As A Catholic, a woman and a mere 33-yearold, Ms Patricia Campbell stands out among the Ulster Unionist candidates for the Assembly elections. This convent-educated daughter of an RUC man from Ballymoney, Co Antrim, says her experience as a Catholic Unionist shows how much the UUP is changing under Mr David Trimble; some would disagree.
After all, one of the first things she did on joining the party was to take a case for religious and sexual discrimination against it three years ago. "There was a problem and I used the measures my government provided me with to address them. But that's in the past." The case was settled out of court.
Then there was the case of the Claddagh ring. Unionist MP Mr William Ross told her he did not like her wearing a "Celtic symbol". He suggested his junior staff member "go off and become a teacher". Ms Campbell held firm and the ring stayed.
Yesterday, she was in Ian Paisley's stronghold, Ballymena, to begin the UUP campaign in North Antrim. Ms Campbell is the thirdstring candidate, behind Mr Robert Coulter, an elderly Orangeman who attended Trinity College in the early 1960s, and Mr James Leslie, an investment banker and gentleman farmer.
In spite of the gulf in age and background between Ms Campbell and the others, she has always felt British and unionist. "I know from personal experience that there are many other Catholics who feel this way. I joined the UUP because it is the largest party of the Union and I believe very strongly that it can represent all the people who support the Union."
Her election literature shows her smiling with Mr Trimble whom she holds in high esteem: "There's no way you'll get me to criticise him. I think he's been incredibly courageous and brave."
After studying English at Oxford she did research in experimental psychology. She began working for James Molyneaux at Westminster in 1995 before running the UUP press office in London. Insecuring the party's nomination in the Assembly election, she defeated the sitting UUP mayor of Ballymena. Religion played no part in her selection, she insists, saying she was nominated by a senior Orange Order member in Antrim.
She claims Sinn Fein has put up the IRA veteran IRA Joe Cahill in the constituency just to attract votes away from her. "But my views are more representative of Northern Catholics than Gerry Adams's ever would be. That's why the IRA had to start killing people in the first place."
