Northern Ireland needs a new agreement which guarantees no one with "terrorist connections" can serve in it's Government, a rebel Ulster Unionist MP claimed tonight.
Addressing a debate organised by the Trinity College Historical Society, the Reverend Martin Smyth claimed the Belfast Agreement had failed because it had "rewarded terrorism".
The South Belfast MP, who remains in conflict with his party leadership over the retaking of the Westminster whip by him and fellow rebels Mr Jeffrey Donaldson and Mr David Burnside, denied anti-agreement unionists were opposed to any deal.
He argued: "There is a vast difference between being anti-Belfast Agreement and being anti any agreement.
"While those unionists who are opposed to the Belfast Agreement are prepared to work for and support an agreed settlement for Northern Ireland, it must have a different dynamic rather than the pro-republican agenda of the Belfast Agreement."
The Ulster Unionist president said his opponents claims that anti-agreement unionists wanted to go back to the old days of majority rule and refused to recognise the rights of Catholics and nationalists were "inaccurate and fanciful".
He also rejected suggestions that anti-agreement politicians were anti-peace.
Rev Smyth claimed the Belfast Agreement had repeatedly rewarded terrorists.
When the IRA had over the past five years been accused of engaging in paramilitary activity, he said that rather than driving Sinn Féin out of the Stormont executive, devolution had been suspended several times and all parties removed from office.
He said: "It seems there can only be a devolved government if Sinn Féin/IRA are within it, regardless of their activities on the ground.
"Therefore the terrorists have a veto.
PA