In December 1986, senator John Siddons, former deputy leader of the Australian Democrats, quit the Democrats to form the UAP, arguing that the party under leader Janine Haines had moved too far to the left on key issues and was no longer representative of small 'l' liberal values.

[1] Siddons pledged that the UAP would lower taxes, stimulate the economy, protect small shop-owners from unfair competition, abolish compulsory unionism and would be an anti-uranium, pro-environment party.

Undaunted, the UAP ran Senate candidates at the 1987 federal election in each of the mainland states as well as several lower house seats.

Frail, R. (1986), "Siddons has a party, but no starters", Sydney Morning Herald, p. 14, 4 December 1986.

Hewett, T. (1987) "Fringe groups, independents snap at the big parties' heels", Sydney Morning Herald, p. 4, 29 May 1987.