Ulster Unionist Party leadership election, March 1995

The March 1995 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election occurred at the Annual General Meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council on 18 March 1995. The UUP has had a leadership election every March since at least 1973, and this is one of the few occasions when it has been contested.

Candidates

• James H Molyneaux MP, incumbent leader since 1979
• Lee Reynolds, a 21-year-old student from Coleraine.

It was widely speculated that Ulster Unionist MP David Trimble was one of those behind Reynolds's candidature, although Trimble, his aides and Reynolds' supporters all denied this at the time and subsequently.

Results

First round

Candidate		Votes
		Votes		%
	James Molyneaux Y	521		84.2%
	Lee Reynolds	88		14.2%
Spoilt ballots		10		1.6%

Whilst Molyneaux won by a massive margin, the 15% of delegates who did not vote for him was seen as a substantial number. Two days later independent North Down MP, Sir James Kilfedder died in London and that the subsequent by-election was not won by the UUP was seen as further evidence of Molyneaux's failings as leader after 15 years. Molyneaux resigned on 28 August and was replaced in September.

References

1. ^ Goodson, Dean Himself Alone: David Trimble and the ordeal of Unionism (London, Harper Perennial, 2004), page 127