Progressive Unionist Party

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Distinguish Template:Use Hiberno-English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox political party The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) is a minor unionist<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979. Linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Red Hand Commando (RHC), for a time it described itself as "the only left of centre unionist party" in Northern Ireland, with its main support base in the loyalist working class communities of Belfast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Since the Ulster Democratic Party's dissolution in 2001, the PUP has been the sole party in Northern Ireland representing paramilitary loyalism.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The PUP has one elected representative on the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Russell Watton, the party's current leader.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The party was founded by Hugh Smyth in the mid-1970s as the "Independent Unionist Group" given the dissolution of the 1974 Volunteer Political Party. In 1977, two prominent members of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, David Overend and Jim McDonald, joined. Overend subsequently wrote many of the group's policy documents, incorporating much of the NILP's platform.<ref name="edwards">Aaron Edwards, A history of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, p.219</ref><ref>Ed Moloney, Voices from the Grave: Two Men's War in Ireland, p.396</ref> In 1979, the group was renamed the "Progressive Unionist Party".

Their position on the left of the political spectrum differentiates them from other unionist parties (such as the Ulster Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party) which are ideologically right-wing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The party has had a degree of electoral success. In 1994, PUP leader Hugh Smyth became Lord Mayor of Belfast.

Northern Ireland Peace Process

In 1995, shortly after the Combined Loyalist Military Command announced a ceasefire, former UVF member Billy Hutchinson, who was jailed for the murder of two Catholics in 1974, defined the relationship between the PUP and the UVF: "The relationship is a very strict one in terms of acting as political confidants and providing political analysis for them, but it doesn't go any deeper than that."<ref>Brian Rowan, Behind the Lines: The Story of the IRA and Loyalist Ceasefires' (Belfast: Blackstaff Press, 1995), p. 141</ref>

Northern Ireland Forum

The PUP participated in elections to the Northern Ireland Forum in May 1996. No constituency candidates were elected, but as one of the tenth best-performing parties on the list vote, they secured two seats, with Smyth and David Ervine both being elected.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The PUP supported the Belfast Agreement.

1997 general and local elections

The PUP stood candidates for the first time at a general election in 1997: Hugh Smyth in South Antrim, Ervine in Belfast South and Kenny Donaldson in East Antrim.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They amassed 10,928 votes, and no seats.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The party fared better at the simultaneous local elections, increasing their total number of councillors to seven. Ervine and Hutchinson joined Smyth in Belfast, and gains were made in North Down, Lisburn and Newtownabbey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election

Following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, elections to the new Northern Ireland Assembly were held, which the PUP contested. Candidates included: Belfast councillors Smyth, Ervine and Billy Hutchinson, who stood in West, East and North Belfast, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

They registered 20,634 votes (2.55%), and both Ervine and Hutchinson were elected to the Assembly. Notably, Smyth missed out on getting elected in West Belfast, in which no unionist candidates were returned in that constituency. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Incidentally, the Ulster Democratic Party failed to elect any candidates, making the PUP the only loyalist party to win representation in the Assembly.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Post-Good Friday Agreement

1999 European Parliament elections

Ervine was the PUP candidate for the Northern Ireland constituency at the 1999 European elections. He polled 22,494 first-preference votes, and was not elected.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2001 general and local elections

The PUP stood two candidates for the 2001 general election: Ervine in Belfast East, and Dawn Purvis in Belfast South. In total, the party received 4,781 votes (0.6%), and no seats. Ervine was the best-performing candidate out of the two, winning 10% of the vote in Belfast East, and the only one to retain their deposit.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The party held four of the seven seats they were defending at the concurrent local elections, but did make a gain in Castlereagh.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ervine era

2003 Assembly election

The PUP put up candidates for the 2003 Assembly election, including both Assembly members and Smyth.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Overall, their vote dropped by 1.2% to 8,032 votes Template:-- a large decline when compared to their success of over 20,000 votes in 1998.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hutchinson lost his seat, while Ervine held his. With no other candidates elected, this left Ervine as the PUP's only representative in the Assembly.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2005 local elections and subsequent activity

The party made a poor showing at the 2005 local elections, losing half of their seats. This left Ervine and Smyth in Belfast as the only PUP candidates to be returned.<ref>Template:Cite web </ref>

Following a loyalist feud between the UVF and Loyalist Volunteer Force, during which four men were murdered by the UVF in Belfast and recognition of the UVF's ceasefire was withdrawn by the British government, the PUP debated ending its "special relationship" with the UVF. This idea was defeated in a closed vote at the party's annual conference in October 2005.

In March 2006, the Chairwoman of the PUP, Dawn Purvis, a research-associate at the University of Ulster, was appointed as an independent member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

Death of David Ervine and Purvis leadership

David Ervine died following a heart attack on 8 January 2007. On 22 January 2007 Dawn Purvis was chosen as party leader.<ref>New PUP leader seeks Ervine seat Template:Webarchive, BBC News, 23 January 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2009.</ref> She is the second woman to lead a unionist party in Northern Ireland (after Anne Dickson's short-lived leadership of the Unionist Party of Northern Ireland following Brian Faulkner's retirement). Dr John Kyle was co-opted on to Belfast City Council to fill Ervine's seat.

2007 Assembly election

The PUP fielded three candidates for the 2007 Assembly election: Elaine Martin in North Down, Andrew Park in Belfast South and Dawn Purvis in Belfast East. Overall the party polled 3,822 votes or 0.6% of the votes cast in Northern Ireland, down 0.6% from the elections of 2003.

Purvis retained her party's seat in Belfast East, while no other PUP candidates were elected.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 resignations and relationship with UVF/RHC

The party did not field any candidates for the 2010 general elections - party members were encouraged to vote for a candidate of their choice.

In June 2010, Dawn Purvis resigned as leader, and as a member, of the party because of its relationship with the UVF and a recent murder attributed to that group. John Kyle was subsequently appointed interim leader, following Purvis's resignation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 28 August 2010 the former deputy leader, David Rose, resigned from the party. He cited the recent murder attributed to the UVF and his belief that the party was "becoming increasingly conservative in outlook.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During a meeting in Belfast on 29 September 2010, members of the party agreed to maintain its relationship with the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite the links with the UVF, Billy Hutchinson acknowledges that most UVF members vote for the larger Democratic Unionist Party.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2011 local and Assembly elections and Brian Ervine's leadership

Brian Ervine was appointed PUP leader in October 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At their manifesto launch for the 2011 Assembly and local elections, the PUP revealed their manifesto pledges, including: a balanced economy, greater integrated education and building a full-size replica of the RMS Titanic to be docked in Belfast Harbour. Additionally, Ervine announced that he would be standing in Belfast East, and that the party would be running local candidates in Larne, Castlereagh and Derry as well as in Belfast and Antrim.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

No PUP candidates were elected to the Assembly, leaving the party without representation for the first time since 1998. Ervine himself finished behind Purvis who had run for re-election as an independent. She, too, was not elected.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Despite losing their Assembly seat, the PUP did return their two councillors in Belfast. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A month after the elections, Ervine announced his resignation as party leader, and later was replaced by veteran west Belfast activist Billy Hutchinson in October 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hutchinson leadership

Hutchinson succeeded Hugh Smyth on Belfast City Council in January 2014, following the latter's retirement due to ill health.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2014 local elections

The PUP stood candidates for the new 'super councils' at the 2014 local elections, doubling their total number of representatives from two to four.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Belfast, deputy leader John Kyle was re-elected, this time for the Titanic district, while Hutchinson topped the poll in Court. The party were also joined on the council by Julie Anne Corr-Johnston, who regained a seat in Oldpark for the party.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Coleraine candidate, Russell Watton, was the first to be elected in that district.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Smyth died during the election campaign.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2016 and 2017 Assembly elections

The PUP stood six candidates at the 2016 Assembly election, but, despite an increase in their overall vote, no candidates were elected.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Their support dipped slightly at the snap election in 2017, but did see an increase in their votes in North and East Belfast.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2019 local elections

The party stood candidates at the 2019 local elections, including all four of their incumbent councillors. No further gains were made, with the party only losing their seat in Oldpark.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Northern Ireland Protocol

Following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, the PUP have been protesting against the Northern Ireland Protocol, part of the arrangements to prevent a 'hard border' in the Irish Sea. The party believes that the Protocol inhibits the Principle of consent, leading to Hutchinson saying that the PUP no longer support the Good Friday Agreement in November 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Conversely, in an interview on BBC's The View programme, John Kyle stated that the Protocol could have "significant advantages" if "fundamental" changes are made. Kyle's remarks sparked outrage among unionists, with the PUP releasing a statement clarifying that the party still remains opposed to the Protocol, and that Kyle was giving a personal view.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Kyle subsequently resigned as both deputy leader and a member of the party three weeks later, citing "differing approaches" in regard to the Protocol.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2022 Assembly election

The party stood only three candidates at the 2022 Assembly election, with Hutchinson standing in North Belfast, Russell Watton in East Londonderry and Karl Bennett in East Belfast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

No candidates were elected, with the PUP seeing a 52% drop in their support, compared to 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2023 local elections

The PUP had four candidates at the May local elections, with one candidate each across Belfast, Causeway Coast and Glens, Antrim and Newtownabbey and Mid and East Antrim.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The party polled 2,103 votes (0.3%) overall, and were wiped out in Belfast, with Hutchinson losing out to the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the Causeway Coast and Glens, Watton retained his seat, making him the sole PUP candidate to be elected.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

A month after the elections, Hutchinson resigned as leader, with Watton taking over the role.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Notable members

Former UVF member Billy Giles, who spent 14 years in the Maze Prison for a sectarian killing, was part of the PUP's negotiating team at the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998.<ref>Taylor, Peter (1999). Loyalists. London: Bloomsbury. p.8</ref> Others involved in this process included Billy Mitchell, David Ervine, Jim McDonald, William 'Billy' Greer, Winston Churchill Rea and William "Plum" Smyth; all former UVF and Red Hand Commando members.

Party leaders

Leader		From	To
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" | 1	Hugh Smyth	1979	2002
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" | 2	David Ervine	2002	2007
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" | 3	Dawn Purvis	2007	2010
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" | 4	Brian Ervine	2010	2011
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" | 5	Billy Hutchinson	2011	2023
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;" | 6	Russell Watton	2023	Incumbent

Electoral performance

UK general elections

1997 UK general election

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%	Position
Belfast South	Template:Sortname	5,687	14.4	3
East Antrim	Template:Sortname	1,757	5.1	5
South Antrim	Template:Sortname	3,490	9.0	4

2001 UK general election

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%	Position
Belfast East	Template:Sortname	3,669	10.0	4
Belfast South	Template:Sortname	1,112	2.9	6

Northern Ireland Assembly

Election	Seats won	±	First Pref votes	%	±
1998	Template:Composition bar	Template:Steady	20,634	2.6%	Template:Steady
2003	Template:Composition bar	Template:Decrease1	8,032	1.2%	Template:Decrease1.4%
2007	Template:Composition bar	Template:Steady	3,822	0.6%	Template:Decrease1.2%
2011	Template:Composition bar	Template:Decrease1	1,493	0.2%	Template:Decrease0.4%
2016	Template:Composition bar	Template:Steady	5,955	0.9%	Template:Increase0.7%
2017	Template:Composition bar	Template:Steady	5,590	0.7%	Template:Decrease0.2%
2022	Template:Composition bar	Template:Steady	2,665	0.3%	Template:Decrease0.4%

Local elections

Election	Seats won	±	First Pref votes	%	±
1981	Template:Composition bar	N/A	3,057	0.5%	N/A
1985	Template:Composition bar	Template:Increase1	3,612	0.6%	Template:Increase 0.1
1989	Template:Composition bar	Template:Steady	3,839	0.6%	Template:Steady
1993	Template:Composition bar	Template:Decrease2	2,350	0.4%	Template:Decrease 0.2
1997	Template:Composition bar	Template:Increase 6	12,051	2%	Template:Increase 1.6
2001	Template:Composition bar	Template:Decrease 3	12,261	1.55%	Template:Decrease 0.45
2005	Template:Composition bar	Template:Decrease 2	4,591	0.7%	Template:Decrease 0.85
2011	Template:Composition bar	Template:Steady	3,858	0.6%	Template:Decrease 0.1
2014	Template:Composition bar	Template:Increase 1	12,753	2.0%	Template:Increase 1.4
2019	Template:Composition bar	Template:Decrease1	5,338	0.79%	Template:Decrease 1.21
2023	Template:Composition bar	Template:Decrease2	2,103	0.3%	Template:Decrease 0.5

See also

• Northern Ireland Assembly
• 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election
• 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election
• 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election
• 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election

External links

• http://www.pupni.com/
• PUP Manifesto - Assembly Elections 2003 - "How long are you prepared to wait?"