Party takes shot at rivals, but can talk translate into votes?

of corruption. Former UUP leader Lord Empey said the DUP were like “kids in a sweetie shop who couldn’t keep their hands out of the jar” and mocked Nigel Dodds as a Che Guevara figure over his threats to the British Government about Brexit.

It was clear, however, that the Ulster Unionists — who now have no MPs and only 10 MLAs — have been stung by criticism that they are yesterday’s men and women. Which explained why they gave the floor to so many of their young guns, five of whom are heading up local councils.

Among the newbies on the podium were David Trimble’s son Nicholas, who is a councillor in Lisburn, and local government election hopeful Louise McKinstry, who was seen by millions of TV viewers recently on the Eat Well For Less show.

A more seasoned UUP councillor, Mary Hamilton from Londonderry — she didn’t like the ‘Derry’ in her introduction — fought back tears as she spoke about the passing of party members in her city including her husband and council colleague Ernie.

Other addresses hit raw unionist nerves with condemnation of an Irish Language Act and of the Raymond McCreesh play park in Newry, but the most emotionally charged speeches centred on the “DUP/Sinn Fein-inspired” legacy proposals.

There were standing ovations after passionate denunciations of the plans from justice spokesman Doug Beattie and the Rev Alan Irwin from Fermanagh, who lost his father and uncle in IRA attacks.

Following the conference Mr Swann was asked if he could lead the UUP from the wilderness of electoral setbacks to challenge the DUP for supremacy among unionist voters.

“The Unionist Party think I’m the man for the job,” he responded.