Sold a PUP?
UUP executive meets on Friday for first time since Sir Reg’s controversial alliance with UVF-linked party… and it’s predicted to get ‘hot and heavy’
By Joe Oliver
18 June 2006
Sir Reg Empey this week faces his first major crisis since taking up the reins of the Ulster Unionist Party.
For members of the UUP executive are to meet on Friday to have their say on the party’s controversial alliance with PUP boss David Ervine.
And last night one senior party officer told us: “It’s the first time the executive will have met since the deal and there’s no doubt the issue will dominate proceedings.
“It’s likely to be hot and heavy and the outcome is difficult to forecast - something which Sir Reg is well aware of.”
Around 100 members sit on the executive - including representatives from the 18 constituency associations, MLAs, the Women’s Association and Young Unionists.
It also includes the party’s only remaining MP, Lady Sylvia Hermon, who is an outspoken critic of the pact.
We can also reveal that some executive members will be meeting privately before Friday’s showdown with Sir Reg at the party’s Cunningham House HQ in Belfast.
They are hoping to secure enough support to persuade their party leader to sever the link now because of on-going UVF violence.
Sir Reg has come under mounting criticism since inviting Mr Ervine on board in a bid to ensure there would be a majority of unionist ministers in a future Assembly executive.
Two prominent party members have already defected to the Conservative Party with one of them - Down District councillor Peter Bowles - making it clear he did not want to be a member of a party with paramilitary connections.
The outlawed loyalist terror group is known to have been involved in the murder bid on former UVF commander Mark Haddock three weeks ago.
And Sunday Life revealed last week that a cousin of anti-UVF campaigner Raymond McCord was attacked by former pals of Special Branch spy Haddock.
Said one executive member: “There’s no suggestion that Sir Reg’s leadership is on the line, but the growing view of many is that the party has been unnecessarily tarnished.
“The UVF remains armed, active and dangerous and many feel the party must urgently review its links with a spokesman for that organisation.”
Sir Reg has pledged to stand by his alliance with Mr Ervine and to seek an end to all loyalist paramilitary activity.
A party spokesman said yesterday: “Sir Reg has made his position clear.
“His arrangement with Mr Ervine can be reassessed at any time if the UVF is being disingenuous and shows no sign of giving up its weapons.”
