Trimble survives latest challenge

ULSTER UNIONIST leader David Trimble yesterday suffered a setback when almost half of his Northern Ireland Assembly group backed a letter querying whether he should stay at the party helm.

The Upper Bann MP narrowly survived a vote on the letter criticising his leadership, with 11 MLAs voting against him.

Mr Trimble said afterwards: I am quite happy with the outcome of the meeting and quite confident that when the vote comes on my leadership on March 27, I am confident in that outcome.”