UK Unionist leader Mr Bob McCartney has made a strong appeal for unity among anti-agreement unionists to oppose a new political deal to save the Belfast Agreement, writes Suzanne Breen, Senior Northern Correspondent
Mr McCartney was speaking on Saturday at his party's annual conference in Bangor, Co Down. Around 100 delegates attended, including the former government minister and writer, Dr Conor Cruise O'Brien.
Mr McCartney said 70 per cent of the unionist community were now clearly anti-agreement and their political representatives must join forces. "All who believe in the Union and who oppose the agreement as the means of its destruction - be they DUP, UKUP, or anti-agreement Ulster Unionists - must abandon their petty differences or their electoral ambitions.
"Over the next four weeks, they must unite to demonstrate that no further concessions will be allowed as the price of undemocratic devolution. They must show that David Trimble has no mandate to negotiate away their liberties and they must expose the Blair/Ahern solution for what it is - a further advance along the road to Irish unity."
Mr McCartney said the history of the peace process was "one of deception, broken promises and unfulfilled pledges". Last week's talks at Hillsborough were "another chapter in a dismal and disreputable chronicle that has not brought peace, reconciliation and stability but has institutionalised sectarianism".
The Belfast Agreement was based on "the false promises" of Mr Blair, the "lying propaganda" of the Northern Ireland Office, and the "naive ambition" of the UUP leader, he said.
"David Trimble has indulged in a series of comic opera resignations and withdrawals, followed by capitulations and returns. He has forfeited all credibility within the unionist community.
"Those who have organised and directed terror have been placed in government, while the ultimate object of every terrorist - that of being placed in control of the police - is almost within grasp." Mr McCartney said it was unbelievable any unionist leader would have consented to participate in such a process. "Flattered by the attention of prime ministers and presidents using him for their own ends, David Trimble was such a man.
"Every opinion poll now confirms he no longer has a mandate from the pro-Union people to negotiate on their behalf or to enter into any agreement binding the unionist people. Tony Blair refuses to talk to anyone but pro-agreement unionists, despite the fact they are now a patent minority. The result of any election or referendum does not, in a democracy, prevent the people from changing their minds." The 1998 referendum secured a pro-agreement majority on the basis of misinformation by Protestant church leaders and false promises from Mr Blair.