Sir Reg Set To Quit Party Leadership

The man at the helm of the Ulster Unionist party may be stepping down from the party leadership sooner than expected.

Sir Reg Empey is a long-serving politician with the ear of the people at grass roots.

From east Belfast menswear retailing to the accolade of leading his party - with a Knighthood along the way - the Stormont Executive Minister, has seen much change, with the biggest one yet to come as party colleagues bid to take over the leadership.

According to the Belfast News Letter, he is to "resign within days", even though he had intended to step down in September.

It is thought that the date has been brought forward to enable more time for potential leadership candidates to enter the contest.

The Stormont Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg was defeated at the Westminster general election when he stood against the DUP's Willie McCrea in the 'foreign' constituency of South Antrim.

The Ulster Unionists also failed to win a single seat, while the DUP retained eight of its nine seats.

Even though the DUP was rocked by leader Peter Robinson's defeat to Alliance's Naomi Long in East Belfast, Sir Reg's resignation was automatically expected.

The BBC reported in May that Ulster Unionist MLA Basil McCrea wanted his party leader to step down immediately after the defeat.

Mr McCrea, who is viewed as a possible contender to replace Sir Reg, said the party needed to elect a new leader as soon as possible.

But, so far, only Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott has declared that he will contest the leadership.

However, once Sir Reg resigns, Lagan Valley assemblyman Basil McCrea is expected to make an announcement that he will stand against Mr Elliott.

(BMcC/CD)