The first UNP was a conservative party in the Dominion of Newfoundland led by Frederick C. Alderdice from 1928 to 1934.
It was organized by Alderdice when disaffected Liberals joined his Liberal-Conservative Progressive Party sitting in opposition and won the 1932 general election.
The party was formed immediately prior to the election when two Tory MHAs, led by James D. Higgins, supported Premier Joey Smallwood's stance in favour of Newfoundland receiving financial assistance from the federal government indefinitely.
Provincial Conservative leader Malcolm Mercer Hollett supported the position of Conservative Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, who maintained that the funding agreement between the two orders of government had run its course.
He sat with fellow UNP MHA John R. O'Dea, who stepped down after one term.