skip to main content

Trimble wins leadership election

The Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has won the party's leadership election, which took place in Belfast this morning.

Eight hundred members of the party's ruling Unionist Council took part in the ballot, with Mr Trimble getting almost 60% of the vote.

Coleraine marketing and management consultant, David Hoey, came second with almost 22% of the vote, while Portadown businessman, Robert Oliver, received almost 18%.

Afterwards, Mr Trimble called on his critics within the party to accept his victory and said it was now important to move forward.

Ina separate vote, Lord Rogan defeated Reverend Martin Smyth for the presidency of the Ulster Unionists, by 407 votes to 329.