Billy Hull - Political Career

Political Career

In 1972 Hull was a prominent founder member of the Ulster Vanguard. With William Craig confirmed as leader, Hull became one of his most prominent and visible lieutenants alongside the Reverend Martin Smyth and Captain Austin Ardill. He subsequently stood for the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party in North Belfast at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973, but took only 852 votes and was not elected. Along with Herron, Bill Snoddy and Tommy Lyttle, Hull's performance represented a near total routing for the Vanguard's UDA candidates, although Glenn Barr was elected in the North-West to prevent a total wipeout. The trade union backgrounds of Hull and Barr had helped to persuade Craig to include the word "Progressive" in his party's name in the first place.

Following his own disappointing showing Hull contemplated turning the LAW into a new, working class loyalist party, but this was fiercely opposed by Vanguard leader William Craig. This suggestion, along with Hull's background in the Northern Ireland Labour Party began to see his credentials as a loyalist questioned and his support erode. The LAW collapsed, many of its members forming the Ulster Workers Council.