Formed in 1904-5 as the Ulster Unionist Council to resist the threat of all-Ireland devolution, it consisted of representatives of local unionist institutions, the presbyterian church, the Orange order, and loyalist MPs. It brought protestant landowners, businessmen, and working class together successfully to oppose the third Home Rule Bill, 1912-14. It was led by southern unionist Sir Edward Carson 1910-21, and then by Sir James Craig, key organizer in the preceding period and the first Northern Ireland prime minister 1921-40. The Ulster Unionists became the single party controlling the Northern Ireland government and Parliament 1921-68. The civil rights crisis from 1967 and the reluctant involvement of the British government placed enormous strains on party unity and resulted in a challenge from traditional unionist sources. It divided over the power-sharing executive 1973-4, the majority deserting Brian Faulkner's leadership and helping its demise. It has remained the majority representative of Northern unionist opinion, despite an increasing challenge from the Democratic Unionist Party. The UUP opposed the Anglo-Irish agreement 1985, but extremely cautiously supported the Downing Street declaration of 1993, and the Good Friday agreement of 1998. The latter placed a severe strain on the party as the IRA reneged on its commitment to decommission its weapons. It suffered a crushing defeat at the general election of 2005 and was reduced to one seat at Westminster. Its leader, David Trimble, lost his seat at Upper Bann and resigned immediately.

A Dictionary of British History. Copyright © 2001, 2004 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.