PLANS FOR a new Conservative/Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) electoral alliance were advanced yesterday with the appointment of a joint committee to advise on the selection of candidates ahead of the forthcoming European and Westminster elections.
Obstacles to a full merger of the two parties were pointed up, however, with the confirmation that Lord (Ken) Maginnis has been appointed as one of the Ulster Unionist negotiators.
Conservative leader David Cameron and UUP leader Sir Reg Empey have spoken of creating a new political force in Northern Ireland. Lord Maginnis, however, is one of a number of senior unionists insisting that the UUP will maintain its own identity even while entering "a working relationship" with the Conservatives. Following last November's endorsement of a memorandum of understanding, the two parties yesterday announced the composition of the joint committee, which is tasked to report by the end of this month on the priority issues of manifesto commitments, the "branding" or title of joint candidates and candidate selection procedures.
In addition to Lord Maginnis, the UUP members are Assembly member Danny Kennedy, party chairman David Campbell and party treasurer Cllr Mark Cosgrove. The Conservative members are Owen Paterson MP, Neil Johnston and Jeffrey Peel (chairman and vice chairman of the Northern Ireland Conservatives) and Paul Megarity, chairman of North Down Conservative Association.