UUP prepares for Donaldson showdown
David Trimble’s Ulster Unionists were preparing today for a potentially explosive meeting of their executive amid rumours of fresh disciplinary moves against rebel MP Jeffrey Donaldson.
Supporters of Mr Trimble were believed to be planning another bid to have the Lagan Valley MP suspended following the success of the rival hardline Democratic Unionists in last month’s Assembly election.
Mr Donaldson further angered Trimble supporters last night when he warned the party leadership that he and others would work alongside Ian Paisley’s DUP in peace process negotiations if there was no change in party policy.
The rebel MP told Ulster Unionists in Kilkeel: “It is clear that the leadership has little to show for the gambles that they have taken with the integrity of our party.
“Now we have been overtaken by Sinn Féin/IRA for the first time in our history in terms of first preference votes cast at a major election.
“This represents a humiliation for Ulster Unionism.
“Yet, in spite of all of this, there is no indication that the leadership will change the policy of this party to reflect the new political dispensation in Unionism.
“Thus we find ourselves in the same position as the Conservative Party in 1997 – no change, no chance.”
Mr Donaldson said if there was no change in policy, many traditional Ulster Unionists voters would continue to desert it in future elections.
He continued; “The Ulster Unionist Party under its present leadership and direction is destined to play second fiddle in the second division of Ulster politics.
“If the Ulster Unionist leadership is unwilling to re-negotiate the failed agreement, then there are others who will, myself included.
“Consequently I intend to use the mandate I have been given to work with the Democratic Unionist Party and with other Unionists to achieve the change the unionists voted for and to build a stronger unionist movement that will be capable of providing strong and principled leadership and preventing Sinn Féin/IRA from dominating Ulster politics.”
Earlier this year Mr Donaldson resigned the party whip at Westminster in a row over policy.
A leadership bid to have Mr Donaldson and two other MPs – Martin Smyth and David Burnside – suspended was overturned in July by the High Court in Belfast because it did not follow party disciplinary procedures properly.
In last month’s election, the Ulster Unionists won 27 Stormont seats but were overtaken by the DUP, which captured 30 seats.
The party also was overtaken by the DUP and Sinn Féin in the popular vote, despite increasing its share by 1.4%.
