Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble today vigorously denied claims that he was planning to scale down his party’s involvement in talks involving the Prime Minister Tony Blair next week.

The Ulster Unionists were accused tonight by Sinn Fein MLA Michelle Gildernew of using their news sheet to ‘‘glorify’’ the ‘‘illegal’’ ban on ministers Martin McGuinness and Bairbre de Brun attending cross-border body meetings.