This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8049297.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Hermon 'shouldn't be disciplined' | Hermon 'shouldn't be disciplined' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey has said there are no grounds to discipline his party's only MP after she criticised a pact with the Conservatives. | UUP leader Sir Reg Empey has said there are no grounds to discipline his party's only MP after she criticised a pact with the Conservatives. |
The UUP has linked up with the Tories to contest elections as Ulster Conservatives and Unionists. | The UUP has linked up with the Tories to contest elections as Ulster Conservatives and Unionists. |
Lady Hermon has indicated she will not stand under that banner at the next general election. | |
Sir Reg said that while he is dismayed by her position she is free to express her own opinions. | Sir Reg said that while he is dismayed by her position she is free to express her own opinions. |
He said: "At this stage she's not under an obligation under the agreement with the Conservatives. | He said: "At this stage she's not under an obligation under the agreement with the Conservatives. |
"It doesn't apply to the present parliament therefore as far as I'm concerned the objective is to persuade and to succeed." | "It doesn't apply to the present parliament therefore as far as I'm concerned the objective is to persuade and to succeed." |
In a statement on Wednesday, Sir Reg had criticised the timing of Lady Hermon's comments. | In a statement on Wednesday, Sir Reg had criticised the timing of Lady Hermon's comments. |
"The leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party is disappointed that Lady Hermon, in the middle of an election campaign, has chosen to give a series of interviews in which she has challenged party policy and the collective decisions taken by her colleagues," he said. | "The leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party is disappointed that Lady Hermon, in the middle of an election campaign, has chosen to give a series of interviews in which she has challenged party policy and the collective decisions taken by her colleagues," he said. |
"Her own position is not an issue in the present campaign. | "Her own position is not an issue in the present campaign. |
"She was assured last year that she would not be required to take the Conservative Party whip in the lifetime of the present parliament. | "She was assured last year that she would not be required to take the Conservative Party whip in the lifetime of the present parliament. |
"The Ulster Unionist Party and Conservative Party will continue with our joint campaign to bring real change to politics in Northern Ireland." | "The Ulster Unionist Party and Conservative Party will continue with our joint campaign to bring real change to politics in Northern Ireland." |
Lady Hermon said she was elected as an Ulster Unionist and would serve under that mandate. | Lady Hermon said she was elected as an Ulster Unionist and would serve under that mandate. |
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey speaking to BBC NI's Gareth Gordon | UUP leader Sir Reg Empey speaking to BBC NI's Gareth Gordon |
"If my party chooses to move to call themselves by a different name, I'm terribly sorry and terribly disappointed by that, but I remain an Ulster Unionist," she said. | "If my party chooses to move to call themselves by a different name, I'm terribly sorry and terribly disappointed by that, but I remain an Ulster Unionist," she said. |
"That was certainly my mandate and I've loved serving the people of North Down. | "That was certainly my mandate and I've loved serving the people of North Down. |
"They have stood by me through the most difficult of times and if they choose and wish me to serve them I would do my very best to do that." | "They have stood by me through the most difficult of times and if they choose and wish me to serve them I would do my very best to do that." |
Jeffrey Peel, the former vice-chair of the Conservative Party in Northern Ireland, said her comments should not have come as a surprise. | Jeffrey Peel, the former vice-chair of the Conservative Party in Northern Ireland, said her comments should not have come as a surprise. |
"She made clear on many occasions that one of her concerns was that the Ulster Unionist Party is dominated by a group of increasingly elderly men," he said. | "She made clear on many occasions that one of her concerns was that the Ulster Unionist Party is dominated by a group of increasingly elderly men," he said. |
"She's the Ulster Unionists' only MP and a woman, yet she wasn't involved in the process (of the renaming) at all so she was completely sidelined. | "She's the Ulster Unionists' only MP and a woman, yet she wasn't involved in the process (of the renaming) at all so she was completely sidelined. |
"From a people management point of view, the Ulster Unionist Party messed up big time." | "From a people management point of view, the Ulster Unionist Party messed up big time." |