By Brendan Anderson

A Unionist politician strongly identified with the Orange Order’s prolonged protest at Drumcree is the latest contender for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party.

David Trimble, a former law lecturer, resigned the leadership following his party’s disastrous performance in last month’s Westminster elections when their parliamentary group was reduced to one MP.

Senior Orangeman and Assembly Member David McNarry announced Tuesday he has put his name before the party’s ruling body, the Ulster Unionist Council, for consideration. The council meets to elect a new leader on June 24.

McNarry was prominent in his support for Armagh Orangemen protesting against being banned from marching through the Catholic Garvaghy Road area of Portadown. The protest lasted many months and often led to violent riots which at times spread across the North.

He narrowly lost out on a Westminster seat in the 2001 election when he was beaten into second place by Iris Robinson, wife of deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Peter Robinson. McNarry, a former adviser to Trimble, said he “wants to take the Ulster Unionists out of denial.”

Sir Reg Empey, a former minister in the Assembly Executive, is set to announce Thursday that he will take part in the leadership contest. A likely third candidate will be the North Down Assembly Member Alan McFarland.

Two veteran Unionists, now elevated to the House of Lords, said they will come out of retirement to join the contest.

Former MP John Taylor, now Lord Kilclooney, confirmed Tuesday that he was “still interested in being an interim leader” until the party’s annual meeting in March next year.

Ken Maginnis, another former MP now ensconced in the Lords, has also put his name forward. Maginnis said he would accept the leadership but would consider standing aside for any younger candidate who agreed with his intention to restructure the party.

The leader of the UUP is normally an MP selected from the parliamentary party. However, the party’s sole MP is a woman, Lady Sylvia Herman, and it is extremely doubtful if the ultra-conservative Ulster Unionist Council could bring themselves to elect a female.

There was quiet but widespread relief when Herman announced she would not seek the leadership but would instead concentrate on nursing her husband who is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.