The September 1995 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election began on 28 August 1995 when James Molyneaux resigned as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party following a year of political setbacks for his party. Lee Reynolds, a Young Unionist had contested the leadership at the Ulster Unionist Council AGM in March 1995, receiving a small but significant number of votes. It was widely speculated that David Trimble was one of those behind Reynolds's candidature, although Trimble, his aides and Reynolds's supporters all denied this at the time and subsequently.
The UUP has held a leadership election every March since at least the Ulster Unionist Council constitution was altered in 1973, however it is rarely contested.
Molyneaux's successor was elected by delegates to the Ulster Unionist Council met on 8 September 1995. After three rounds of voting the election was won by David Trimble.
Candidates Ken Maginnis, MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone William Ross, MP for East Londonderry Martin Smyth, MP for Belfast South and Grand Master of the Orange Order John Taylor, MP for Strangford and a former minister in the Government of Northern Ireland David Trimble, MP for Upper Bann who had recently received strong attention for his role in a disputed Orange Order march at Drumcree
Results At the meeting delegates to the Ulster Unionist Council voted in a succession of ballots until one candidate had an absolute majority. CandidateTotalRound 1Round 2Round 3Votes%Votes%Votes% David Trimble 287 35.6 353 43.6 466 58.3 John Taylor 226 28 255 31.5 333 41.7 Ken Maginnis 117 14.5 110 13.6 William Ross 116 14.4 91 11.2 Martin Smyth 60 7.4Total806 100809 100799 100
After the third round, David Trimble was elected.
Notes
References Goodson, Dean. Himself Alone: David Trimble and the ordeal of Unionism (London, Harper Perennial, 2004), p. 127. Goodson, Dean. Himself Alone: David Trimble and the ordeal of Unionism (London, Harper Perennial, 2004), pp. 146–155.
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