Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey has told his party's annual conference that internal infighting in the UUP is 'over'.
Acknowledging party members' concerns that the current system of mandatory coalition in the North was far from ideal, Sir Empey admitted Ulster Unionists had often been the architects of their own electoral misfortune with their constant in-fighting.
"We, the Ulster Unionist Party, helped the DUP into their current position," he said.
"Our internal war was a gift to them. Our public spats were a gift to them. Our seeming inability to run a coherent campaign was a gift to them.
"Ladies and gentlemen - those days are over."
The UUP leader made his comments at the party's annual conference amid signs of continuing discontent about whether the party should remain in the Stormont power sharing government.
Assembly member Basil McCrea last night called on Sir Reg to openly debate whether the UUP should withdraw from the Executive.
The Lagan Valley MLA argued Stormont was suffering from a lack of a meaningful opposition because 90% of MLAs in the chamber were drawn from the four power sharing government parties.
Other UUP members have privately expressed concern that the participation of two of its ministers including Sir Reg in the executive means there is no clear blue water between it and its main rival, the Democratic Unionist Party.
Sir Reg acknowledged members' concerns that the current system of mandatory coalition featuring the DUP, Sinn Féin, UUP and SDLP was far from ideal.
After an Assembly election in March which saw the UUP win just 18 seats and fourth in popular vote, the Stormont Employment Minister insisted new rule changes approved last night meant his party was ready to fight back and provide a credible alternative to the two largest parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin.