Ulster Unionists to decide new party leader
Ulster Unionists will today decide who will take over from David Trimble as the party recovers from heavy election losses.
Delegates on the Ulster Unionist Council will gather at a south Belfast hotel this evening to choose from three candidates from their Assembly Group.
They are former Stormont Economy Minister and East Belfast Assembly member Reg Empey; ex-British army major and North Down MLA Alan McFarland, who is a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board and Strangford MLA David McNarry, a former aide to Mr Trimble and member of the loyalist Commission.
David Trimble was forced to resign last month after the party lost four of its five Westminster seats in the general election, including his own in Upper Bann.
The party also sustained heavy losses in Northern Ireland’s local government elections last month.
Mr Trimble’s successor will have to rebuild the party organisation and also inject confidence into the rank and file that they can challenge the DUP.
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