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05/01/2010
Hermon's Future Still Uncertain
Maverick Ulster Unionist Sylvia Hermon's position within the party still remains vague following a lengthy meeting with Sir Reg Empey at the weekend.
North Down MP Lady Hermon, the UUP's sole House of Commons voice, has indicated her distaste for Sir Reg's electoral link-up with the UK Tory Party.
In an interview last May, she said: "I am not a Tory. Never have been and never will be." Lady Hermon insisted she would not stand under a Conservative banner.
Her selection as the UUP's candidate for North Down at the next General Election has become uncertain.
Lady Hermon met with senior party officials, including Sir Reg, on Saturday.
Yesterday she revealed the talks had failed to reach a "meeting of minds".
The parliamentarian said the two-hour discussions were cordial and "not ill-tempered at any stage".
"We actually took time to talk through a range of options but I kept repeating my consistent opposition to being obliged to vote with the Tories in the division lobbies, except on votes of conscience," she told the Belfast Telegraph.
"So even after two hours we still had no meeting of minds and consequently no clear outcome either. They are to reflect on what I said."
Party officers will hold further talks regarding Lady Hermon's future on Friday.
Sir Reg refused to be drawn on Saturday's meeting. "I have nothing to say about it."
(PR/GK)
North Down MP Lady Hermon, the UUP's sole House of Commons voice, has indicated her distaste for Sir Reg's electoral link-up with the UK Tory Party.
In an interview last May, she said: "I am not a Tory. Never have been and never will be." Lady Hermon insisted she would not stand under a Conservative banner.
Her selection as the UUP's candidate for North Down at the next General Election has become uncertain.
Lady Hermon met with senior party officials, including Sir Reg, on Saturday.
Yesterday she revealed the talks had failed to reach a "meeting of minds".
The parliamentarian said the two-hour discussions were cordial and "not ill-tempered at any stage".
"We actually took time to talk through a range of options but I kept repeating my consistent opposition to being obliged to vote with the Tories in the division lobbies, except on votes of conscience," she told the Belfast Telegraph.
"So even after two hours we still had no meeting of minds and consequently no clear outcome either. They are to reflect on what I said."
Party officers will hold further talks regarding Lady Hermon's future on Friday.
Sir Reg refused to be drawn on Saturday's meeting. "I have nothing to say about it."
(PR/GK)
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