Editing Ulster Unionist Party (section)

== History ==
The Ulster Unionist Party traces its formal existence back to the foundation of the '''Ulster Unionist Council''' in 1905. It is the oldest political party on the island of [[Ireland]].

===Background: 1886 to 1905===
{{See also|Irish Unionist Alliance}} 
Modern organised unionism emerged after [[William Ewart Gladstone]]'s introduction in 1886 of the first of three [[Irish Home Rule movement|Home Rule Bills]] in response to demands by the [[Irish Parliamentary Party]]. In 1891, the [[Irish Conservative Party]] came to an end, merged into a new [[Irish Unionist Alliance]] (IUA) which also included the Irish [[Liberal Unionist Party|Liberal Unionists]], the latter having split from the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] over the issue of [[Irish Home Rule movement|home rule]]. While usually dominated by unionists from [[Ulster]], the IUA was often led by southern unionists. There were also some eighty members of the [[House of Lords]] who affiliated themselves with the IUA.

The [[Ulster Defence Union]] was also formed on 17 March 1893 to oppose the Liberal government's plans for the [[Government of Ireland Bill 1893]].<ref>[[Alvin Jackson (historian)|Alvin Jackson]], ''Colonel Edward Saunderson: land and loyalty in Victorian Ireland'' (Oxford University Press, 1995), [https://books.google.com/books?id=tmnJU-vk1hwC&pg=PA116 p. 116]</ref><ref>[http://ulster.failteromhat.com/defenceunion.htm Ulster Defence Union], ''Belfast Weekly News'', October 21, 1893, failteromhat.com, accessed 4 January 2023</ref>

Although most unionist support was based in [[Ulster]], especially within areas that later became [[Northern Ireland]], in the late 19th and early 20th century there were unionist enclaves throughout all of Ireland. Unionists in [[Dublin]] and [[County Wicklow]] and in parts of [[County Cork]] were particularly influential.

===1905 to 1921 ===
In September 1904, the Conservative government of [[Arthur Balfour]] published proposals for limited devolution to Ireland which would not amount to home rule. Coming from Conservatives, these led to great alarm among Irish unionists; in March 1905, the Ulster Unionist Council, which later became the Ulster Unionist Party, was formed as a co-ordinating organization for a new form of local political activity.<ref>Graham Walker, ''A History of the Ulster Unionist Party: Protest, Pragmatism and Pessimism'' (Manchester Studies in Modern History, 2004), [https://books.google.com/books?id=eyMeZ_oyEhYC&pg=PA17 p. 17]</ref> It largely subsumed the Ulster Defence Union.

From the beginning, the new organization had a strong association with the [[Orange Order]], a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[fraternal organisation]]. The original composition of the Ulster Unionist Council was 25% Orange delegates;<ref>John Harbinson (1973) ''The Ulster Unionist Party, 1882–1973''. Belfast: Blackstaff Press {{ISBN|0-85640-007-6}}</ref> however, this proportion was reduced through the years. The initial leadership of the Ulster unionists all came from outside what would later become Northern Ireland. In particular, from 1905 [[Edward James Saunderson|Colonel Saunderson]] was simultaneously leader of the Irish Unionist Alliance MPs and leader of the Ulster Unionist Council in Belfast. In 1906 he was succeeded in both roles by [[Walter Long, 1st Viscount Long|Walter Hume Long]], a Dublin MP. Another Dubliner, [[Edward Carson|Sir Edward Carson]], one of the two Irish Unionist Alliance MPs for the [[Dublin University (constituency)|Dublin University constituency]], and [[St John Brodrick, 1st Earl of Midleton|Lord Midleton]] were also southern unionists active in both. Carson went on to become the first leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, from 1910. Throughout his years of leadership, he fought a sustained campaign against Irish Home Rule, including taking the lead in the formation of the [[Ulster Volunteers]] at the onset of the [[Home Rule Crisis]] in 1912.

In 1912, at Westminster the Home Rule Crisis led to the Liberal Unionist Party merging with the Conservatives, thus giving rise to the current name of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative and Unionist Party]], to which the Ulster Unionist Party was formally linked, to varying degrees, until 1985.

At the [[1918 Irish general election|1918 general election]], Carson switched constituencies from Dublin University to [[Belfast Duncairn (UK Parliament constituency)|Belfast Duncairn]].

After the [[Irish Convention]] of 1917–1918 failed to reach an understanding on home rule, and even more after the [[Partition of Ireland]] under the [[Government of Ireland Act 1920]], Irish unionism in effect split. Many southern unionist politicians quickly became reconciled with the new [[Irish Free State]], sitting in its [[Seanad Éireann (Irish Free State)|Senate]] or joining its political parties, while in Northern Ireland  the existence of a separate Ulster Unionist Party became entrenched as it took control of the new [[Government of Northern Ireland (1921–1972)|Government of Northern Ireland]], established in 1921.

Carson strongly opposed the partition of Ireland and the end of unionism as an all-Ireland political force, so he refused the opportunity to be [[Prime Minister of Northern Ireland]] or even to sit in the [[House of Commons of Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland House of Commons]], citing a lack of connection with the new province. The leadership of the UUP and, subsequently, Northern Ireland, was taken by [[James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon|Sir James Craig]].

[[File:The Road To War Q81759.jpg|thumb|right|Carson inspecting the [[Ulster Volunteers|UVF]], [[F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead|F. E. Smith]] walking behind him, pre-1914]]

=== The Stormont era: linked with the Conservative Party ===

==== 1920–1963 ====
Until almost the very end of its period of power in [[Northern Ireland]], the UUP was led by a combination of [[landed gentry]] ([[Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough|The 1st Viscount Brookeborough]], [[Hugh MacDowell Pollock]] and [[James Chichester-Clark]]), [[aristocracy]] ([[Terence O'Neill]]) and gentrified industrial magnates ([[James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon|The 1st Viscount Craigavon]] and [[J. M. Andrews]] – nephew of [[William Pirrie, 1st Viscount Pirrie|The 1st Viscount Pirrie]]). Only its last [[Prime Minister of Northern Ireland|Prime Minister]], [[Brian Faulkner]], was from a middle-class background. During this era, all but 11 of the 149 UUP Stormont MPs were members of the Orange Order, as were all Prime Ministers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sneps.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/1-Dominant-Ethnicity-demography-and-conflict_revision-Dec2010.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=11 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093305/http://www.sneps.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/1-Dominant-Ethnicity-demography-and-conflict_revision-Dec2010.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sir James Craig, who in 1927 was created [[Viscount Craigavon]], led the government of Northern Ireland from its inception until his death in November 1940 and is buried with his wife by the east wing of [[Parliament Buildings (Northern Ireland)|Parliament Buildings]] at [[Stormont Estate|Stormont]]. His successor, J. M. Andrews, was heavily criticised for appointing octogenarian veterans of Lord Craigavon's administration to [[Andrews ministry (Northern Ireland)|his cabinet]]. His government was also believed to be more interested in protecting the statue of Carson at the Stormont Estate than the citizens of Belfast during the [[Belfast Blitz]]. A backbench revolt in 1943 resulted in his resignation and replacement by [[Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough|Sir Basil Brooke]] (later [[Viscount Brookeborough]]), although Andrews was recognised as leader of the party until 1946.

Lord Brookeborough, despite having felt that Craigavon had held on to power for too long, was Prime Minister for one year longer. During this time he was on more than one occasion called to meetings of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland to explain his actions, most notably following the 1947 Education Act which made the government responsible for the payment of [[National Insurance]] contributions of teachers in Catholic Church-controlled schools. [[Ian Paisley]] called for Brookeborough's resignation in 1953 when he refused to sack [[Brian Maginess]] and [[Clarence Graham]], who had given speeches supporting re-admitting Catholics to the UUP.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nuTC9ZiZZf0C&q=brian+maginess+catholic+membership+uup&pg=PA158|title=A Tragedy of Errors|isbn=9781846310645|last1=Bloomfield|first1=Ken|year=2007|publisher=Liverpool University Press }}</ref> He retired in 1963 and was replaced by [[Terence O'Neill]], who emerged ahead of other candidates, [[Jack Andrews]] and Faulkner.

==== 1963–1972 ====
In the 1960s, identifying with the [[civil rights movement]] of [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] and encouraged by attempts at reform under O'Neill, various organisations campaigned for civil rights, calling for changes to the system for allocating public housing and the voting system for the local government franchise, which was restricted to (disproportionately Protestant) [[Rates (tax)|rate payers]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ira/conflict/civil.html |title=Archived copy |website=[[PBS]] |access-date=17 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903122308/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ira/conflict/civil.html |archive-date=3 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3eDHAwAAQBAJ&q=local+elections+northern+ireland+ratepayers+mostly+protestant&pg=PA39|title=Human Rights as War by Other Means|isbn=9780812246193|last1=Curtis|first1=Jennifer|date=28 July 2014|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6hFEAgAAQBAJ&q=local+elections+northern+ireland+ratepayers+mostly+protestant&pg=PA21|title=Northern Ireland|isbn=9781317875185|access-date=17 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215202807/https://books.google.com/books?id=6hFEAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA21&lpg=PA21&dq=local+elections+northern+ireland+ratepayers+mostly+protestant&source=bl&ots=24iaVcqTg7&sig=H8GzulOAx4FCb4yN2CLispufVho&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDMQ6AEwBGoVChMIjPv3y5LYxwIVa-9yCh2jkwdy#v=onepage&q=local%20elections%20northern%20ireland%20ratepayers%20mostly%20protestant&f=false|archive-date=15 December 2019|url-status=live|last1=Tonge|first1=Jonathan|date=2 December 2013|publisher=Routledge }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/recent/troubles/the_troubles_article_01.shtml|title=BBC – History – The Troubles, 1963 to 1985|access-date=25 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003201812/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/recent/troubles/the_troubles_article_01.shtml|archive-date=3 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> O'Neill had pushed through some reforms but in the process the Ulster Unionists became strongly divided. At the [[1969 Northern Ireland general election|1969 Stormont general election]] UUP candidates stood on both pro- and anti-O'Neill platforms. Several independent pro-O'Neill unionists challenging his critics, while the [[Protestant Unionist Party]] of Ian Paisley mounted a hard-line challenge. The result proved inconclusive for O'Neill, who resigned a short time later. His resignation was probably caused by a speech of [[James Chichester-Clark]] who stated that he disagreed with the timing, but not the principle, of universal suffrage at local elections.

Chichester-Clark won the [[1969 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election|leadership election to replace O'Neill]] and swiftly moved to implement many of O'Neill's reforms. Civil disorder continued to mount, culminating in August 1969 when Catholic [[Bogside]] residents clashed with the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]] in [[Derry]] because of an [[Apprentice Boys of Derry]] march, sparking days of riots. Early in 1971, Chichester-Clark flew to London to request further military aid following the [[1971 Scottish soldiers' killings]].{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} When this was all but refused, he resigned to be [[1971 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election|replaced by Brian Faulkner]].

Faulkner's government struggled though 1971 and into 1972. After [[Bloody Sunday (1972)|Bloody Sunday]], the British Government threatened to remove control of the security forces from the devolved government. Faulkner reacted by resigning with his entire cabinet, and the British Government suspended, and eventually abolished, the [[Parliament of Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland Parliament]], replacing it with [[Direct rule (Northern Ireland)|Direct Rule]].

The liberal unionist group, the [[New Ulster Movement]], which had advocated the policies of Terence O'Neill, left and formed the [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland]] in April 1970, while the emergence of Ian Paisley's Protestant Unionist Party continued to draw off some working-class and more [[Ulster loyalism| loyalist]] support.

=== 1972–1995 ===
[[File:Troubled Images Exhibition, Belfast, August 2010 (03).JPG|thumb|right|Ulster Unionist Party, 1974. Troubled Images Exhibition, Linen Hall Library, Belfast, August 2010]]
In June 1973 the UUP won a majority of seats in the new [[Northern Ireland Assembly (1973)|Northern Ireland Assembly]], but the party was divided on policy. The [[Sunningdale Agreement]], which led to the formation of a power-sharing Executive under Ulster Unionist leader [[Brian Faulkner]], ruptured the party. In the 1973 elections to the Executive the party found itself divided, a division that did not formally end until January 1974 with the triumph of the anti-Sunningdale faction. Faulkner was then overthrown, and he set up the [[Unionist Party of Northern Ireland]] (UPNI). The Ulster Unionists were then led by [[Harry West]] from 1974 until 1979. In the [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|February 1974 general election]], the party participated in the [[United Ulster Unionist Council]] (UUUC) with [[Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party|Vanguard]] and the [[Democratic Unionist Party]], successor to the Protestant Unionist Party. The result was that the UUUC won 11 out of 12 parliamentary seats in Northern Ireland on a fiercely anti-Sunningdale platform, although they barely won 50% of the overall popular vote. This result was a fatal blow for the Executive, which soon collapsed.

Up until 1972 the UUP sat with the Conservative Party at [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Westminster]], traditionally taking the Conservative parliamentary [[Whip (politics)|whip]]. To all intents and purposes the party functioned as the Northern Ireland branch of the Conservative Party. In 1972, in protest over the prorogation of the [[Parliament of Northern Ireland]], the Westminster Ulster Unionist MPs withdrew from the alliance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/tories-form-northern-ireland-party-28709950.html|title=Tories form Northern Ireland party|work=belfasttelegraph|access-date=17 April 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809134927/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/tories-form-northern-ireland-party-28709950.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Dan Keohane (2000), ''Security in British Politics 1945–99'', p. 183.</ref><ref>Stuart Bell and Anthony Seldon, ''The Heath Government 1970–74: A Reappraisal''.</ref> The party remained affiliated to the [[National Conservative Convention|National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations]], but in 1985, withdrew from it as well, in protest over the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]. Subsequently, the Conservative Party has [[Northern Ireland Conservatives|organised separately]] in Northern Ireland, with little electoral success.

Under West's leadership, the party recruited [[Enoch Powell]], who became Ulster Unionist MP for [[South Down (UK Parliament constituency)|South Down]] in [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|October 1974]] after defecting from the Conservatives. Powell advocated a policy of 'integration', whereby Northern Ireland would be administered as an integral part of the United Kingdom. This policy divided both the Ulster Unionists and the wider unionist movement, as Powell's ideas conflicted with those supporting a restoration of devolved government to Northern Ireland. The party also made gains upon the break-up of the [[Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party|Vanguard Party]] and its merger back into the Ulster Unionists. The separate [[United Ulster Unionist Party]] (UUUP) emerged from the remains of Vanguard but folded in the early 1980s, as did the UPNI. In both cases the main beneficiaries of this were the Ulster Unionists, now under the leadership of [[James Molyneaux, Baron Molyneaux of Killead|James Molyneaux]] (1979–95).

=== Trimble leadership ===
[[David Trimble]] led the party between 1995 and 2005. His support for the [[Good Friday Agreement|Belfast Agreement]] caused a rupture within the party into pro-agreement and anti-agreement factions. Trimble served as [[First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland|First Minister of Northern Ireland]] in the power-sharing administration created under the [[Good Friday Agreement|Belfast Agreement]].

Unusually for a unionist party, the UUP had a Catholic [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)|MLA]] in the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]], [[John Gorman (politician)|Sir John Gorman]] until the 2003 election. In March 2005, the Orange Order voted to end its official links with the UUP. Trimble faced down Orange Order critics who tried to suspend him for his attendance at a Catholic funeral for a young boy killed by the [[Real Irish Republican Army|Real IRA]] in the [[Omagh bombing]]. In a sign of unity, Trimble and [[President of Ireland]] [[Mary McAleese]] walked into the church together.

In the 2001 general election, the Ulster Unionists lost a number of seats belonging to UUP stalwarts; for example, [[John Taylor, Baron Kilclooney|John Taylor]], the former deputy leader of the party, lost his seat of [[Strangford (UK Parliament constituency)|Strangford]] to [[Iris Robinson]].

The party held six seats at Westminster immediately before the 2005 general election, down from seven after the previous general election following the defection of [[Jeffrey Donaldson]] in 2004. The election resulted in the loss of five of their six seats. The only seat won by an Ulster Unionist was North Down, by [[Sylvia Hermon]], who had won the seat in the 2001 general election from Robert McCartney of [[UK Unionist Party]]. [[David Trimble]] himself lost his seat in [[Upper Bann (UK Parliament constituency)|Upper Bann]] and resigned as party leader soon after. The ensuing [[2005 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election|leadership election]] was won by [[Reg Empey]].

===Empey leadership===
In May 2006 UUP leader Empey attempted to create a new assembly group that would have included [[Progressive Unionist Party]] (PUP) leader [[David Ervine]]. The PUP is the political wing of the illegal [[Ulster Volunteer Force]] (UVF).<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4244082.stm | work=BBC News | title=What is the UVF? | date=14 September 2005 | access-date=9 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061222150309/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4244082.stm | archive-date=22 December 2006 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/politicsobituaries/story/0,,1985671,00.html | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=David Ervine | first=Henry | last=McDonald | date=8 January 2007 | access-date=9 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070119230756/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/politicsobituaries/story/0,,1985671,00.html | archive-date=19 January 2007 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/ulster/article301681.ece | title=Feuding loyalists bring the fear back to Belfast | work=The Independent | first=David | last=McKittrick | date=26 July 2005 | access-date=9 April 2010 | location=London | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215162524/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/ulster/article301681.ece | archive-date=15 December 2005 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Many in the UUP, including the last remaining MP, [[Sylvia Hermon]], were opposed to the move.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4772777.stm |work=BBC News |title=Row as Ervine joins UUP grouping |date=15 May 2006 |access-date=9 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308074312/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4772777.stm |archive-date=8 March 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4990810.stm | work=BBC News | title=MP 'distressed' over Ervine move | date=17 May 2006 | access-date=9 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308074308/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4990810.stm | archive-date=8 March 2008 | url-status=live }}</ref> The link was in the form of a new group called the 'Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Group' whose membership was the 24 UUP MLAs and Ervine. Empey justified the link by stating that under the [[d'Hondt method]] for allocating ministers in the Assembly, the new group would take a seat in the Executive from Sinn Féin.

Following a request for a ruling from the DUP's [[Peter Robinson (Northern Ireland politician)|Peter Robinson]], the Speaker ruled that the UUPAG was not a political party within the meaning of the [[Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/5335004.stm | work=BBC News | title=UUP-PUP link 'against the rules' | date=11 September 2006 | access-date=9 April 2010}}</ref>

The party lost 9 seats in the [[2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election]], retaining 18 MLAs.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6435755.stm DUP top in NI assembly election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321053752/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6435755.stm |date=21 March 2007 }}, ''[[BBC News Online]]'', 12 March 2007.</ref> Empey was the only leader of one of the four main parties not to be re-elected on first preference votes alone in the Assembly elections of March 2007.

In July 2008, the UUP and Conservative Party announced that a joint working group had been established to examine closer ties. On 26 February 2009, the Ulster Unionist Executive and area council of Northern Ireland Conservatives agreed to field joint candidates in future elections to the House of Commons and European Parliament under the name "[[Ulster Conservatives and Unionists|Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force]]" (UCUNF). The agreement meant that Ulster Unionist MPs could have sat in a Conservative Government, renewing the relationship that had broken down in 1974 over the [[Sunningdale Agreement]] and in 1985 over the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]].<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7913967.stm | work=BBC News | title=Lady Hermon under 'no pressure' | date=27 February 2009 | access-date=27 March 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302084626/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7913967.stm | archive-date=2 March 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Profile: Jim Nicholson | work = [[BBC News Online]] | date = 12 May 2009 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8039722.stm | access-date = 30 May 2009 | first = Mark | last = Devenport | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150205152548/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8039722.stm | archive-date = 5 February 2015 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/2450913/David-Cameron-launches-biggest-Conservative-shake-up-for-decades.html David Cameron launches biggest Conservative shake-up for decades] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223001413/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/2450913/David-Cameron-launches-biggest-Conservative-shake-up-for-decades.html |date=23 February 2011 }} ''The Daily Telegraph'' (London), 23 July 2008.</ref> The UUP's sole remaining MP at the time, Sylvia Hermon, opposed the agreement, stating she would not be willing to stand under the UCUNF banner.<ref>[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/hermon-why-she-rejected-tory-deal-14300527.html Hermon: why she rejected Tory deal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511130812/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/hermon-why-she-rejected-tory-deal-14300527.html |date=11 May 2010 }} ''Belfast Telegraph'', 14 May 2009.</ref>

In February 2010, Hermon confirmed that she would not be seeking a nomination as a UCUNF candidate for the forthcoming general election.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8529052.stm UUP MP Lady Sylvia Hermon rejects UCUNF candidacy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227022559/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8529052.stm |date=27 February 2010 }} BBC News, 23 February 2010.</ref> On 25 March 2010, she formally resigned from the party and announced that she would be standing as an independent candidate at the general election.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8586845.stm MP Lady Sylvia Hermon quits Ulster Unionists] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328171620/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8586845.stm |date=28 March 2010 }} BBC News, 25 March 2010.</ref> As a result, the UUP were left without representation in the House of Commons for the first time since the party's creation. At the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], UCUNF won no seats in Northern Ireland (while Hermon won hers as an independent). The UCUNF label was not used again.

===Elliott leadership===
Following the election, Empey resigned as leader. He was replaced by [[Tom Elliott (politician)|Tom Elliott]] as party leader in the subsequent [[2010 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election|leadership election]]. During the leadership election, it emerged that a quarter of the UUP membership came from [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone]], the constituency of Elliott.<ref>{{cite news |title=Legal threat to the UUP leadership race ebbs |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/legal-threat-to-the-uup-leadership-race-ebbs-28559410.html |access-date=16 January 2015 |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=17 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705112408/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/legal-threat-to-the-uup-leadership-race-ebbs-28559410.html |archive-date=5 July 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Dublin-based political magazine, ''[[The Phoenix (magazine)|the Phoenix]]'', described Elliott as a "blast from the past" and said that his election signified "a significant shift to the right" by the UUP.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thephoenix.ie/phoenix/subscriber/library/volume-28/issue-25/contents.pdf|title=Phoenix Magazine – Subscriber – Login}}</ref> Shortly after his election, three 2010 general election candidates resigned: Harry Hamilton, Paula Bradshaw and [[Trevor Ringland]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/troubled-backdrop-to-uup-conference-1-2360885|title=Troubled backdrop to UUP conference|website=www.newsletter.co.uk|access-date=19 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819232923/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/troubled-backdrop-to-uup-conference-1-2360885|archive-date=19 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Bradshaw and Hamilton subsequently joined the Alliance Party.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12189278 | work=BBC News | title=Queen tribute singer Harry Hamilton with Alliance Party | date=14 January 2011 | access-date=20 June 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104053022/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12189278 | archive-date=4 January 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Strandtown Hall, 2-4 Belmont Road, Belfast.jpg|thumb|UUP Headquarters – Strandtown Hall, Belfast]]
The party lost two seats in the [[2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2011 Assembly elections]] and won fewer votes than the nationalist [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] (SDLP) (although it won more seats than the SDLP). Two of its candidates, Bill Manwaring and Lesley Macaulay, subsequently joined the Conservative Party. In the [[2011 Northern Ireland local elections|2011 local elections]] it lost seats to the Alliance Party east of the Bann and was also overtaken by them on Belfast City Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/flg11.htm|title=The 2011 Local Government Elections in Northern Ireland|work=Ark – Northern Ireland Elections|access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref>

[[Tom Elliott (politician)|Tom Elliott]] was criticised for comments he made in his victory speech where he described elements of Sinn Féin as "scum".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0507/breaking1.html | newspaper=The Irish Times | title=DUP and Sinn Féin top polls in NI Assembly elections | date=5 May 2011 | access-date=8 May 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103011923/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0507/breaking1.html | archive-date=3 November 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref> Elliott resigned in March 2012 saying some people had not given him a 'fair opportunity' to develop and progress many party initiatives.<ref>{{cite news | last = Purdy | first = Martina | title = UUP leader Tom Elliott quitting as party leader | work = [[BBC News Online]] | date = 9 March 2012 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17306313 | access-date = 11 January 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170308090558/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17306313 | archive-date = 8 March 2017 | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Mike Nesbitt]] was elected leader on 31 March 2012, beating [[John McCallister]], by 536 votes to 129.<ref>{{cite news | title = Mike Nesbitt is new Ulster Unionist leader | work = [[BBC News Online]] | date = 31 March 2012 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17572015 | access-date = 11 January 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160131152755/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17572015 | archive-date = 31 January 2016 | url-status = live }}</ref>

===First Nesbitt leadership===
In the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014 European election]] [[Jim Nicholson (Northern Ireland politician)|Jim Nicholson]] held his MEP seat, although his percentage of the vote decreased to 13.3% (−3.8%). The party gained 15 seats in the [[2014 Northern Ireland local elections|local elections]] that same day. They polled 16.1% (+0.9%), making it the only party to increase its vote share.

At the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], the UUP returned to Westminster, gaining the South Antrim seat from the DUP and Fermanagh & South Tyrone (where they had an electoral pact with the DUP not standing) from Sinn Féin.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/results/northern_ireland | work=BBC News | title=Election 2015 results: Northern Ireland | date=6 May 2015 | access-date=20 June 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228065242/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/results/northern_ireland | archive-date=28 February 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016, the UUP and the SDLP decided not to accept the seats on the [[Northern Ireland Executive]] to which they would have been entitled and to form an official opposition to the executive. This marked the first time that a [[Devolution|devolved government]] in Northern Ireland did not include the UUP.

In the 2016 [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|European Union referendum]] the UUP was the only unionist party to support the remain campaign, the UUP Executive passing a motion on 5 March 2016 that the party "believes that on balance Northern Ireland is better remaining in the European Union, with the UK Government pressing for further reform and a return to the founding principle of free trade, not greater political union. The Party respects that individual members may vote for withdrawal."<ref>{{cite web|author=Ulster Unionist Party|url=http://uup.org/news/4155/21/Statement-from-the-Ulster-Unionist-Party|title=Statement from the Ulster Unionist Party on EU Referendum|publisher=Ulster Unionist Party|access-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306104017/http://uup.org/news/4155/21/Statement-from-the-Ulster-Unionist-Party|archive-date=6 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ulster-unionist-party-supports-staying-in-eu-34514128.html|title=Ulster Unionist Party supports staying in EU|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|date=5 March 2016|access-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322170229/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ulster-unionist-party-supports-staying-in-eu-34514128.html|archive-date=22 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Swann leadership===
At the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]] the UUP lost both of its Commons seats, losing South Antrim to the DUP and Fermanagh & South Tyrone to Sinn Féin.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2017/results/northern_ireland | work=BBC News | title=Election 2017 results: Northern Ireland | date=9 June 2017 | access-date=20 June 2018 | archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20170610013343/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2017/results/northern_ireland | archive-date=10 June 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> The party polled 10.3% (−5.7%) and failed to take any other seats.

In the [[2019 Northern Ireland local elections|2019 local elections]] the UUP polled 14.1% (−2.0) winning 75 council seats, 13 fewer than in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 May 2019 |title=The 2019 Local Government Elections in Northern Ireland |work=Ark Northern Ireland Elections |url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/flg19.htm/ |access-date=6 February 2022 |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101004000/https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/flg19.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

They lost their single MEP at the [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2019 European Parliament elections]] following the retirement of Jim Nicholson.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/eu-elections-2019/uup-members-will-decide-if-they-want-someone-else-to-lead-says-swann-38158259.html|title=UUP members will decide if they want someone else to lead, says Swann|work=belfasttelegraph|access-date=5 April 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809184815/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/eu-elections-2019/uup-members-will-decide-if-they-want-someone-else-to-lead-says-swann-38158259.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Danny Kennedy (politician)|Danny Kennedy]] stood as the UUP candidate polling 9.3% (−4.0%). [[Steve Aiken]] succeeded [[Robin Swann]] as leader in November 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-50360493|title=Steve Aiken takes over as new leader of Ulster Unionist Party|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=9 November 2019|access-date=9 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109184506/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-50360493|archive-date=9 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Aiken leadership===
The party increased its vote share to 11.7% (+1.4%) in the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], but failed to re-gain a seat. Their best result was in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, where Tom Elliott lost to Sinn Féin by 57 votes.

===Beattie leadership===
Steve Aiken resigned on 8 May 2021, and [[Doug Beattie]] was elected as [[Leaders of the Ulster Unionist Party|leader]] on 17 May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=belfastlive.co.uk|date=17 May 2021|title=Doug Beattie named new leader of the UUP|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/doug-beattie-named-new-leader-20613667|access-date=21 May 2021|website=BelfastLive|language=en|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521232302/https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/doug-beattie-named-new-leader-20613667|url-status=live}}</ref> Beattie, a former soldier, is perceived as a progressive unionist, and it was predicted that following his election as leader, the party would reclaim some of the centre ground that they had lost to the Alliance Party.<ref>{{cite news |title=Doug Beattie: Who is the new leader of the UUP? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57060947 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=17 May 2021}}</ref>

After Beattie became leader, a number of new members joined the party including former [[Belfast City Council|Belfast]] PUP councillor Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston, [[Derry City and Strabane District Council|Derry and Strabane]] DUP councillor Ryan McCready, former Independent [[Seanad Éireann|Irish Senator]] [[Ian Marshall (politician)|Ian Marshall]], Belfast Alliance Party councillor Carole Howard and Belfast PUP councillor [[John Kyle (Northern Ireland politician)|John Kyle]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 June 2021 |title=Former PUP councillor Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston joins Doug Beattie's UUP | work=Belfast Telegraph | url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/former-pup-councillor-julie-anne-corr-johnston-joins-doug-beatties-uup-but-claire-sugden-declines-offer-to-stay-independent-40494654.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=5 July 2021 |title=Ryan McCready: Ex-DUP councillor joins Ulster Unionists | work=BBC News | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57718868}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=27 July 2021 |title=Former Senator Ian Marshall joins Ulster Unionist Party | work=RTE News | url=https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2021/0727/1237504-ian-marshall-uup/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 December 2021 |title=Alliance councillor Carole Howard defects to UUP | work=BBC News | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-59631866}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 February 2022 |title=Dr John Kyle joins UUP weeks after quitting PUP | work=BBC News | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60332928}}</ref>

In October 2021, [[Newry and Mourne District Council|Newry and Mourne]] UUP councillor [[Harold McKee]] resigned from the party because of Beattie's promotion of 'liberal values'.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 October 2021 |title=UUP councillor quits over party's 'liberal values' | work=BBC News | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-59101854
}}</ref>

In January 2022, Beattie made what some saw as a [[misogynistic]] joke about [[Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs|DAERA]] minister [[Edwin Poots]] and his wife. After this, it was found that he had made other controversial jokes on social media, before entering politics, and he made a statement apologizing.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 January 2022 |title=Doug Beattie 'deeply ashamed' by past tweets |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-60111227 |access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 January 2022 |title=Doug Beattie to continue as Ulster Unionist leader after 'horrific' tweets |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/25/ulster-unionist-leader-doug-beattie-deeply-ashamed-over-horrific-tweets |access-date=6 July 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

The party contested all 18 constituencies in the [[2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2022 Assembly election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 April 2022 |title=NI election 2022: Candidates announced for assembly poll |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60999714}}</ref> They received 96,390 votes, 11.2% of the total, down 1.7% from the [[2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2017 Assembly election]]. They had 9 MLAs elected, down 1 from 2017 after [[Roy Beggs Jr]] lost his seat in [[East Antrim (Assembly constituency)|East Antrim]] to Alliance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northern Ireland Assembly Election Results 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2022/northern-ireland/results |access-date=6 May 2022 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In the [[2023 Northern Ireland local elections|2023 local elections]], Beattie characterised the election as a 'choice between delivery or dysfunction'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UUP Leader Beattie says Northern Ireland council elections 'choice between delivery or dysfunction' |url=https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-05-09/election-a-choice-between-delivery-or-dysfunction-says-uups-beattie}}</ref> The UUP ran 101 candidates across the 11 councils,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-18 |title=Northern Ireland council election candidates – Full list |language=en-GB |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/northern-ireland-council-election-candidates-full-list/1493315945.html |access-date=2023-08-18 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> with a manifesto pledging 'city and growth deals', the appointment of 'prompt payment champions' to each council, 'below inflation rate rises' and the devolution of regeneration powers to councils.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://assets.nationbuilder.com/uup/pages/40/attachments/original/1683212119/UUP_LE23_MANIFESTO_-_Making_NI_Work-_May23.pdf?1683212119|title=Ulster Unionist Party Local Government Election 2023 Making Northern Ireland Work}}</ref> They received 81,282 votes, 10.9% of the total, down 3.2% from the [[2019 Northern Ireland local elections|2019 local elections]]. The party had 54 councillors elected, down 21 from 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local election results 2023 in Northern Ireland |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2023/northern-ireland/results |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Following the losses for the UUP in the 2023 local elections, Beattie said that unionism was always likely to "take a hit across the board" due to [[Sinn Féin]]'s gains.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UUP Leader says unionism 'likely to take hit across the board' as SF make election gains |url=https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-05-19/unionism-likely-to-take-hit-as-sf-make-gains-beattie}}</ref>

Ahead of the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], the UUP 'absolutely' ruled out an [[electoral pact]] with the DUP. [[Robbie Butler]], the UUP's deputy leader, said that politics is about "maximising and having confidence in your own voice."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Brendan |date=2023-07-25 |title=UUP deputy leader 'absolutely' rules out electoral pact with DUP |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/uups-robbie-butler-absolutely-rules-27390486 |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=BelfastLive |language=en}}</ref> In January 2024, it was announced that Iraq veteran [[Tim Collins (British Army officer)|Tim Collins]] had joined the UUP and been selected as the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for the [[North Down (UK Parliament constituency)|North Down]] constituency.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 January 2024 |title=UUP: Iraq veteran Col Tim Collins to run in North Down | work=BBC News | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68087295}}</ref>

In May 2024, [[Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council|Antrim and Newtownabbey]] Councillor, Paul Michael quit the party following the decision to replace Robin Swann with Mike Nesbitt as [[Department of Health (Northern Ireland)|Health Minister]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 May 2024 |title=Councillor quits UUP over Mike Nesbitt health role | work=BBC News | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjmmjx9zewjo}}</ref>

The UUP returned to Westminster following the 2024 general election and [[Robin Swann|Robin Swann's]] victory in [[South Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)|South Antrim]]. Beattie announced he was stepping down as leader in August 2024 and was succeeded by former leader [[Mike Nesbitt]].