THE Ulster Unionist Conference on Saturday was a major success for a party supposedly dead on its knees a few years ago.

Yet the key to that success –the new deal with David Cameron and the Tories – inevitably overshadowed the rest of the event.

And it served to highlight the dangers for the UUP in intertwining its fortunes with those of another party.

The venture, undoubtedly, has potential: for the UUP, the Conservatives, Northern Ireland and the Union.

But it could just as easily go belly-up fast – and as soon as next June European elections.

And one fear for the UUP is that, either way, Sir Reg and co will not have full control of their own destiny from this point on.

On the upside, the positives, for now, outweigh the negatives.

The lift that the renewed Tory-link has given the UUP was tangible all weekend.

This was the biggest attendance at any party conference in Northern Ireland, in recent memory – and a party dinner, the night before, was also sold out.

There is a definite buzz about the Ulster Unionists, and the signs of a new relevance for a party which just a couple of years ago was said to be on its knees.

Then there was the now all-important Cameron factor.

He came to conference, he saw and with style and a brilliantly crafted speech – tailored to pluck at the heart strings of the unionist faithful – he conquered.

All the right buttons were pushed in an address aiming to convince the UUP grassroots that this is not just a marriage of convenience but a bond that can last.

However, following a standing ovation for the esteemed guest, the comedown (which, to be fair, the UUP leadership knew would be there) also harshly exposed the Ulster Unionists ,in a less favourable light, than the one that shone like a halo over Cameron.

Sir Reg’s speech was flat and certainly would not rank among his best, nor his best delivered. It was a bit of a lost cause, coming-on after the main event.

The stage set – in comparison to the modern and expensive design used by the DUP a month before – looked thrown together and tired; failing to portray a swish, professional operation.

And then there was just a feeling, at times, that the sheer force of will that is the thundering Cameron bandwagon, was dwarfing the UUP and its proud 100-year history.

An indication, at least when Cameron is around, that the unionist party takes second billing in this relationship – even if, on paper, the deal gives the two have equal status.

Nevertheless, the Ulster Unionists admit they are still a party re-building and lessons will be learned from a conference they hope will be looked back upon as landmark moment for the party.

To some degree, on reflection, the Cameron visit was almost something to get out of the way (as much as it was a propaganda coup).

Because now the way is clear for the fixers in the two parties to get on with the real business of drafting policies, fighting elections and seeing if they can really fulfil the promise of their partnership for all of Northern Ireland and the Union.