New political landscape emerging in the United Kingdom - Sir Reg Empey

AS Labour lost one of its safest parliamentary seats in Scotland last Friday, Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party Sir Reg Empey said:

"The political earthquake of the Glasgow East by-election result cannot be underestimated. The last time a non-Labour MP represented this part of Glasgow was 1918 - nearly a century a go. Labour is losing its heartlands, a stunning indictment of how out-of-touch this government is with the country. It is clear that a new political landscape is emerging in the United Kingdom. However, part of that landscape is also the worrying advance of Scottish Nationalism."

"When David Cameron and I announced yesterday our desire to build a new political and electoral force in Northern Ireland, a partnership between the Ulster Unionist Party and the Conservative Party, I said that this would build on our shared commitment to the Union. Now, more than ever a pan- UK promotion of the Union is required."