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The Chairman of the Ulster Unionist Councillors Association Trevor Wilson today welcomed Dromore by-election victor Carol Black to the fold.

Mr Wilson said her victory had given the Party a great boost and that it showed that despite what the detractors in the DUP and the media had predicted, the UUP was still very much a force to be reckoned with.

In a statement Mr Wilson said,

“I am delighted to welcome Carol to the fold as an Ulster Unionist Councillor. Her victory has been a great boost to the Party and I have been getting calls from up and down the country from fellow Councillors expressing their congratulations and best wishes.

Our detractors in the DUP had arrogantly predicted a wash out victory for themselves, aided and abetted in no small measure by a largely subservient media. How wrong they were! This victory for the UUP underlines what we believe to be true. That we remain a force to be reckoned with in Northern Ireland and that over the next months and years the people of Northern Ireland will witness a resurgent Ulster Unionist Party.”

I know only too well the dangers of over-exaggerating a situation. That said, the Ulster Unionist Party has every reason to allow itself a moment of triumph in the wake of our victory in the Dromore by-election.

Our victory was all the more enjoyable because so many of our political opponents—along with most of the media—assumed that we couldn’t win.

We proved a lot of people wrong on Wednesday. More important, though, we have discovered a new sense of confidence in ourselves. Right the way through the election campaign we had large and enthusiastic groups of people on our canvassing teams. These were ordinary party members who wanted to prove that the Ulster Unionist Party is proud of its legacy and proud of what we have done for Northern Ireland.

The result vindicates their enthusiasm and determination. And the sheer numbers of people who have contacted our Headquarters and elected representatives since the result became known, demonstrates that a very large audience appreciates our success.

But we will not be sitting upon our laurels and taking a complacent view of events. The Party has reached the end of a Review process which I initiated last summer. We have looked at every aspect of how we operate and have put in place a series of Standing Orders and Rules to ensure that we are seen to be effective, efficient and relevant.

Dromore has proved that we still have a solid electoral base—even in Jeffrey Donaldson’s own backyard! As we roll out the new structures I am certain that we can extend that electoral base, as increasing numbers of people come to realise that the Ulster Unionist Party is very firmly back on its feet and very obviously back in business.