The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, and supporters of the Belfast Agreement were dealt a severe blow when the anti-agreement DUP candidate, the Rev William McCrea, won the crucial South Antrim by-election early today. Mr McCrea caused a major upset with his victory, which is a major boost to anti-agreement unionists and appears to make a fresh challenge to Mr Trimble's leadership of the UUP inevitable.
Mr McCrea took the seat by 11,601 votes to 10,779 for the UUP candidate, Mr David Burnside, in what had been a safe seat for the Ulster Unionists.
This margin of 822 votes was slim but significant given the low turnout of 43.2 per cent or 31,700 voters. The outcome will cause great anxiety to the British and Irish governments, the SDLP, Sinn Fein and other supporters of the agreement.
It is likely that Mr Trimble will face a leadership challenge and will also come under heavy criticism at his party's annual conference on October 7th.
Mr Trimble in a statement this morning said his party was very disappointed with the result, which was clearly a reflection of the level of unease within the unionist community. "Whilst the low turnout has reduced the Ulster Unionist Party vote, the main reason we attribute to the loss of this seat is the Patten Report and the treatment of the Royal Ulster Constabulary by Her Majesty's government.
Shortly after the results were announced at 2 a.m., Mr McCrea said: "This is a historic day, giving a lead to the rest of unionist people in the province."
Mr McCrea's win was greeted with loud cheers from his party leader, the Rev Ian Paisley. Dr Paisley said the result was the start of his party's strategy to destroy the Belfast Agreement.