Donaldson astonished at suspension

REBEL MP Jeffrey Donaldson said he was absolutely astonished after he was suspended from the Ulster Unionist Party last night.

Mr Donaldson was joined by fellow MP David Burnside as well as the party’s president Martin Smyth, sources said last night.

The move came as a disciplinary committee met for the first time to consider the future of the three rebel MPs opposed to the leadership of David Trimble and the Good Friday Agreement.