Following his resignation, the UUP's executive committee charged Sir Reg Empey, Lady Hermon and Lord Rogan with the interim leadership of the Party.

Trimble's successor was elected by delegates to the Ulster Unionist Council who met on 24 June 2005.

They included: Collins was named by Lord Kilclooney as his preferred candidate on his announcement that he would not run.

McCartney announced that he would seek to rejoin the party he left in the 1980s intending to become leader should a majority or a significant number of delegates spoil their ballots.

At the meeting delegates to the Ulster Unionist Council voted in a succession of ballots until one candidate had an absolute majority.