Ken Reid's UTV Politics Blog - Unionist battle

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Unionist battle

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Ken Reid
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The battle for the Ulster Unionist leadership looks no place for shrinking violets.

Many portray it as a battle between the old guard and the liberal wing.

Tom Elliott told David Gordon in the Belfast Telegraph he would not attend GAA games or gay events if elected as party leader.

Basil McCrea says he would be happy to go.

The vote is on 22 September and the two camps are stepping up their campaigning.

Depending on whom you believe there could be over 2,000 voters on the big night and both camps believe they have a chance.

Basil McCrea will launch his campaign on Monday and it will be interesting to see who turns up to support the Lagan Valley MLA.

Tom Elliott has the backing of the bulk of the party's elected representatives but the McCrea camp feels their man will appeal to the grassroots members.

So far the campaign has been relatively clean but will that remain the case?

And whatever the outcome, the winner has quite a job on his hands.

The Assembly election is approaching and the UUP is under pressure.

Maybe the victor will be given a poisoned chalice.

But, some will argue, in spite of gaining no seats in the Westminster election the UUP still won over 100,000 votes and the trick will be getting stay at home Unionists back to the ballot box.

Maybe!

Meanwhile I'm heading off to Dublin to interview Tony Blair.

You can see it on UTV on Monday.

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At 21:42 on 03 September 2010, William wrote:
Co-operation between unionists is required if we are appeal to our grass root electorate, - never mind party members!! Party members have steered us to where we are today with little thought given to the electorate. If we end up going down the path of Basil we will be finished. The electorate have not and will not let us away with this. 100,000 votes and rapidly dropping.
At 15:53 on 03 September 2010, elvis parker wrote:
Ken keep up the UUP didnt stand at the General Election. The 'Conservatives and Unionists' got 100,000 votes
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