Ulster Unionist leader vows to revive party

Sir Reg Empey, the newly elected leader of the troubled Ulster Unionist Party, admitted that he faced a "mammoth task" yesterday, as he started his first full day in the post.

Sir Reg Empey, the newly elected leader of the troubled Ulster Unionist Party, admitted that he faced a "mammoth task" yesterday, as he started his first full day in the post.

He defended his decision to declare not to do business with Sinn Fein, but said it was essential to move on from the current situation, which sees Northern Ireland run directly from London.

The party, formerly the dominant force in Northern Ireland politics, was reduced to a single representative in Parliament as Ian Paisley's hardline Democratic Unionist Party surged ahead.

"We have faced great adversity before and we will meet the challenge," Sir Reg told the BBC yesterday.