Ulster Unionist councillor defects to UKIP ?

Dan · 08-02-2007, 12:46 PM

I'm not sure that the UK Unionist Party exists as a 'political party' in the proper sense any more. It seems to be merely a vehicle for Robert McCartney, who should actually be considered an independent with a group of supporters, rather than the leader of a 'political party'. The Electoral Commission return for the UKUP for the latest financial year show a party membership of 100 and a yearly income of £461.40. If he doesn't retain his seat on the Northern Ireland Assembly in the forthcoming elections (which isn't guarenteed), I do wonder whether the UKUP is disappear off the radar altogether. It exists as a means for McCartney to get re-elected, and doesn't seem to do anything else these days.

It's perhaps with this in mind that Councillor Reilly has joined UKIP??

This-England · 08-02-2007, 01:05 PM

Wonder why this Councillor didnt join the DUP?

Sovereignty NI · 08-02-2007, 01:20 PM

It's been confirmed :

http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=79940&pt=n

"UKIP councillor stands in South Down

Northern Ireland's first UK Independent Party councillor is to stand for a seat in the Assembly, he has confirmed.
By:Press Association

Newry and Mourne councillor Henry Reilly, who defected this week from the Ulster Unionists to UKIP, announced plans to run in the March 7 Assembly Election in South Down."

Tom Wilde · 08-02-2007, 02:54 PM

Thanks for the link - here is the complete report:

Quote:

THURSDAY 08/02/2007 10:18:12

UKIP councillor stands in South Down

Northern Ireland's first UK Independent Party councillor is to stand for a seat in the Assembly, he has confirmed.
By:Press Association

Newry and Mourne councillor Henry Reilly, who defected this week from the Ulster Unionists to UKIP, announced plans to run in the March 7 Assembly Election in South Down.

He also predicted that more people in Northern Ireland would join the national party in the coming weeks and months.

"I`ve been an Ulster Unionist councillor since 1989 but find life very difficult in it since the split in 2004," he said.

"The Ulster Unionists have become a pressure group rather than a political party.

"I have always enjoyed national politics.

"The UK Independence Party is a growing party nationally with an increasing appeal to voters who understand the reason for their demand for Britain`s withdrawal from the European Union.

"However it also has an excellent flat rate tax policy and solid education policies."

Mr Reilly`s application to join UKIP was approved at a meeting of the party`s national executive on Monday following months of discussions.

The new UKIP councillor said there had been a positive response to his decision to switch party allegiances and he expected more people to follow his lead.

"Northern Ireland could be fertile ground for the party," he said.

"UKIP is bringing a non-sectarian platform to Northern Ireland politics.

"People see the Tories as an old, tired party running out of steam and they look at Labour and its unwillingness to get involved in politics in Northern Ireland."

The Conservatives are fielding candidates in the Assembly Election, with former Ulster Unionist junior minister James Leslie bidding for a seat in North Down.

The Northern Ireland Green Party, which has forged close links with its sister parties in Scotland and the Irish Republic, is also bidding for its first Assembly seat, with Brian Wilson carrying the party`s hopes in North Down.

Excellent! 8)

Tom Wilde · 08-02-2007, 03:10 PM

From the district council website, link already posted:

Quote:

Newry and Mourne is a beautiful scenic area steeped in history, mythology and legend.

The old historic town of Newry, which is the Gateway to the North on the East Coast of Ireland, nestles between two areas of outstanding natural beauty which are the splendid Mountains of Mourne in South Down and the Ring of Gullion in South Armagh. Newry also has so much to offer to the prospective visitor, with its reputation as one of the best provincial shopping towns in Ireland. The town also has two of the oldest churches in Ireland.

The council seems to be very mixed politically, with members from DUP, UUP, SDLP, quite a few SF, one IND, one Green and now one from UKIP.

Dan · 08-02-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wilde

UKIP councillor stands in South Down

"I`ve been an Ulster Unionist councillor since 1989 but find life very difficult in it since the split in 2004," he said. "The Ulster Unionists have become a pressure group rather than a political party.

Err, so, this Councillor decides to defect to UKIP because he's worried the Ulster Unionist Party is turning into a pressure group?!?!

Discuss.......!

Independent UKIP · 08-02-2007, 03:58 PM

In the Northern Ireland Assembly South Down has 2 SDLP, 2 SF, 1 UUP and 1 DUP. The 2003 results are below. The UKUP candidate didn't do terribly well but I suspect our new UKIP member has some personal following and will do much better than that. I won't currently predict that he will get on the Assembly though.

http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/members...const_sd03.htm

Candidate (Party) No. 1st
Preference Votes Elected on Count
Jim Wells (DUP) 6,789 Elected 1st Count
Dermot Nesbitt (UUP) 5,368 Elected 8th Count
PJ Bradley (SDLP) 5,337 Elected 5th Count
Catriona Ruane (SF) 5,118 Elected 9th Count
Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) 4,261 Elected 9th Count
Willie Clarke (SF) 4,083 Elected 9th Count
Eamonn O'Neill (SDLP) 3,942
Jim Donaldson (UUP) 2,885
Eamonn McConvey (SF) 2,806
Marian Fitzpatrick (SDLP) 2,382
Raymond Blaney (Green) 799
Trudy Miller (NIWC) 565
Neil Powell (ALL) 489
Nelson Wharton (UKUP) 245
Malachi Curran (IND) 162
Desmond O'Hagan (WP) 115

Sovereignty NI · 08-02-2007, 07:17 PM

The news now has its own thread on Slugger :
http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/w...tands-for-mla/

Quote:

UKIP councillor stands for MLA…
PA reports: “Newry and Mourne councillor Henry Reilly, who defected this week from the Ulster Unionists to UKIP, announced plans to run in the March 7 Assembly Election in South Down”. Mr Reilly is thought to have some substantial financial backing. He is also a former Mayor of Newry and Mourne. He came second in the Mournes area last time out, and may help put a squeeze on the Unionist vote in the area, providing he can get the UKIP message out, outside of this own council patch.

No indication of where the 'substantial financial backing comes from.

Some idea of the motivation for Clr Reilly's defection might be found in this news report :

http://www.newrydemocrat.com/news/st...=6838&cat=news

Quote:

EC decisions ‘landed fishermen in court’

A LEADING figure in the fishing industry has claimed that “adverse and ill-judged decisions dictated by the European Commission” lay behind the offences admitted at Liverpool Crown Court by a number of Kilkeel fishermen and companies.........

.......Mournes councillor Henry Reilly said that while law breaking can’t be condoned, there is considerable sympathy in Kilkeel for people who were trying to make a living. “There are pubs and houses in Kilkeel where young lives are being destroyed by drug dealers and we’re told that there aren’t the resources to tackle that trade,” the UUP rep said. “But the authorities have the resources to criminalise the Irish Sea fishermen.”

Hereward77 · 08-02-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by This-England

Wonder why this Councillor didnt join the DUP?

Because UKIP is a non-sectarian party. He said: "UKIP is bringing a non-sectarian platform to Northern Ireland politics."

This-England · 08-02-2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hereward77

Quote:

Originally Posted by This-England

Wonder why this Councillor didnt join the DUP?

Because UKIP is a non-sectarian party. He said: "UKIP is bringing a non-sectarian platform to Northern Ireland politics."

He will have no chance of retaining his seat.
Only 8% of Northern Irish Catholics consider themselves British.

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08-02-2007, 12:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
Dan Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 155	I'm not sure that the UK Unionist Party exists as a 'political party' in the proper sense any more. It seems to be merely a vehicle for Robert McCartney, who should actually be considered an independent with a group of supporters, rather than the leader of a 'political party'. The Electoral Commission return for the UKUP for the latest financial year show a party membership of 100 and a yearly income of £461.40. If he doesn't retain his seat on the Northern Ireland Assembly in the forthcoming elections (which isn't guarenteed), I do wonder whether the UKUP is disappear off the radar altogether. It exists as a means for McCartney to get re-elected, and doesn't seem to do anything else these days. It's perhaps with this in mind that Councillor Reilly has joined UKIP??

08-02-2007, 01:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
This-England Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,682	Wonder why this Councillor didnt join the DUP?

08-02-2007, 01:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
Sovereignty NI Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 112	It's been confirmed : http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=79940&pt=n "UKIP councillor stands in South Down Northern Ireland's first UK Independent Party councillor is to stand for a seat in the Assembly, he has confirmed. By:Press Association Newry and Mourne councillor Henry Reilly, who defected this week from the Ulster Unionists to UKIP, announced plans to run in the March 7 Assembly Election in South Down."

08-02-2007, 03:58 PM	#17 (permalink)
Independent UKIP Uber Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 2,492	In the Northern Ireland Assembly South Down has 2 SDLP, 2 SF, 1 UUP and 1 DUP. The 2003 results are below. The UKUP candidate didn't do terribly well but I suspect our new UKIP member has some personal following and will do much better than that. I won't currently predict that he will get on the Assembly though. http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/members...const_sd03.htm Candidate (Party) No. 1st Preference Votes Elected on Count Jim Wells (DUP) 6,789 Elected 1st Count Dermot Nesbitt (UUP) 5,368 Elected 8th Count PJ Bradley (SDLP) 5,337 Elected 5th Count Catriona Ruane (SF) 5,118 Elected 9th Count Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) 4,261 Elected 9th Count Willie Clarke (SF) 4,083 Elected 9th Count Eamonn O'Neill (SDLP) 3,942 Jim Donaldson (UUP) 2,885 Eamonn McConvey (SF) 2,806 Marian Fitzpatrick (SDLP) 2,382 Raymond Blaney (Green) 799 Trudy Miller (NIWC) 565 Neil Powell (ALL) 489 Nelson Wharton (UKUP) 245 Malachi Curran (IND) 162 Desmond O'Hagan (WP) 115