Empey addresses party executive
Sir Reg said the move would cost Sinn Fein a ministerial seat
Sir Reg Empey has reported to the Ulster Unionist Party’s executive for the first time since his controversial alliance with PUP leader David Ervine.
The meeting marked Sir Reg’s first year as party leader.
A source told the BBC there was some dissent over the PUP assembly link, but Sir Reg had been broadly supported.
UUP chairman David Campbell reiterated the party’s determination to seek devolution on acceptable terms to avoid the “damaging policies” of direct rule.
Members also discussed party finances, after the Electoral Commission queried its accounting.
Sir Reg left the meeting without making any comment.
Ministerial seat
Controversy over the PUP link erupted on 15 May when NI’s politicians took their seats in the assembly for the first time since October 2002.
At that time, Sir Reg said the move would cost Sinn Fein a ministerial seat.
The DUP said by linking with the PUP, the UUP were “allying” themselves with terrorism.
Sylvia Hermon, the party’s only MP, had called for the link to be severed because of ongoing activity by the UVF, to which the PUP is connected.
Lady Hermon warned the party had become “a hostage to fortune”.
Earlier this month, the Electoral Commission said it had asked the police to examine the discovery of two undisclosed bank accounts linked to the Ulster Unionist Party.
The government watchdog has been talking to the party about funds which should have been disclosed to it amounting to about £50,000.
