Young Unionists

Young Unionists
ChairmanJay Basra
TreasurerMatthew Bell
Founded1946 (UYUC)
2004 (YU)
Preceded byUlster Young Unionist Council
HeadquartersBelfast, Northern Ireland
IdeologyBritish unionism
Conservatism
Mother partyUlster Unionist Party
European affiliationEY Conservatives

The Young Unionists, formally known as the Ulster Young Unionist Council (UYUC), is the youth wing of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). It has, in its present incarnation, been in existence since 2004.

The Young Unionists host annual events including debates, conferences, social gatherings, and canvassing in support of UUP candidates.

History

UYUC Crest

Attempts had been made in the 1920s to create a youth movement linked to the Conservative Party (the Junior Imperial and Constitutional League) without success. A second attempt was made before the outbreak of the Second World War, which also failed. The UYUC was formed by the Standing Committee of the Ulster Unionist Council in 1946 and became active in South & West Belfast, Fermanagh and Down. The body's first Chairman was future Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Brian Faulkner.

In 1959, Brian Maginess, Q.C., and Sir Clarence Graham, Bt., addressed the Young Unionists advocating an increase in Roman Catholic membership of the UUP. This was regarded as controversial at the time.

The organisation produced many prominent figures in Northern Ireland politics throughout the 1960s and 1970s such as Bill Craig and John D. Taylor. Disagreements over government policy and the collapse of the Stormont Parliament led to its decline in the early 1970s. The body was later revived under the Chairmanship of David McNarry and remained active throughout the 1980s, producing figures such as Edgar Graham, Jeffrey Donaldson, Peter Weir and Arlene Foster. The latter three later joined the DUP.

1990s to present

The organisation's membership was strongly opposed to the Belfast Agreement in 1998, and many campaigned against it. At the 2004 AGM the officers voted to disband the group.

A new organisation was reconstituted later that year and has remained active. Branches were established at Queen's University, Belfast, the University of Ulster and at constituency level across Northern Ireland.

The youth wing has produced many senior party figures including The Lord Laird, The Lord Rogan, Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA and David McNarry, all of whom are former Chairmen, as well as Lord Empey, who served as Vice Chairman.

Current activities

In the 2014 local government elections, 11 Young Unionist members were elected as councillors, representing over 10% of the UUP's total councillors.

The Young Unionists continue to organise conferences, debates and social events, as well as participating in canvassing activities for UUP candidates.

2026 Officers

University Branches

Queen's University Belfast (Queen's Young Unionists)

Ulster University Belfast (Ulster University Young Unionists)

Honorary Membership

Up to 15 Honorary positions are available;

Chairpersons

First UYUC

Second UYUC (reconstituted late 1970s–2004)

Current Young Unionists

  • 2004: Mr. Kenny Donaldson
  • 2005: Cllr. Peter Bowles
  • 2006 & 2007: Cllr. Mark Dunn
  • 2008: Mr. Peter Munce (January 2008 – October 2008)
  • 2008 & 2009: Mr. Michael Shilliday
  • 2010 & 2011: Mr. Alasdair O'Hara
  • 2012 & 2013: Mr. Frank Geddis
  • 2014: Cllr. Alexander Redpath
  • 2015: Ms. Cathy Corbett
  • 2016 & 2017: Cllr. Alexander Redpath
  • 2018 & 2019: Mr. Joshua Lowry
  • 2020 & 2021: Cllr. Stuart Hughes
  • 2022 & 2023: Mr. Ben Sharkey
  • 2024 & 2025: Mr. Matthew Bell
  • 2026: Mr. Jay Basra

References

  1. ↑ "Young Unionists Twitter account". Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 Faulkner, Brian, Memoirs of a Statesman, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1978
  3. ↑ H. Patterson, In the Land of King Canute: the Influence of Border Unionism on Ulster Unionist Politics, 1945–63, Contemporary British History, 2006
  4. ↑ J. F. Harbinson, The Ulster Unionist Party, 1882–1973, Blackstaff Press, 1973
  5. ↑ David Hume, The Ulster Unionist Party 1972–92: A Political Movement in an Era of Conflict and Change, Blackstaff Press, 1996
  6. ↑ "Ulster Unionists divided on Agreement". Irish Times. 24 April 1998. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Ulster Unionist youth wing to be reconstituted by March". www.4ni.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "BBC - BBC Northern Ireland - News & Current Affairs - Hearts and Minds - If You Ask Me". Archived from the original on 26 September 2004. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "uuptoday.org » Lagan Valley Young Unionists Launch Branch". Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
  10. ↑ "QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST STUDENTS' UNION". 12 August 2007. Archived from the original on 12 August 2007.
  11. ↑ "uuptoday.org » Young Unionist society forms at Coleraine University". Archived from the original on 23 March 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
  12. ↑ "The Ulster Herald - Letters to Editor".[dead link]
  13. ↑ "Profile: Jeffrey Donaldson". BBC News. 27 October 2000. Archived from the original on 29 May 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2007.
  14. ↑ "NI council elections: Results". BBC News. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  15. ↑ "Young Unionists Facebook page". Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  16. ↑ "Brian Faulkner". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Craig, William ('Bill')". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "Biographies of People Prominent During 'the Troubles' - T". CAIN. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  19. ↑ Elliott, Sydney (1999). Northern Ireland: A Political Directory, 1968–1999. Blackstaff Press. p. 391. ISBN 978-0856406287.
  20. ↑ "Lord Rogan profile". Hansard. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  21. ↑ "Lord Laird obituary". Belfast Telegraph. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  22. ↑ "Jeremy Burchill photograph metadata". Queen’s University Belfast Digital Collections. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  23. ↑ "Graham, Edgar Samuel". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  24. ↑ "McNarry to seek UUP nomination". The News Letter. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  25. ↑ "Biographies of People Prominent During 'the Troubles' - D". CAIN. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  26. ↑ Flackes, W.D. (1994). Northern Ireland: A Political Directory 1968–1993. Blackstaff Press. p. 224. ISBN 0-85640-527-2.
  27. ↑ "Biographies of People Prominent During 'the Troubles' - W". CAIN. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  28. ↑ "Full text of "The Times, 1995, UK, English"". Internet Archive. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  29. ↑ "Arlene Foster: Profile". The Guardian. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  30. ↑ "Opinions for and against". Belfast Telegraph. 26 November 1999. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  31. ↑ "Unionist welcome for 'new blood'". Belfast Telegraph. 13 September 2004. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  32. ↑ "UUP planning for revamp". Belfast Telegraph. 7 December 2005. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  33. ↑ "Michael Shilliday: Northern Ireland does not want to go back". ConservativeHome. 11 March 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  34. ↑ "DUP MLA Jeffrey Donaldson and chair of the Young Unionists, Frank Geddis discuss the new Unionist forum". Audioboom. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  35. ↑ "Last night at our AGM Cathy Corbett was elected as chair of the Young Unionists". Queen's Young Unionists. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  36. ↑ "Controversy over University of Ulster's plans to erect Irish-language signs on campus". The College View. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  37. ↑ "Lisburn and Castlereagh". Ulster Unionist Party. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  38. ↑ "Young Unionist Chair calls for Alliance to own up to ties to Politrip fallout". Ulster Unionist Party. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  39. ↑ "Matthew Bell elected Chairman of Young Unionists". The News Letter. 17 February 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  40. ↑ "Executive Committee 2026". Ulster Unionist Party. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

Sources