The Ulster Unionist Parliamentary Party presently consists of nine members making it the fourth largest party in the Parliament of the UK. Given the Parliamentary arithmetic in recent years much attention has been paid to its voting behaviour. However, the Party is an independent opposition Party, sitting on the side of the House of Commons traditionally identified as the opposition benches. "We will not terminate the life of a Parliament prematurely so long as Her Majesty's Government of the day continues to govern in the best interests of the United Kingdom in general and of Northern Ireland in particular". (Rt Hon Sir J H Molyneaux KBE MP) This applies whether the Government is presently formed by the Conservative Party or the Labour Party.

The reasoning behind this formula is straightforward. The Party are obliged to take into account the views of the electorate who have elected a Government to serve for a full term of office. The Party is naturally concerned for the good government of the nation as a whole. As a Northern Ireland party, elected by the people of Northern Ireland to represent their interests, the first duty is always to them.

The other Northern Ireland parties have a reputation for poor participation at Westminster. This is not so in the case of Ulster Unionist MPs who play a full role in the life of the national Parliament. They are heavily involved in all-Party groups, and have four places on the important and influential Select Committees which scrutinise Government policy for the whole country. They are also frequent contributors in debates on issues which affect all four parts of the UK.

	Mr David Trimble Upper Bann Leader Spokesman for Constitutional Affairs	Tel:01762 328088 Fax: 01762 322343 E-Mail: uup@uup.org Westminster Tel: 0171 219 6987 Fax: 0171 219 2489
	Rt. Hon John D Taylor Strangford Deputy Leader Spokesman for Foreign Office & Trade and Industry	Tel: 01247 814123 Tel: 01861 522409 Fax: 01861 522409 E-Mail: uup@uup.org Westminster Tel:0171 219 4536 Fax: 0171 219 4536
	Rev. Martin Smyth South Belfast Chief Whip Spokesman for Health and Family Policy	Tel: 01232 457009 Fax: 01232 450837 E-Mail: uup@uup.org Westminster Tel: 0171 219 4098 Fax: 0171 219 6058
	Mr Clifford Forsythe South Antrim Spokesman for Transport, Communications & Social Security	Tel: 01849 460776 Fax: 01849 463684 E-Mail: uup@uup.org Westminster Tel: 0171 219 4144 Fax: 0171 219 6058
	Mr Ken Maginnis Fermanagh & South Tyrone Spokesman for Defence & Home Office	Tel: 018687 23265 Fax: 018687 25569 E-Mail: uup@uup.org Westminster Tel: 0171 219 5234 Fax: 0171 219 6058
	Rt. Hon Sir James H Molyneaux Lagan Valley Spokesman for Treasury, Civil Service and Local Government	Tel: 01846 671845 Fax: 01846 671845 E-Mail: uup@uup.org Westminster Tel: 0171 219 2309 Fax: 0171 219 6058
	Mr Cecil Walker North Belfast Spokesman for Housing and Enviroment	Tel: 01232 755996 Fax: 01232 844697 E-Mail: uup@uup.org Westminster Tel: 0171 219 6307 Fax: 0171 219 6058
	Mr William Ross East Londonderry Spokesman for Agriculture and Fisheries	Tel: 015047 41428 Fax: 015047 42291 E-Mail: uup@uup.org Westminster Tel: 0171 219 3571 Fax: 0171 219 6058
	Cllr Roy Beggs East Antrim Spokesman for Education, Employment and National Heritage	Tel: 01574 273258 Fax: 01574 273258 E-Mail: uup@uup.org Westminster Tel: 0171 219 6305 Fax: 0171 219 3889

Our Man in Europe

Cllr Jim Nicholson

Tel: 01232 439431 Fax: 01232 246738 E-Mail: uup@uup.org

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