It was founded in 1980 by James Kilfedder, independent Unionist Member of Parliament for North Down, who led the party until his death in 1995.
Kilfedder won a seat for the party in North Down at the 1982 Northern Ireland Assembly election.
A challenge from Bob McCartney, who stood as a "Real Unionist", led to a close election in 1987 that Kilfedder ultimately won.
Following Kilfedder's death, the three UPUP councillors went their separate ways, Valerie Kinghan to the newly formed UK Unionist Party.
[5] Thomas Jeffers to the Democratic Unionist Party and Cecil Braniff setting up a short-lived independent DUP.