From Carson to Craig and now to Burrows? |
The Ulster Unionist Party is in the process of changing leader for the fifth time since 2017, following Mike Nesbitt’s decision to step down for a second time.
At time of writing, it looks likely that Jon Burrows, who has only been an MLA since July after being co-opted to Colin Crawford’s seat in North Antrim, will become the next leader tasked with the daunting job of trying to turn the UUP’s fortunes around.
Around the same time 105 years ago, in early 1921, there was also a change at the top of the party, with James Craig replacing Edward Carson.
The UUP was in a very different position then, being the dominant party in the area that was to become Northern Ireland a few months later, and with its leaders going on to serve as prime ministers of Northern Ireland for the entire duration of the Stormont regime from 1921 to 1972.
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Much has been made of Carson’s decision to stand down as Ulster Unionist leader in early 1921, resulting in him not becoming the north’s first prime minister, or of his absence at the state opening of the northern parliament by King George V in June 1921, as signs of his opposition to partition.
Newspapers at the time like........