UUP in crisis as MPs face expulsion

THE crisis within Ulster Unionism deepened last night as moves began to expel three rebel MPs from the party.

David Trimble, finally losing patience with his hardline critics, has set up a disciplinary committee to deal with Jeffrey Donaldson, Rev Martin Smyth and David Burnside.

The UUP leader said their decision to resign the party whip at Westminster had triggered a crisis that left the leadership with no alternative but firm action.