Young Unionists

Last updated

Young Unionists
ChairmanMatthew Bell
SecretaryLewis McVitty
TreasurerBen Sharkey
Founded1946-UYUC
2004-YU
Preceded byUlster Young Unionist Council
Headquarters Belfast, Northern Ireland
Ideology British unionism
Conservatism
Mother party Ulster Unionist Party
European affiliation EY Conservatives

The Young Unionists, formally known as the Ulster Young Unionist Council (UYUC), is the youth wing of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). It has in its present incarnation been in existence since 2004.

Contents

The Young Unionists host a number of events on an annual basis including a summer debate series, conference and social events as well as canvassing for elected reps. New members are always welcome!

History

UYUC Crest UYUCCrest.jpg
UYUC Crest

Attempts had been made in the 1920s to create a youth movement linked to that of the Conservative Party (the Junior Imperial and Constitutional League) without much success. A second attempt was made before the outbreak of the Second World War, which also failed. The UYUC was formed by the Standing Committee of the Ulster Unionist Council in 1946 and quickly became a successful movement in South & West Belfast, Fermanagh and Down. [1] The body's first Chairman was future Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Brian Faulkner [1] [2]

In 1959, Brian Maginess, Q.C., and Sir Clarence Graham, Bt., spoke to the Young Unionists advocating an increase in Roman Catholic membership of the UUP. This was regarded as controversial at the time.

The body created many prominent figures in Northern Ireland politics throughout the 1960s and 1970s such as Bill Craig and John D. Taylor; however, disagreements over Government policy and other factors left the body in disarray by the early 1970s, and it disbanded following the collapse of the Stormont Parliament. The body re-emerged under the Chairmanship of David McNarry and continued to thrive throughout the 1980s, producing figures such as Edgar Graham, Jeffrey Donaldson, Peter Weir and Arlene Foster with the latter 3 defecting to the DUP.

1990s to present

The body's membership was strongly opposed to the Belfast Agreement in 1998, and many campaigned against it. At the 2004 AGM the officers voted to disband the group. [3] [4]

A new organisation was reconstituted later that year and has since enjoyed a period of sustained growth. [5] The UYUC has branches at Queen's University, Belfast, [6] the University of Ulster [7] and branches at constituency level in the City of Belfast, Mid-Ulster/West Tyrone, [8] Lagan Valley [5] and also Newry and Armagh/South Down, as well as Fermanagh & South Tyrone.

The youth wing has produced many current and former senior faces in the party including The Lord Laird, The Lord Rogan, Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA [9] and David McNarry, all of whom are former Chairmen, as well as Lord Empey, who served as Vice Chairman.

Current activities

In recent years the Young Unionists have continued to function as an active political youth wing. In the 2014 local government elections 11 members of the Young Unionists were returned as councillors. [10] This represents over 10% of the UUP's total councillors.

The Young Unionists host a number of events on an annual basis including a summer debate series, conference and social events as well as canvassing for elected reps.

2024 Officers

Honorary Membership

Up to 15 Honorary positions are available;

Chairpersons

Second UYUC

Current Young Unionists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulster Unionist Party</span> Political party in Northern Ireland

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded as the Ulster Unionist Council in 1905, emerging from the Irish Unionist Alliance in Ulster. Under Edward Carson, it led unionist opposition to the Irish Home Rule movement. Following the partition of Ireland, it was the governing party of Northern Ireland between 1921 and 1972. It was supported by most unionist voters throughout the conflict known as the Troubles, during which time it was often referred to as the Official Unionist Party (OUP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Donaldson</span> British politician (born 1962)

Sir Jeffrey Mark Donaldson is a British former politician, who served as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2021 to 2024, and leader of the DUP in the UK House of Commons from 2019 to 2024. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lagan Valley from 1997 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Molyneaux, Baron Molyneaux of Killead</span> British politician (1920–2015)

James Henry Molyneaux, Baron Molyneaux of Killead, KBE, PC, often known as Jim Molyneaux, was a unionist politician from Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) from 1979 to 1995, and as the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Antrim from 1970 to 1983, and later Lagan Valley from 1983 to 1997. An Orangeman, he was also Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Black Institution from 1971 to 1995, and a leading member of the Conservative Monday Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlene Foster</span> Northern Irish politician (born 1970)

Arlene Isobel Foster, Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee,, is a British broadcaster and politician from Northern Ireland who served as First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2016 to 2017 and 2020 to 2021 and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2015 to 2021. Foster was the first woman to hold either position. She is a Member of the House of Lords, having previously been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Fermanagh and South Tyrone from 2003 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Elliott, Baron Elliott of Ballinamallard</span> Northern Irish politician (born 1963)

Thomas Beatty Elliott, Baron Elliott of Ballinamallard, is a Northern Irish politician, life peer and farmer who was the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) from 2010 to 2012, and has been a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Fermanagh and South Tyrone since 2022, having previously served from 2003 to 2015. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Fermanagh and South Tyrone from 2015 to 2017.

Norah Beare is a former Northern Irish unionist politician who served as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley from 2003 to 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election</span>

The 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election was held on Wednesday, 7 March 2007. It was the third election to take place since the devolved assembly was established in 1998. The election saw endorsement of the St Andrews Agreement and the two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin, along with the Alliance Party, increase their support, with falls in support for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David McNarry</span> British politician (born 1948)

David McNarry is a former Northern Irish unionist politician and Ulster Loyalist representative who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Strangford from 2003 to 2016.

Robert David Stewart Campbell, CBE, usually known as David Campbell, is a Northern Irish unionist politician, Ulster Loyalist activist, farmer and businessman. He was a member of the 1996–1998 Northern Ireland Forum, and Chairman of the Ulster Unionist Party from 2005 to 2012.

Ivan Davis was a Northern Irish unionist politician. Davis was an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Lagan Valley from 1998 to 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election</span>

The 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election took place on Thursday, 5 May, following the dissolution of the Northern Ireland Assembly at midnight on 24 March 2011. It was the fourth election to take place since the devolved assembly was established in 1998.

The fourth Northern Ireland Assembly was the unicameral devolved legislature of Northern Ireland following the 2011 assembly election on 5 May 2011. This iteration of the elected Assembly convened for the first time on 12 May 2011 in Parliament Buildings in Stormont, and ran for a full term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland</span>

The 2010 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland occurred on 6 May 2010 and all 18 seats in Northern Ireland were contested. 1,169,184 people were eligible to vote, up 29,191 from the 2005 general election. 57.99% of eligible voters turned out, down 5.5 percentage points from the last general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland</span>

The 2005 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland was held on 5 May 2005 and all 18 seats in Northern Ireland were contested. 1,139,993 people were eligible to vote, down 51,016 from the 2001 general election. 63.49% of eligible voters turned out, down 5.1 percentage points from the last general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election</span>

The election for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) was held on 31 March 2012. The UUP holds an election for the office of Leader each year at its Annual General Meeting, which is normally returns the incumbent unopposed. The contested election was triggered after incumbent Leader Tom Elliott, elected in 2010, unexpectedly announced on 8 March 2012 that he would not be seeking re-election. Nominations closed on 16 March 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Fermanagh and Omagh District Council election</span> 2014 Northern Irish local government election

The first election to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, part of the Northern Ireland local elections on 22 May 2014, returned 40 members to the newly-formed council via Single Transferable Vote.

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) was founded in Northern Ireland in 1905. Early leadership records are incomplete.

The Ulster Unionist Party held the majority of Northern Ireland seats in most elections for the Westminster Parliament between 1922 and 2001. Since then its representation has been low or non-existent, having been eclipsed by the Democratic Unionist Party. It always had an absolute majority in the Stormont Parliament (1921–1972); since that Parliament was replaced by the Northern Ireland Assembly it has had a substantial minority representation there. Its share of the vote in Northern Ireland local government elections has tended to diminish, so that there too it is no longer the largest party. Finally, the party has always held one of the three Northern Ireland seats in the European Parliament. Its share of the Northern Ireland vote in the most recent elections to these bodies has been between 10.5% and 16.1%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland</span>

The 2015 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland was held on 7 May 2015 and all 18 seats were contested. 1,236,765 people were eligible to vote, up 67,581 from the 2010 general election. 58.45% of eligible voters turned out, an increase of half a percentage point from the last general election. This election saw the return of Ulster Unionists to the House of Commons, after they targeted 4 seats but secured 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland</span>

The 2024 general election in Northern Ireland was held on 4 July 2024, with all 18 Northern Irish seats in the House of Commons contested. The general election occurred after the recently completed constituency boundaries review.

References

  1. 1 2 Faulkner, Brian, Memoirs of a Statesman, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1978
  2. ↑ In the Land of King Canute: the Influence of Border Unionism on Ulster Unionist Politics, 1945–63 H Patterson - Contemporary British History, 2006
  3. ↑ "Ulster Unionist youth wing to be reconstituted by March". www.4ni.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  4. ↑ "BBC - BBC Northern Ireland - News & Current Affairs - Hearts and Minds - If You Ask Me". Archived from the original on 26 September 2004. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  5. 1 2 "uuptoday.org » Lagan Valley Young Unionists Launch Branch". Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
  6. ↑ "QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST STUDENTS' UNION". 12 August 2007. Archived from the original on 12 August 2007.
  7. ↑ "uuptoday.org » Young Unionist society forms at Coleraine University". Archived from the original on 23 March 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
  8. ↑ "© The Ulster Herald - Letters to Editor".
  9. ↑ "Profile: Jeffrey Donaldson". BBC News. 27 October 2000. Archived from the original on 29 May 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2007.
  10. ↑ "ITV Hub". ITV Hub. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2020.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.