Three to contest Ulster Unionist leadership
Friday, 17 June 2005 20:12Three candidates are to contest the Ulster Unionists' leadership contest caused by the resignation of David Trimble.
Sir Reg Empey, Alan McFarland and David McNarry had put their names forward when the nominations deadline closed at 5pm this evening.
The 769 members of the Ulster Unionist Council are entitled to vote on the vacancy at a special meeting, due to take place in Belfast next Friday night.
The favourite for the post is 57-year-old Sir Reg Empey, a current Assembly member for East Belfast and former Enterprise minister at Stormont.
He has the support of more than half the 24 Ulster Unionist Party Assembly members and the MEP, Jim Nicholson.
Sylvia Hermon, the only UUP member to retain her seat in the May Westminster elections, has backed Alan McFarland, 55, a North Down Assembly member and a former British Army major.
While support from the party's grass-roots is likely to go to the Ulster Unionists' Assembly member for the Strangford constituency, David McNarry. He was an advisor to David Trimble and has close links with the Orange Order.
A successful candidate must receive a minimum of 50% plus one of the total valid votes cast.
The Ulster Unionist party is currently in its centenary year. David Trimble, the 12th leader, was elected in 1995. He announced his decision to resign after the party fared badly in last month's local and Westminister elections.
