Reg Empey (UCUNF)

REG EMPEY is married to Stella and has two children. He was educated at the Royal School, Armagh and went on to read Economics at Queen's University. He has been actively involved in politics from his student days, when he became a member of the Queen's University Conservative and Unionist Association.

Reg gained invaluable experience in the private sector working in business and industry between 1970 and 1986, eventually founding his own business in 1986.

He has had an active career in Belfast City Council since first elected as a councillor in 1985 and has twice been Lord Mayor of Belfast. In 1994 he was honoured with an OBE for services to local government.

In the 1990s Reg served as a leading member of the Ulster Unionist negotiating teams both in the Brooke-Mayhew talks of 1991 and in the Castle Buildings talks which ultimately led to the Belfast Agreement and the formation of the present Assembly. He was elected to the new Assembly and was honoured to be Knighted in the New Year's Honours List of 1999.

Reg was elected Leader of the UUP in 2005 and is currently Minister for Employment and Learning. If elected as an MP, he will step down both as a Minister and as an MLA.