The September 1995 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election began on 28 August 1995 when

James Molyneaux James Henry Molyneaux, Baron Molyneaux of Killead, KBE, PC (27 August 1920 – 9 March 2015) was a Northern Irish unionist politician who served as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) from 1979 to 1995, and as the Member of Parliament ...

resigned as leader of the

Ulster Unionist Party The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded in 1905, emerging from the Irish Unionist Alliance in Ulster. Under Edward Carson, it led unionist opposition to the Irish Home Rule m ...

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 William David Trimble, Baron Trimble, (15 October 1944 – 25 July 2022) was a British politician who was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2002, and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) from 1995 to 2005. He wa ...

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 The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded in 1905, emerging from the Irish Unionist Alliance in Ulster. Under Edward Carson, it led unionist opposition to the Irish Home Rule movem ...

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 William Martin Smyth (born 15 June 1931) is a Northern Irish unionist politician, who served as the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Belfast South from 1982 to 2005. He was a vice-president of the Conservative Monday ...

, 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 The government of Northern Ireland is, generally speaking, whatever political body exercises political authority over Northern Ireland. A number of separate systems of government exist or have existed in Northern Ireland. Following the partitio ...

, 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. 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. ;Specific {{Ulster Unionist Party 1995-09 1995 elections in the United Kingdom 1995 in Northern Ireland 1995 elections in Northern Ireland Ulster Unionist Party leadership election