"Help my friend supports the SDULP or was it the Sinn Fein Green Alliance?" Confused about the political parties in Northern Ireland? Here's the pupiline guide to who's who.  Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
The largest Unionist party, led since 1995 by David Trimble MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) MP (Member of Parliament) and was until recently the First Minister of Northern Ireland. The Unionist's primary aim is to have a united Northern Ireland with the United Kingdom.
Web-site: http://www.uup.org/.
 Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
Is the other large Unionist party and the largest party opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, which is comprehensive proposal to some of the issues that are pertinent in Northern Ireland. They've always topped the poll at European elections and have been led, since its foundation in 1970, by Rev Ian Paisley MLA MP MEP.
Web-site: http://www.dup.org.uk/.
 Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)
Led since 1981 by John Hume MP MEP and until 2001 was the largest Nationalist party. The Nationalist's primary aim is to have a united and independent state of Ireland, incorporating Northern Ireland.
Web-site: http://www.sdlp.ie/sdlp/.
 Sinn Féin (SF)
Led since themid-1980s by Gerry Adams MLA MP and regarded, since 2001, as the larger Nationalist party. Sinn Fein is seen political wing of the Irish Republican Army, otherwise known as the IRA.
Web-site: http://sinnfein.ie/.
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Led since 1998 by Sean Neeson MLA, it's seen as the largest "cross-community" party in Northern Ireland.
Web-site: http://www.allianceparty.org/. United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP)
 Another Smaller Unionist Party also opposed to the Good Friday Agreement. Formed in 1985 by Robert McCartney MLA MP, who has led the party since then.
Web-site: http://www.ukup.org/ Northern Ireland Unionist Party (NIUP)
 On January 5 1999 four of the five UKUP MLA's, led by Cedric Wilson MLA, announced on that they had founded a new party, the Northern Ireland Unionist Party.
Web-site: http://www.niup.org/. United Unionist Assembly Party
Founded September 1998 and led by Denis Watson MLA, it includes the three members of the new Assembly elected as Independent Unionists in 1998 on an anti-Good Friday Agreement standpoint.
No web-site as far as we know. Progressive Unionist Party (PUP)
 Smaller Unionist party founded in 1970s. Often linked with UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) and other Loyalist groups.
Web-site: http://www.pup-ni.org.uk/  Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (NIWC)
A Cross-community grouping founded in 1996, which only runs women candidates.
Web-site: http://www.niwc.org/.
Ulster Democratic Party (UDP)
Smaller Unionist party founded in early 1980s, who are often linked with UDA and other Loyalist groups.
No web-site as far as we know. Conservative Party
NI branch of party led by the leader of the UK Conservative Party. Though the national party was in favour, local activists oppose the Good Friday Agreement.
National party web-site: http://www.conservatives.com
Labour
Unrelated to the parties led by Tony Blair MP or Ruari Quinn TD.
Web-site: http://www.labourni.org/.
 Workers Party
Had its roots in the old IRA but is now avowedly non-sectarian and socialist.
Web-site: http://www.workers-party.org/ Read: Links: The above applies to the political process in the United Kingdom and follows the laws of the UK.
- The Pupiline Team
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