDT
Amused at Seanomelbourne who is predicting that his day will come. Presumably he lives in Melbourne, despite his obvious attachment to Ireland.
seanomelbourne | May 08, 2010, 08:49 PM EDT
I Presume you mean Sir Reg Maudling. Maudling by name and maudlin by nature.
Searlit | May 08, 2010, 10:32 AM EDT
It sounds like the people of NI want the devolution of powers to Northern Ireland. Great!
Bushothehill | May 08, 2010, 07:36 AM EDT
The comments of Sir Reggie Maulding, the Minister for N.I., who after a very frustrating 2 years trying to govern the warring tribes of the North, got on a plane for a final trip home to dear old Blighty. As he took his seat on the departing aircraft, he immediately ordered a double scotch, threw it back and ordered another which departed life quicker than the first. He then made the following statement which bears no parsing or explaining: What an awful bloody country!!!!!!!
FastEddy | May 07, 2010, 07:20 PM EDT
Censored again ... Oh well.
seanomelbourne | May 07, 2010, 07:16 PM EDT
The nationalist vote held solidly,whilst the unionist are in disarray.Tiocfaidh an la.
Watchman | May 07, 2010, 01:23 PM EDT
It's absurd, and ignorant, to compare the Ulster Unionists to the Democrats. The DUP eclipsed the Unionists years ago. Going into this election, the UUP only had one MP – and she defected. In fact, there are no comparisons at all between the U.S. and N.I. America has just two parties; NI has Sinn Fein, the SDLP (who held up quite well), the DUP, the rump UUP and the Alliance Party, plus fringe groups and independents. I'll be there on Wednesday and will let you know what's REALLY going on.
bostonblakie | May 07, 2010, 12:25 PM EDT
Too bad they all can't come over to the USA and discover what real differences among those in the neighborhood are like.
Niall O'Dowd | May 07, 2010, 11:31 AM EDT
JOhnnnybb not true anymore. The UU's tried to outflank the DUP on this election, refusing to agree with the devolution of powers to Northern Ireland
killowen | May 07, 2010, 10:58 AM EDT
So far so good. A nation divided cannot stand. The poodle needs its head restored. I'm hopeful but how is the occupier going to manage when and if the harp is removed from their standards and symbols. A real chiseling and cutting will be unleased when UK be left then with the trinity of the leek, the thistle and the rose. the trauma on their worldwide diaspora is another matter.
benbhoy | May 07, 2010, 10:40 AM EDT
Wont be long until we have a united ireland.
johhnyb | May 07, 2010, 09:38 AM EDT
Slight lack of comprehension on your part there I fear. The Ulster Unionists are the least 'hard line' of all the Unionist parties.
carrickcourt | May 07, 2010, 08:49 AM EDT
Most interesting election results from NI. The hard liners ("no surrender") are mostly out, which is good news for NI.
HoundofUlster | May 07, 2010, 08:47 AM EDT
SF continues to dupe and UUP has failed to dupe. Act 99 scene4 1001, exit stage left.