The United Unionist Coalition, also known as the United Unionist Assembly Party, was formed by a collection of unionist members of the Northern Ireland Assembly who were elected as "independent unionists" in 1998. Once sitting they decided to form themselves into an official grouping inside the assembly and chose the title "United Unionist Assembly Party". As such they are more a coalition of political expediency rather than a coherent political party. Also, as a consequence they have not contested elections as a party though some local government candidates have used the label.
They are formally registered with the Electoral Commission as the "United Unionist Coalition", a name which recalls the anti-Sunningdale Agreement coalition of Unionist parties in the 1970s.
One of the independent Unionists, Denis Watson, subsequently joined the Democratic Unionist Party. In the 2003 Assembly elections no independent Unionsts were elected at all.
