Ulster Unionist Party leadership election, 1969

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The 1969 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election was the first election in the Party's 64 year history. In 1963 Terence O'Neill succeeded Lord Brookeborough as Party Leader and Prime Minister of Northern Ireland by emerging rather than by winning a ballot, despite having strong competition from both Brian Faulkner and Jack Andrews.

On his resignation following the inconclusive result of the General election of 1969, the divide was such that an election in the Parliamentary party was required.

[edit] Candidates

Brian Faulkner, Minister of Commerce
Major James Chichester-Clark, Minister of Agriculture and distant cousin of O'Neill

[edit] Results

Chichester-Clark - 18 Faulkner - 17

It is not clear if O'Neill voted in the initial round of voting, however following a tie he was required to use a casting vote. Chichester-Clark was expected to win by a clear margin and the close result came as a great surprise. O'Neill was reported to have favoured Chichester-Clark not due to their distant family links, but as Faulkner had been stabbing him in the back for longer.

Two of Faulkner's main supporters promptly proposed and seconded a unanimous decision in favour of Chichester-Clark. The new leader caused much surprise by including Faulkner and supporter, a young John Taylor, in his new Government.

[edit] References

Ireland since 1939, Henry Patterson (2001, Oxford University Press)
A history of the Ulster Unionist Party, Graham Walker (2004, Manchester University Press)