Dr Ian Paisley has been holding discussions with the Ulster Unionist Party president about greater co-operation between their two parties, writes Paul Tanney, in Belfast.
News of the discussions with the Rev Martyn Smyth came as Dr Paisley's DUP called on the UUP to boycott the new Policing Board.
Making the call, the DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said the British government could not proceed with the policing reforms without the support of one unionist and one nationalist party. This support would come in the form of the parties taking seats on the board.
"That was the criteria operated the last time around. The government's plans were stopped because neither the SDLP nor Sinn Fein would support it and as a result the reforms were made much more acceptable to nationalists in the SDLP," Mr Robinson said.
"The logical argument, therefore, is if unionists do not support this implementation plan, then it cannot succeed. The government will have to amend it to make it more acceptable to unionists and go back to negotiations.
"If the two unionist parties act in concert, then unionists can stop (Dr John) Reid in his tracks and reel back the concessions he has made."
The Northern Ireland Office said that even if both unionist parties withheld support for the Policing Board they could not stop the reforms taking place.