View source for Progressive Unionist Party

{{Short description|Political party in Northern Ireland}}
{{About||the political group founded in 1938|Ulster Progressive Unionist Association|the Egyptian political group|National Progressive Unionist Party}}
{{distinguish|Protestant Unionist Party}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date = March 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox political party
| abbreviation     = PUP
| country          = Northern Ireland
| name             = Progressive Unionist Party
| logo             = Progressive Unionist Party logo.svg
| logo_size        = 250px
| leader           = [[Russell Watton]]
| chairman         = Brian Lacey
|president       = [[Billy Hutchinson]] 
| foundation       = {{start date|1979}}
| founder          = [[Hugh Smyth]]
| predecessor      = [[Volunteer Political Party]]
| ideology         = [[Unionism in Ireland|British unionism]]<br />[[Ulster loyalism]]<br />{{nowrap|[[Democratic socialism]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Edwards |first1=Aaron |year=2007 |title=Democratic Socialism and Sectarianism: The Northern Ireland Labour Party and Progressive Unionist Party Compared |journal=Politics |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=24–31 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-9256.2007.00275.x |s2cid=145393084 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=New Statesman: Volume 131, Issues 4569-4576 |year=2002 |publisher=[[New Statesman]] |location=London |page=56 |url=https://books.google.com/books?ei=GDG7TdfTOoGq8AOb8ZzcBQ }}</ref>}}<br />[[Social democracy]] 
| position         = {{Nowrap|[[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pupni.com/assets/images/articles/A_Left-Wing_Voice_in.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704081902/http://pupni.com/assets/images/articles/A_Left-Wing_Voice_in.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northernslant.com/socialist-alternative-northern-ireland/|title=A socialist alternative for Northern Ireland?|first=John|last=Coulter|date=11 September 2019|website=Northern Slant|access-date=9 August 2020|archive-date=4 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704083547/https://www.northernslant.com/socialist-alternative-northern-ireland/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> to [[left-wing]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northernslant.com/socialist-alternative-northern-ireland/|title=A socialist alternative for Northern Ireland?|first=John|last=Coulter|date=11 September 2019|website=Northern Slant|access-date=9 August 2020|archive-date=4 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704083547/https://www.northernslant.com/socialist-alternative-northern-ireland/|url-status=usurped}}</ref>}}
| wing1_title      = Paramilitary wing
| wing1            = [[Ulster Volunteer Force]]<br />[[Red Hand Commando]]
| colours          = {{colour box|{{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}} Blue and {{colour box|#FF0000}} red
| colorcode        = {{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}
| seats1_title     = [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|Northern Irish seats in the House of Commons]]
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|0|18|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| seats2_title     = [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]
| seats2           = {{Composition bar|0|90|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| seats3_title     = [[Local government in Northern Ireland]]
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|1|462|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
}}
The '''Progressive Unionist Party''' ('''PUP''') is a minor [[Unionism in Ireland|unionist]]<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229194809/http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/nireland.html|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/nireland.html|archive-date=29 December 2015|year=2011|title=Northern Ireland/UK|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[list of political parties in Northern Ireland|political party]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the [[Shankill, Belfast|Shankill]] area of [[Belfast]], becoming the PUP in 1979. Linked to the [[Ulster Volunteer Force (1966)|Ulster Volunteer Force]] (UVF) and [[Red Hand Commando]] (RHC), for a time it described itself as "the only [[centre-left|left of centre]] unionist party" in Northern Ireland, with its main support base in the [[Ulster loyalism|loyalist]] [[working class]] communities of Belfast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pup-ni.org.uk/party/yourquestions.aspx |title=Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) - Your Questions |publisher=Pup-ni.org.uk |access-date=15 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206143218/http://www.pup-ni.org.uk/party/yourquestions.aspx |archive-date=6 December 2009 }}</ref>

Since the [[Ulster Democratic Party]]'s dissolution in 2001, the PUP has been the sole party in Northern Ireland representing [[Loyalist paramilitaries|paramilitary loyalism]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Albert|first=Cornelia|title=The Peacebuilding Elements of the Belfast Agreement and the Transformation of the Northern Ireland Conflict|year=2009|isbn=9783631585917|page=60|publisher=Peter Lang }}</ref>

The PUP has one elected representative on the [[Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council]], [[Russell Watton]], the party's current leader.<ref>{{cite web|title = PUP appoint Russell Watton as their new leader|url = https://nielects.com/news/2023/06/15/pup-appoint-russell-watton-as-their-new-leader/|date = 15 June 2023|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</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 [[Unionism in Ireland|unionist]] parties (such as the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] and the [[Democratic Unionist Party]]) which are ideologically right-wing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/jan/28/northernireland.rostaylor|title=Who's who in Northern Ireland|first=Ros|last=Taylor|newspaper=The Guardian |date=28 January 1999|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=16 December 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100529/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/jan/28/northernireland.rostaylor|url-status=live}}</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>{{cite web|title = Reflections on Loyalism since 1998|url = https://www.thedetail.tv/articles/reflections-on-loyalism-since-1998|website = the detail|date = 30 March 2018|access-date = 6 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Northern Ireland Forum Election 1996|url = https://www.electoralgeography.com/new/en/countries/n/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-forum-election-1996.html|website = Electoral Geography 2.0| date=6 September 1996 |access-date = 6 October 2024}}</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 United Kingdom general election|1997]]: Hugh Smyth in [[South Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)|South Antrim]], Ervine in [[Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)|Belfast South]] and Kenny Donaldson in [[East Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)|East Antrim]].<ref>{{cite web|title = 1997 Westminster Election - List of Candidates|url = https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/cand97.htm|website = CAIN Web service|access-date = 3 October 2024}}</ref>
They amassed 10,928 votes, and no seats.<ref>{{cite web|title = GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS, 1 MAY 1997
|website = UK Parliament|url = https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m15.pdf|access-date = 3 October 2024}}</ref>

The party fared better at the [[1997 Northern Ireland local elections|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 Borough Council|North Down]], [[Lisburn City Council|Lisburn]] and [[Newtownabbey Borough Council|Newtownabbey]].<ref>{{cite web|title = Local Government Elections 1997|url = https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/flg97.htm|website = Ark Elections|access-date = 6 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Local Government Elections (NI) Wednesday 21 May 1997|url = https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/rd1997.htm|website = CAIN Web Service|access-date = 6 October 2024}}</ref>
====1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election====
Following the signing of the [[Good Friday Agreement]], [[1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election|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 Belfast (Assembly constituency)|West]], [[East Belfast (Assembly constituency)|East]] and [[North Belfast (Assembly constituency)|North Belfast]], respectively.<ref>{{cite web|title = 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly Election|url = http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/today/ni_assembly_1998.html|website = Wesley Johnston|access-date = 1 October 2024}}</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>{{Cite web|title = Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 1998|url = https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa98.htm|website = Ark Elections|access-date = 1 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = The Northern Ireland Assembly - Belfast West Members|url = https://archive.niassembly.gov.uk/members/constits/const_bw.htm|website = Northern Ireland Assembly Archive Site|access-date = 1 October 2024}}</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>{{cite news|title = Northern Ireland Political Parties|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/northern_ireland/parties/70610.stm|work = BBC News|date = 14 October 1998|access-date = 1 October 2024}}</ref>

===Post-Good Friday Agreement===
====1999 European Parliament elections====
Ervine was the PUP candidate for the [[Northern Ireland (European Parliament constituency)|Northern Ireland constituency]] at the [[1999 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1999 European elections]]. He polled 22,494 first-preference votes, and was not elected.<ref>{{cite web|title = 1999 European - Northern Ireland|url = https://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1999E&cons=192&sort=party|website = Elections Ireland|access-date = 18 September 2024}}</ref>

====2001 general and local elections====
The PUP stood two candidates for the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]]: Ervine in [[Belfast East (UK Parliament constituency)|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>{{cite web|title = General Election results, 7 June 2001|url = https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-54/RP01-54.pdf|website = Research briefings - UK Parliament|access-date = 17 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = The 2001 Election in Northern Ireland|url = https://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/today/westminster_2001.html|website = Wesley Johnston|access-date = 17 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = The 2001 Westminster elections in Northern Ireland|url = https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fw01.htm|website = Ark Elections|access-date = 17 September 2024}}</ref>

The party held four of the seven seats they were defending at the [[2001 Northern Ireland local elections|concurrent local elections]], but did make a gain in [[Castlereagh Borough Council|Castlereagh]].<ref>{{cite web|title = The Local Elections of 7 June 2001|url = https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-71/RP01-71.pdf|website = Research briefings - UK Parliament|access-date = 18 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Castlereagh Council Election Results 1993-2011|url = https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/lgcastlereagh.htm|website = Ark Elections|access-date = 18 September 2024}}</ref>

=== Ervine era ===
====2003 Assembly election====
The PUP put up candidates for the [[2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2003 Assembly election]], including both Assembly members and Smyth.<ref>{{cite news |title = Candidate list |url = https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/candidate-list/28143622.html |work = Belfast Telegraph |date = 28 October 2003 |access-date = 17 September 2024}}</ref>

Overall, their vote dropped by 1.2% to 8,032 votes {{--}} a large decline when compared to their success of over 20,000 votes in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |title = Northern Ireland elections: Divided Vote Hides Workers' Disillusionment |url = https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/9310/06-12-2003/northern-ireland-elections-divided-vote-hides-workers-disillusionment/ |website = Socialist Party |date = 12 December 2003 |access-date = 17 September 2024}}</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>{{cite web |title = Ervine, David (Walter)|url = https://www.dib.ie/biography/ervine-david-walter-a9450 |website = Dictionary of Irish Biography |access-date = 17 September 2024}}</ref>

====2005 local elections and subsequent activity====
The party made a poor showing at the [[2005 Northern Ireland local elections|2005 local elections]], losing half of their seats. This left Ervine and Smyth in Belfast as the only PUP candidates to be returned.<ref>{{cite web |title = The 2005 Local Government Elections in Northern Ireland |url = https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/flg05.htm |website = Ark Elections |access-date = 15 September 2024}} </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>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6289111.stm New PUP leader seeks Ervine seat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125122414/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6289111.stm |date=25 January 2007 }}, 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 (unionist politician)|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 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2007 Assembly election]]: Elaine Martin in [[North Down (Assembly constituency)|North Down]], Andrew Park in [[Belfast South (Assembly constituency)|Belfast South]] and [[Dawn Purvis]] in [[Belfast East (Assembly constituency)|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>{{cite web|title = Assembly Election (NI) Wednesday 7 March 2007|url = https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/2007nia/ra2007.htm|website = CAIN Web Service|access-date = 5 September 2024}}</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>{{cite web|title = How links to the past ended leader's link with PUP|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10223864|website = BBC News|date = 3 June 2010|access-date = 20 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/10222663.stm |title=Purvis quits PUP over murder of loyalist Moffett |publisher=BBC News |date=3 June 2010 |access-date=15 June 2010}}</ref> On 28 August 2010 the former deputy leader, [[David Rose (UK politician)|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>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11121025 |title=Leading PUP member, David Rose, quits party |publisher=BBC News |date=28 August 2010 |access-date=1 September 2010 |archive-date=31 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831014457/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11121025 |url-status=live }}</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>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-11440497|title=PUP 'keep link with loyalist UVF'|work=BBC News |date=29 September 2010|via=BBC|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301113615/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-11440497|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/pup-to-maintain-paramilitary-link-1-1851101|title=PUP to maintain paramilitary link|website=www.newsletter.co.uk|access-date=18 October 2019|archive-date=18 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018103539/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/pup-to-maintain-paramilitary-link-1-1851101|url-status=live}}</ref>
Despite the links with the UVF, Billy Hutchinson acknowledges that most UVF members vote for the larger [[Democratic Unionist Party]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/jamie-bryson-confuses-me-says-pup-s-billy-hutchinson-1-5942832|title=Jamie Bryson confuses me, says PUP's Billy Hutchinson|website=www.newsletter.co.uk|access-date=18 October 2019|archive-date=18 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018103539/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/jamie-bryson-confuses-me-says-pup-s-billy-hutchinson-1-5942832|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2011 local and Assembly elections and Brian Ervine's leadership===
[[Brian Ervine]] was appointed PUP leader in October 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title = Brian Ervine elected new PUP leader|url = https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/brian-ervine-elected-new-pup-leader/28565245.html|website = Belfast Telegraph|date = 18 October 2010|access-date = 20 August 2024}}</ref>

At their manifesto launch for the [[2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2011 Assembly]] and [[2011 Northern Ireland local elections|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 Borough Council|Larne]], [[Castlereagh Borough Council|Castlereagh]] and [[Derry City Council|Derry]] as well as in Belfast and [[Antrim Borough Council|Antrim]].<ref>{{cite web|title = Progressive Unionist Party launch manifesto with Titanic pledges|url = https://sluggerotoole.com/2011/04/21/progressive-unionist-party-launch-manifesto-with-titanic-pledges/|website = Slugger O'Toole|date = April 21, 2011|access-date = 20 August 2014}}</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>{{cite web|title = PUP leader Brian Ervine to resign|url = https://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0602/301917-pup/|website= RTE News|date = 2 June 2011|access-date = 20 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Northern Ireland elections - Assembly|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/constituency/html/36710.stm|website = BBC News|date = 11 May 2011|access-date = 20 May 2024}}</ref>

Despite losing their Assembly seat, the PUP did return their two councillors in Belfast. 
<ref>{{cite web|title = Election 2011 - Northern Ireland council elections|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/council/html/95z.stm|website = BBC News|date = 11 May 2011|access-date = 20 August 2024}}</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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130418191407/http://www.u.tv/News/Hutchinson-elected-PUP-leader/96d96627-96c0-436d-b21b-e7e74bc4d888|url-status=dead|title=ITV Hub|website=ITV Hub|archive-date=18 April 2013|access-date=18 October 2019}}</ref>

===Hutchinson leadership===
Hutchinson succeeded Hugh Smyth on Belfast City Council in January 2014, following the latter's retirement due to ill health.<ref>{{cite web|title = Former Mayor Hugh Smyth dies|url = https://www.4ni.co.uk/northern-ireland-news/180374/former-mayor-hugh-smyth-dies|website = 4NI|date = 13 May 2014|access-date = 12 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = COUNCILLOR BILLY HUTCHINSON (March 2016) Progressive Unionist Party|url = https://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/documents/s54720/Councillor%20Billy%20Hutchinson%20-%20CV.pdf|website = Belfast City Council|access-date = 12 September 2024}}</ref>
====2014 local elections====
The PUP stood candidates for the new 'super councils' at the [[2014 Northern Ireland local elections|2014 local elections]], doubling their total number of representatives from two to four.<ref>{{cite web|title = Local Government Elections 2014|url = https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/flg14.htm|website = Ark Elections|access-date = 20 August 2024}}</ref>

In Belfast, deputy leader John Kyle was re-elected, this time for the [[Titanic (District Electoral Area)|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>{{cite web|title = BELFAST ELECTION RESULTS: BILLY HUTCHINSON AND MAIRTIN O'MUILLEOIR ELECTED|url = https://www.belfastdaily.co.uk/2014/05/23/belfast-election-results-billy-hutchinson-and-mairtin-omuilleoir-elected/|website = Belfast Daily|date = 23 May 2014|access-date = 20 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = 2014 Belfast City Council Election|url =https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/nlgbcc.html#ti|website = Ark Elections|access-date = 20 August 2024}}</ref>

On the [[Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council]], [[Coleraine (District Electoral Area)|Coleraine]] candidate, [[Russell Watton]], was the first to be elected in that district.<ref>{{cite web|title =Councillor: I took part in illegal UVF/UDA-linked parade – and I don't care|url = https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/councillor-i-took-part-in-illegal-uvfuda-linked-parade-and-i-dont-care-3222309|website = Belfast Newsletter|date = 3 May 2021|access-date = 20 May 2024}}</ref>

Smyth died during the election campaign.<ref>{{cite news|title = Former Progressive Unionist Party leader Hugh Smyth dies|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27379115|work = BBC News|date = 13 May 2014|access-date = 22 August 2024}}</ref>

====2016 and 2017 Assembly elections====
The PUP stood six candidates at the [[2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2016 Assembly election]], but, despite an increase in their overall vote, no candidates were elected.<ref>{{cite web|title = PUP pledges to bring necessary change|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-northern-ireland-36168603|website = BBC News|date = 29 April 2016|access-date = 21 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2016|url = https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa16.htm|website = Ark Elections|access-date = 21 August 2024}}</ref>

Their support dipped slightly at the [[2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election|snap election in 2017]], but did see an increase in their votes in North and East Belfast.<ref>{{cite news|title = Northern Ireland Assembly election 2017|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/election/ni2017/results|work = BBC News|access-date = 21 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = North Belfast|url = https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/anb.htm|website = Ark Elections|access-date = 21 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Assembly Election 2017|url = https://election2017.irishnews.com/constituency-belfast-east|work = Irish News|access-date = 21 August 2024}}</ref>

====2019 local elections====
The party stood candidates at the [[2019 Northern Ireland local elections|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>{{cite news|title = I asked for no electoral pacts in exchange for joining UUP, says ex PUP councillor Julie Anne-Corr-Johnston|url = https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/asked-no-electoral-pacts-exchange-20895156|work = Belfast Live|date = 27 June 2021|access-date = 21 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = As it happened: NI Council election 2019|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-northern-ireland-politics-47969826?page=15|work = BBC News|date = 3 May 2019|access-date = 21 August 2024}}</ref>

====The Northern Ireland Protocol====
Following the [[Brexit|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>{{cite web|title = Unionist support for peace process agreements 'falling away' – Donaldson|url = https://www.thejournal.ie/pup-statement-5595318-Nov2021/|website = The Journal|date = 8 November 2021|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = PUP leader Billy Hutchinson says unionists 'can no longer back Good Friday Agreement'|url = https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/pup-leader-billy-hutchinson-says-unionists-can-no-longer-back-good-friday-agreement/41028885.html|work = Belfast Telegraph|date = 8 November 2021|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</ref>

Conversely, in an interview on [[BBC Northern Ireland|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>{{cite news|title = NI Protocol could have advantages - PUP councillor John Kyle says|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-59423272|work = BBC News|date = 26 November 2021|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Unionist backlash after PUP's John Kyle says protocol offers 'significant opportunities'|url = https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2021/11/27/news/unionist-backlash-after-pup-s-john-kyle-says-protocol-offers-significant-opportunities--2520337/|work = Irish News|date = 27 November 2021|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</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>{{cite news|title = John Kyle goes independent after quitting PUP over "differing approaches" to NI Protocol|url = https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/john-kyle-goes-independent-after-quitting-pup-over-differing-approaches-to-ni-protocol/41155573.html|work = Belfast Telegraph|date =  16 December 2021|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</ref>

====2022 Assembly election====
The party stood only three candidates at the [[2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2022 Assembly election]], with Hutchinson standing in North Belfast, Russell Watton in [[East Londonderry (Assembly constituency)|East Londonderry]] and Karl Bennett in East Belfast.<ref>{{cite web|title = Name of Candidates Standing in each Constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly Election, Thursday 5 May 2022|url = https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/2022nia/2022-05-05_nia_candidates-name-constituency.htm|website = CAIN Web Service|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</ref>

No candidates were elected, with the PUP seeing a 52% drop in their support, compared to 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title = Northern Ireland Assembly Election:2022|url = https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9549/CBP-9549.pdf|website = House of Commons Library|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Northern Ireland Assembly election 2022|url = https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa22.htm|website = Ark Elections|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</ref>

====2023 local elections====
The PUP had four candidates at the [[2023 Northern Ireland local elections|May local elections]], with one candidate  each across Belfast, Causeway Coast and Glens, Antrim and Newtownabbey and Mid and East Antrim.<ref>{{cite web|title = 2023 Local Election Candidates|url = https://jackarmstrong.home.blog/2023/04/28/2023-local-election-candidates/|website = Jack Armstrong|date = 28 April 2023|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</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>{{cite web|title = COURT DEA: DUP and Sinn Fein hold strong while PUP lose out to TUV|url = https://belfastmedia.com/court-dea-dup-and-sinn-fein-hold-strong-while-pup-lose-out-to-tuv|website = Belfast Media|date = 22 May 2023|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = How smaller parties suffered in Northern Ireland council elections|url = https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-05-20/ni-councils-how-smaller-parties-suffered|work = ITV News|date = 21 May 2023|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</ref>

In the Causeway Coast and Glens, Watton retained his seat, making him the sole PUP candidate to be elected.<ref>{{cite news|title = NI Council elections 2023: Sinn Fein largest party in NI|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65655547|work = BBC News|date = 21 May 2023|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</ref>

A month after the elections, Hutchinson resigned as leader, with Watton taking over the role.<ref>{{cite news|title = Coleraine councillor Russell Watton is new PUP leader|url = https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/coleraine-councillor-russell-watton-new-27130210|work = Belfast Live|date = 15 June 2023|access-date = 23 August 2024}}</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 (loyalist)|Billy Mitchell]], David Ervine, Jim McDonald, William 'Billy' Greer, [[Winston Churchill Rea]] and [[William Smith (loyalist)|William "Plum" Smyth]]; all former UVF and Red Hand Commando members.

==Party leaders==

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2| Leader
! From
! To
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}; color:white;" | 1
| style="width:200px;"| [[Hugh Smyth]]
| style="width:125px;"| 1979
| style="width:125px;"| 2002
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}; color:white;" | 2
| [[David Ervine]]
| 2002
| 2007
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}; color:white;" | 3
| [[Dawn Purvis]]
| 2007
| 2010
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}; color:white;" | 4
| [[Brian Ervine]]
| 2010
| 2011
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}; color:white;" | 5
| [[Billy Hutchinson]]
| 2011
| 2023
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}; color:white;" | 6
| [[Russell Watton]]
| 2023
| Incumbent
|}

==Electoral performance==
===UK general elections===
====1997 UK general election====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Constituency !! Candidate !! Votes !! % !! Position
|-
|[[Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)|Belfast South]] || {{sortname|David|Ervine}} || 5,687 || 14.4 || 3
|-
|[[East Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)|East Antrim]] || {{sortname|Billy|Donaldson|nolink=1)}} || 1,757 || 5.1 || 5
|-
|[[South Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)|South Antrim]] || {{sortname|Hugh|Smyth}} || 3,490 || 9.0 || 4
|}

====2001 UK general election====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Constituency !! Candidate !! Votes !! % !! Position
|-
|[[Belfast East (UK Parliament constituency)|Belfast East]] || {{sortname|David|Ervine}} || 3,669 || 10.0 || 4
|-
|[[Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)|Belfast South]] || {{sortname|Dawn|Purvis}} || 1,112 || 2.9 || 6
|}

===Northern Ireland Assembly===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Election
! Seats won
! ±
! First Pref votes
! %
! ±
|-
![[1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election|1998]]
| {{Composition bar|2|108|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
| 20,634
| 2.6%
| {{steady}}
|-
![[2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2003]]
| {{Composition bar|1|108|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{decrease}}1
| 8,032
| 1.2%
| {{decrease}}1.4%
|-
![[2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2007]]
| {{Composition bar|1|108|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
| 3,822
| 0.6%
| {{decrease}}1.2%
|-
![[2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2011]]
| {{Composition bar|0|108|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{decrease}}1
| 1,493
| 0.2%
| {{decrease}}0.4%
|-
![[2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2016]]
| {{Composition bar|0|108|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
| 5,955
| 0.9%
| {{increase}}0.7%
|-
![[2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2017]]
| {{Composition bar|0|90|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
| 5,590
| 0.7%
| {{decrease}}0.2%
|-
![[2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2022]]
| {{Composition bar|0|90|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
| 2,665
| 0.3%
| {{decrease}}0.4%
|-
|}

===Local elections===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Election
! Seats won
! ±
! First Pref votes
! %
! ±
|-
! [[1981 Northern Ireland local elections|1981]]
| {{Composition bar|1|526|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| N/A
| 3,057
| 0.5%
| N/A
|-
! [[1985 Northern Ireland local elections|1985]]
| {{Composition bar|2|565|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{increase}}1
| 3,612
| 0.6%
| {{increase}} 0.1
|-
! [[1989 Northern Ireland local elections|1989]]
| {{Composition bar|3|565|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
| 3,839
| 0.6%
| {{steady}}
|-
! [[1993 Northern Ireland local elections|1993]]
| {{Composition bar|1|582|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{decrease}}2
| 2,350
| 0.4%
| {{decrease}} 0.2
|-
! [[1997 Northern Ireland local elections|1997]]
| {{Composition bar|7|582|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 6
| 12,051
| 2%
| {{increase}} 1.6
|-
! [[2001 Northern Ireland local elections|2001]]
| {{Composition bar|4|582|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 3
| 12,261
| 1.55%
| {{decrease}} 0.45
|-
! [[2005 Northern Ireland local elections|2005]]
| {{Composition bar|2|582|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
| 4,591
| 0.7%
| {{decrease}} 0.85
|-
! [[2011 Northern Ireland local elections|2011]]
| {{Composition bar|2|582|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
| 3,858
| 0.6%
| {{decrease}} 0.1
|-
! [[2014 Northern Ireland local elections|2014]]
| {{Composition bar|4|462|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| 12,753
| 2.0%
| {{increase}} 1.4
|-
! [[2019 Northern Ireland local elections|2019]]
| {{Composition bar|3|462|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{decrease}}1
| 5,338
| 0.79%
| {{decrease}} 1.21
|-
! [[2023 Northern Ireland local elections|2023]]
| {{Composition bar|1|462|hex={{party color|Progressive Unionist Party}}}}
| {{decrease}}2
| 2,103
| 0.3%
| {{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]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.pupni.com/ http://www.pupni.com/]
*[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/politics/docs/pup/pup03man.pdf PUP Manifesto - Assembly Elections 2003 - "How long are you prepared to wait?"]

{{Political parties in Northern Ireland}}
{{British political parties}}
{{Ulster Volunteer Force}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1979 establishments in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Democratic socialist parties in Europe]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1979]]
[[Category:Political parties in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Socialist parties in Ireland]]
[[Category:Socialist parties in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ulster unionist organisations]]
[[Category:Ulster Volunteer Force]]