Ulster Unionist Party leadership election, 1979

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Ulster Unionist Party leadership election of 1979 saw James Molyneaux succeed Harry West as leader on 7 September.[1] At a specially convened meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council at the Ulster Hall, Belfast in early September, Molyneaux (MP for South Antrim) beat Reverend Robert Bradford (MP for Belfast South) by a three to one majority (with Austin Ardill coming a distant third).[2] Molyneaux had previously been parliamentary leader of the United Ulster Unionist Council since 22 October 1974 (West had lost his seat in that month's general election).

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ CAIN: Chronology of the Conflict 1979
  2. ^ Ann Purdy, Molyneaux: The Long View (Greystone Books, 1989), p. 73.