Progressive Unionist Party

For the political group founded in 1938, see Ulster Progressive Unionist Association. For the Egyptian political group, see National Progressive Unionist Party.
Not to be confused with Protestant Unionist Party.

Progressive Unionist Party
AbbreviationPUP
LeaderRussell Watton
PresidentBilly Hutchinson
ChairmanBrian Lacey
FounderHugh Smyth
Founded1979 (1979)
Preceded byVolunteer Political Party
Headquarters182 Shankill Road, Belfast, BT13 2BH
Paramilitary wingUlster Volunteer Force
Red Hand Commando
IdeologyBritish unionism
Ulster loyalism
Democratic socialism[1][2]
Social democracy
Political positionCentre-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.pupni.com

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]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ New Statesman: Volume 131, Issues 4569-4576. London: New Statesman. 2002. p. 56.
  3. ^ "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)
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2011). "Northern Ireland/UK". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 29 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) - Your Questions". Pup-ni.org.uk. Archived from the original on 6 December 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  8. ^ Albert, Cornelia (2009). The Peacebuilding Elements of the Belfast Agreement and the Transformation of the Northern Ireland Conflict. Peter Lang. p. 60. ISBN 9783631585917.
  9. ^ "PUP appoint Russell Watton as their new leader". 15 June 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2024.