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| Cameron 'a passionate unionist' | Cameron 'a passionate unionist' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron is due in Belfast later to address the Ulster Unionists' annual conference. | Conservative leader David Cameron is due in Belfast later to address the Ulster Unionists' annual conference. |
| The two parties have agreed to select joint candidates in next year's European elections and at forthcoming Westminster elections. | The two parties have agreed to select joint candidates in next year's European elections and at forthcoming Westminster elections. |
| Mr Cameron says he is a passionate unionist who wants to help develop a more normal society and real politics in Northern Ireland. | Mr Cameron says he is a passionate unionist who wants to help develop a more normal society and real politics in Northern Ireland. |
| The Tory-Ulster Unionist partnership has been under discussion since July. | The Tory-Ulster Unionist partnership has been under discussion since July. |
| The parties said they were not working on a merger but a partnership which would offer a new political opportunity for voters. | The parties said they were not working on a merger but a partnership which would offer a new political opportunity for voters. |
| Its supporters argue it offers Northern Ireland's voters a say in national and international politics and the chance to elect MPs who could serve in a future government. | Its supporters argue it offers Northern Ireland's voters a say in national and international politics and the chance to elect MPs who could serve in a future government. |
| Lost dominance | Lost dominance |
| The Ulster Unionists now have only one MP, having lost their old dominant position in Northern Ireland to Peter Robinson's DUP. | The Ulster Unionists now have only one MP, having lost their old dominant position in Northern Ireland to Peter Robinson's DUP. |
| BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said an association with the Tories would provide the Ulster Unionists with much-needed finance and know-how. | BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said an association with the Tories would provide the Ulster Unionists with much-needed finance and know-how. |
| He said that for the Conservatives, the partnership bolsters their claim to be a party representing all of the UK, not just England. | He said that for the Conservatives, the partnership bolsters their claim to be a party representing all of the UK, not just England. |
| However, alienating the DUP could prove counter-productive for the Tories if the next election is close enough to produce a hung parliament, our correspondent added. | However, alienating the DUP could prove counter-productive for the Tories if the next election is close enough to produce a hung parliament, our correspondent added. |
| The first joint candidate will be Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson, who is already a member of the Conservative group in Europe. | The first joint candidate will be Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson, who is already a member of the Conservative group in Europe. |
| The DUP has criticised the new partnership, arguing that a Tory pledge to contest every seat in the UK threatens to split the unionist vote in constituencies like South Belfast and Fermanagh South Tyrone. | The DUP has criticised the new partnership, arguing that a Tory pledge to contest every seat in the UK threatens to split the unionist vote in constituencies like South Belfast and Fermanagh South Tyrone. |
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| Live coverage of the UUP conference. Broadcast begins at 1030 GMT |