Tory-UUP Pact Falls Apart

I've just been watching Lady Silvia Hermon on the Politics Show informing the viewers that she is not a Tory and has no intention of standing on a Conservative ticket. In November 2008 I wrote to Sylvia Hermon to ask what he views on the English Question were:

From: Gareth Young
Sent: 26 November 2008 14:38
To: HERMON, Sylvia (Lady)
Subject: Self denying ordinance

Dear Lady Hermon,

I welcome the new link between the Conservative Party and the UUP. But I would like to know whether you will be following the example of David Mundell in observing a self-denying ordinance on English issues at Westminster?

Could you also tell me whether the UUP has an official position on an English Parliament; English Grand Committee; English Votes on English matters, or; Ken Clarke's proposed solution - do you favour any of these potential solutions to the West Lothian Question?

Best regards,

Gareth Young

From: "HERMON, Sylvia \(Lady\)"
Sent: Fri, November 28, 2008 9:38
Subject:RE: Self denying ordinance

Dear Gareth.

Thank you for your recent e-mail of 26th November.

As I am sure you can appreciate, in light of my husband's very recent death, I need time and space to reflect upon my Party Executive's decision to progress an election pact with the Conservatives.

In these circumstances, I should be most grateful if you would kindly redirect your interesting questions to my Party Leader, Sir Reg Empey, at uup@uup.org.

With kindest regards,

Sylvia Hermon

Lady Hermon MP
House of Commons
London, SW1A 0AA

0207 219 0862 (Tel)
0207 219 1969 (Fax)

Having now had time to reflect on her party's alliance with the Conservatives she's obviously decided that it's not an alliance for her. It looks as though the UUP-Tory alliance may as well wave goodbye to their sole Northern Irish MP.