Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | William Craig |
| Founded | February 1972 |
| Dissolved | February 1978 |
| Split from | Ulster Unionist Party (in December 1973) |
| Merged into | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Ideology | British nationalism Ulster loyalism Anti-Power Sharing (until 1975) |
| Political position | Right-wing to far-right |
| Party flag | |
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The Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party (VUPP), informally known as Ulster Vanguard, was a unionist political party which existed in Northern Ireland between 1972 and 1978. Led by William Craig, the party emerged from a split in the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and was closely affiliated with several loyalist paramilitary groups. The party was set up in opposition to power sharing with Irish nationalist parties. It opposed the Sunningdale Agreement and was involved in extra-parliamentary activity against the agreement. However, in 1975, during discussions on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland in the constitutional convention, William Craig suggested the possibility of voluntary power sharing with the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party. In consequence the party split, with dissenters forming the United Ulster Unionist Party. Thereafter Vanguard declined and following poor results in the 1977 local government elections, Craig merged the remainder of Vanguard into the UUP in February 1978.