Back Progressiewe Unionisteparty AF Partit Unionista Progressista Catalan Progressive Unionist Party German Parti unioniste progressiste French An Páirtí Aontachtach Forásach GA 進歩統一党 Japanese Progressive Unionist Party NB
Progressive Unionist Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | PUP |
| Leader | Russell Watton |
| President | Billy Hutchinson |
| Chairman | Brian Lacey |
| Founder | Hugh Smyth |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Preceded by | Volunteer Political Party |
| Headquarters | 182 Shankill Road, Belfast, BT13 2BH |
| Paramilitary wing | Ulster Volunteer Force Red Hand Commando |
| Ideology | British unionism Ulster loyalism Democratic socialism[1][2] Social democracy |
| Political position | Centre-left[3][4] to left-wing[5] |
| Colours | Blue and red |
| Northern Irish seats in the House of Commons | 0 / 18 |
| Northern Ireland Assembly | 0 / 90 |
| Local government in Northern Ireland | 1 / 462 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) is a minor unionist[6] political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979. Linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Red Hand Commando (RHC), for a time it described itself as "the only left of centre unionist party" in Northern Ireland, with its main support base in the loyalist working class communities of Belfast.[7]
Since the Ulster Democratic Party's dissolution in 2001, the PUP has been the sole party in Northern Ireland representing paramilitary loyalism.[8]
The PUP has one elected representative on the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Russell Watton, the party's current leader.[9]
- ^ Edwards, Aaron (2007). "Democratic Socialism and Sectarianism: The Northern Ireland Labour Party and Progressive Unionist Party Compared". Politics. 27 (1): 24–31. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9256.2007.00275.x. S2CID 145393084.
- ^ New Statesman: Volume 131, Issues 4569-4576. London: New Statesman. 2002. p. 56.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Coulter, John (11 September 2019). "A socialist alternative for Northern Ireland?". Northern Slant. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Coulter, John (11 September 2019). "A socialist alternative for Northern Ireland?". Northern Slant. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2011). "Northern Ireland/UK". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 29 December 2015.
- ^ "Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) - Your Questions". Pup-ni.org.uk. Archived from the original on 6 December 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
- ^ Albert, Cornelia (2009). The Peacebuilding Elements of the Belfast Agreement and the Transformation of the Northern Ireland Conflict. Peter Lang. p. 60. ISBN 9783631585917.
- ^ "PUP appoint Russell Watton as their new leader". 15 June 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2024.