Inside the UUP: The Ulster Unionist leader has been challenged by Mr Jeffrey Donaldson "to step aside" from the leadership of the party, writes Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor
The Lagan Valley MP stepped up his attacks on Mr David Trimble in a live television interview early yesterday, warning him that the leader's position would be untenable once it lost its position as the largest party in Stormont. But Mr Trimble was defiant last night, insisting he would continue to fight on.
"I have every intention of continuing as leader," he said. "I know there is an important job to be done and I've demonstrated clearly over the last eight years there is more than a little 'stickability' here."
He also pointed out that his party's vote had increased and its tally of seats had risen from the 26 it held in the old Assembly. However, Mr Donaldson pressed ahead with his attack and made it clear for the first time he would consider putting himself forward as a candidate if Mr Trimble quit.
"I think for the good of the party David needs to do the honourable thing," he said.
"The last thing we need is another divisive leadership contest. I am calling for him to step aside, we need a broader consensus within the party and hopefully David will listen to what I have to say." In a clear pitch to involve other Ulster Unionists in the leadership question, he added: "It is time for senior people in the party to have a long hard look at where the Ulster Unionist Party is going. If we don't take action now, in 18 months time we will be where the SDLP is now," he warned.
The party now has five Assembly members who are openly critical of the Trimble direction of leadership. Mr David Burnside, Ms Norah Beare, Mr Norman Hillis and Ms Arlene Foster have joined Mr Donaldson in calling for change at the top.
"Unionists voted two to one against the agreement and I don't think he can stay, but I'll be surprised if he will go at this stage," said Ms Foster. Others were not prepared to state open opposition to Mr Trimble. One Assembly member suggested Sir Reg Empey might try again for the leadership, having been seen to try and fail to build support for a 'dream ticket' of himself and Mr Donaldson last September.
The Irish Times was told by Donaldson supporters that Mr Trimble should stand down, forecasting a fresh outburst of faction fighting within the party if he stayed.
Others came out and backed him openly. Mr Jim Wilson said he would support his leader when the new Assembly party meets on Monday, adding he expected the gathering to be heated. He said he would urge Mr Trimble to continue saying his leadership was best for Northern Ireland. Mr Dermot Nesbitt also backed his leader, crediting him with bringing unionism in from the margins to a situation where there was a prospect of achieving a final settlement.
Mr David McClarty, one of Mr Trimble's closest associates, insisted: "I will continue to back him as leader. We have had our difficulties during the campaign, but our vote held up remarkably well. All these issues should be discussed behind closed doors, not in the public arena." Mr Michael McGimpsey, another Trimble loyalist and a former minister, said the party needed some time for sober reflection "and that is what we are going to get".
It is possible that other Ulster Unionists, now safely returned to their Stormont seats after a difficult election, could find new confidence to join in the criticism of Mr Trimble. That could become evident when the new Assembly party convenes for the first time next week.