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Ulster Unionist Party members gather for conference We're a party for all says Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt
(about 4 hours later)
By Mark Devenport Political editor, Northern Ireland href="http://www.uup.org/" >Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt has stressed the UUP is not a religious group nor a party for Protestants.
Ulster Unionists have been gathering at Belfast's Titanic Centre for their first annual conference since they elected Mike Nesbitt as party leader. Delivering his first speech as leader at the party's conference at Belfast's Titanic Centre, he said the UUP was pluralist and progressive.
Ahead of the conference, Mr Nesbitt said he wanted the UUP to be regarded not as a party for Protestants but as one for all unionists. "I'm appealing today to Protestants, to Catholics, to Jews and Muslims, to members of all faiths and none.
Mr Nesbitt said one of his key goals was targeting an end to sectarianism. "Men, women, urban, rural - Chinese, Indian, eastern European -This appeal is to everyone."
He said that instead of pubs banning sports jerseys, they should be welcome everywhere. He invited people who were in favour of the union but have no party to vote for to support the UUP. His party was, he said, "a credible alternative".
Mr Nesbitt said he wanted to target sectarianism, multiple deprivation and poverty.
The former broadcaster touched on his personal life when he revealed that his father was 49 years old when the family's linen business was blown up.
"It was the last day he got out of bed with a true sense of purpose in his life," he said.
"Every day I meet people, particularly young people, who are looking for a sense of purpose in their lives, but are denied it, through lack of employment, poor education and health and the lack of a decent home.
"That's the challenge of political leadership I have set myself."
He called for a single system of education in Northern Ireland as a step towards a more normal society.
He also said he wanted "normal government", with "common sense" at its heart.
He focussed on child poverty in Northern Ireland, which, he said was worse than when devolution was achieved.
And he said that for too many people, Northern Ireland's troubles had given rise to nothing but lost opportunities.
"The legacy of the past is everywhere and emerges most poisonously in sectarianism. If we are going to deal with sectarianism, we must build a shared future," he said.
Mr Nesbitt also reached out to loyalist ex-prisoners, saying they had felt left behind whilst their republican counterparts are at the heart of government.
He said he would help them transform and move forward into community groups.
It is just six months since the former broadcaster won a landslide victory over John McCallister to secure the leadership.It is just six months since the former broadcaster won a landslide victory over John McCallister to secure the leadership.
Since then he has tried to improve party discipline with mixed results, falling out along the way with the veteran former MP Lord Ken Maginnis.Since then he has tried to improve party discipline with mixed results, falling out along the way with the veteran former MP Lord Ken Maginnis.
The new leader will face an early test when Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness steps down as an MP, which will trigger a by-election in the Mid Ulster constituency.The new leader will face an early test when Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness steps down as an MP, which will trigger a by-election in the Mid Ulster constituency.
However, Mr Nesbitt will not guarantee that his party will contest the by-election, leaving open the option of a unionist unity candidate.However, Mr Nesbitt will not guarantee that his party will contest the by-election, leaving open the option of a unionist unity candidate.