Bickering and infighting between unionist leaders have alienated supporters and weakened negotiations with the British government, it was claimed tonight.
South Antrim Ulster Unionist MP Mr David Burnside made a plea for unionist unity in a speech in his constituency.
"A degree of disciplined unionist unity among all the unionist parties is possible but must be based on a clear understanding of principles, policy and electorally advantageous cooperation," he said.
"Unionist leaders not working for unionist unity are sadly misjudging the feeling on the ground where the mass of traditional unionist voters are disillusioned with the political process and the day in day out bickering and infighting within unionism."
The meeting in Ballyclare Town Hall was the latest in a series of rallies calling for closer cooperation between the Ulster Unionists and Mr Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists.
Mr Burnside said the recently established Stormont Principles by a number of anti-Agreement Ulster Unionists, a list of points and principles from the DUP and statements from other smaller unionist parties showed that common ground was possible.
Arguments over the Belfast Agreement must come to an end, he said. "The yes/no debate within unionism must become a redundant debate. Good unionists voted no and good unionists voted yes in the referendum in 1998. We are all very disillusioned with the outworkings of the Belfast Agreement."
Mr Burnside said he believed about 70 per cent of the unionist community did not want a return to Stormont if the Executive contained republicans who had not given up criminal and terrorist activities.
"We need to agree the type of institutions we want at Stormont and if we cannot get some degree of cross community support it is better to look at how we can improve direct rule."
The leader of the UK Unionist Party, Bob McCartney, who also attended the meeting, said all unionist parties must accept the wishes of the majority of unionist voters who now oppose the Agreement.