Tories and Unionists in merger talks

Last Modified: 24 Jul 2008
Source: ITN

The Conservative Party is in talks with the Ulster Unionists about joining forces to create a new political movement in Northern Ireland.

Party leaders said agreement on a joint future could influence politics across the UK.

A working group made up of Conservative and Ulster Unionist Party members will discuss whether a merger should take place or whether the two parties should work together in an alliance, with a report to be presented to the party leaders by the autumn.

Tory leader David Cameron said: "The Conservative Party stands in every part of the United Kingdom. We're the only party that does.

"In a lot of elections we have shrunk back to rather an English base but what I want us to explore with the Ulster Unionists is not really some 'let's have joint candidates or work together'. I want to be much more ambitious than that.

"I'd like to see us establish a new political force in Northern Ireland that is both Conservative and Unionist, that can say to people, look, get beyond the old politics of constitution or orange or green.

"Let's actually have a national political party that can stand up for people on all of the issues they care about.

"And that people in Northern Ireland who haven't got involved in politics in the past think 'yes, I can join in, it's a nationwide party, it's part of the Conservative movement'."

These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.