Lady Hermon out of Ulster Unionist Party running
Lady Sylvia Hermon, MP for North Down, has turned down the chance to fight for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party.
Lady Hermon is the UUP’s only MP in the House of Commons, after a disastrous showing at the recent general election.
Four seats – including leader David Trimble’s Upper Bann seat – fell to rival parties, including the Democratic Unionists, which now has nine seats.
Nobel peace prize laureate Mr Trimble resigned as UUP leader soon after news emerged of his defeat at the general election
At the weekend, the UUP Ruling Executive agreed to call a meeting of its 860-strong Ruling Council to elect a successor to Mr Trimble.
Lady Hermon, party chairman Lord Rogan and East Belfast Assembly member Sir Reg Empey were put in temporary charge of the party before a leader was chosen.
All three have been tipped as potential leadership contenders.
Others include Jim Nicholson, the party’s MEP, David Burnside, Michael McGimpsey and former MPs John Taylor and Ken Maginnis, both peers.
David McNarry and Basil McCrea, are also thought to be interested in the job.
Last night, Lady Hermon said: “I greatly regret the disappointment my decision will cause, not only to colleagues who have been so generous in their support, but also to the many people throughout Northern Ireland and beyond who have so enthusiastically encouraged me to enter the leadership race.
“They will, I trust, come to understand the rightness of my decision in the present circumstances.”
Lady Hermon has said previously her responsibilities to her husband Sir John, who has Alzheimer’s disease, would be a major factor in the decision on whether to stand or not.
