ULSTER UNIONIST leader Sir Reg Empey has confirmed that former Irish rugby international Trevor Ringland could stand for his party in Peter Robinson’s constituency of East Belfast in the forthcoming Westminster elections.
Mr Ringland, a solicitor, is one of two UUP nominees to run in East Belfast in the British general election which must be held by early June at the latest, with speculation that British prime minister Gordon Brown will call the poll for May.
Were Mr Ringland to get the nomination it would raise questions for sitting East Belfast MP and DUP leader Mr Robinson to decide whether he should seek to retain his House of Commons seat in addition to his Assembly seat.
The question would be more pertinent were Mr Robinson to overcome his personal problems and be in a position to resume his role as First Minister.
Mr Ringland would be a strong candidate as he has a high profile both as a former rugby international and through his involvement in the anti-sectarian “One Small Step” campaign.
The prospect of Mr Ringland running in East Belfast comes amid continuing moves by the UUP, the DUP and the British Tories to determine whether they can agree a realignment within unionism to prevent Sinn Féin winning enough seats in Assembly elections that would allow Martin McGuinness to take the First Minister post.
These discussions, according to well-placed sources, are also exploring whether there could be some form of pact ahead of the Westminster elections, notwithstanding the commitment by the UUP and the British Conservatives that under the umbrella of UCUNF (Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force) they will stand candidates in each of the North’s 18 constituencies.
Mr Robinson has strongly indicated his support for the unionist unity talks which was demonstrated by his attending talks at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire in England last Sunday week involving Tory spokesman on the North Owen Paterson, UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy and UUP MLA Tom Elliott, and DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds and DUP finance minister Sammy Wilson.
Sir Reg briefed the UUP executive on current political developments in Templepatrick, Co Antrim, on Saturday, after which he confirmed to The Irish Times that Mr Ringland was a prospective candidate for East Belfast.
He refused to comment on speculation that former UTV presenter and one of the North’s four victims’ commissioners Mike Nesbitt could stand for the UUP in Strangford, the seat that Iris Robinson has just formally vacated. He did not dismiss the speculation.
Sir Reg also confirmed that were the current standoff between the DUP and Sinn Féin over policing and justice to precipitate Assembly elections he has the party’s authority as leader to dictate what party candidates should be nominated to run. It would then be a matter to agree the nominations with the Tories.
Sir Reg said it “remains to be seen” whether there could be a united unionist front ahead of Assembly elections.
“We will explore all opportunities but we have nothing at this stage robust enough to be described as an agreement.”