Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party

(VUPP) synonyms: Vanguard Unionist Party (VUP) The Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party (VUPP) was established as a political party on March 1973. The VUPP grew out of the Ulster Vanguard (UV) movement which was led by William Craig. The VUPP contested the 1973 Assemble election and obtained 7 seats with 10.5 per cent of the vote. Craig later proposed a system of government involving coalition with the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and this led to a split in the VUPP. In November 1977 many members left to form the United Ulster Unionist Party (UUUP). The VUPP ceased to be a political party in February 1978 and again became Ulster Vanguard. (See also: Ulster Vanguard, UV.)