Ulster Unionist Party

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP or simply the Unionist Party ) is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland, and was the party of government in Northern Ireland between 1921 and 1972. Until 2003 it was the largest party, but it has been overtaken by the Democratic Unionist Party.

The Orange Order

The UUP maintained a formal connection with the Orange Order from its foundation until 2005. Only three of the party's Westminster MPs (Enoch Powell, Ken Maginnis and Sylvia Hermon) have not been members. This was a factor in discouraging Catholic membership of the party, and limiting their advancement within it. The Order severed the connection after most of its membership transferred their allegiance to the Democratic Unionist Party. The influence of the Orange Order in the Government of Northern Ireland was far-reaching. All of the six Prime Ministers of Northern Ireland were members of the Order, as were all but three cabinet ministers until 1969. Three of the ministers later left the Order, one because his daughter married a Catholic, one to become Minister of Community Relations in 1970, and the third was expelled for attending a Catholic religious ceremony. Of the 95 Stormont MPs who did not become cabinet ministers, 87 were Orangemen. Every unionist Senator, with one exception, between 1921 and 1969 was an Orangeman. One of these senators, James Gyle, was suspended from the Order for seven years for visiting nationalist MP Joe Devlin on his deathbed.

Related Topics:
Orange Order - Enoch Powell - Ken Maginnis - Sylvia Hermon - Democratic Unionist Party - Government of Northern Ireland - Prime Ministers of Northern Ireland

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