Unionists set for another showdown

THE bitterly divided camps in the Ulster Unionist Party are to have another showdown at a meeting later this week.

UUP president the Rev Martin Smyth confirmed a meeting of party officers would take place on Friday after the Belfast High Court ruled on Monday that attempts to suspend him and two other MPs, Jeffrey Donaldson and David Burnside, for defying party policy were invalid.

The South Belfast MP, who along with Mr Donaldson and Mr Burnside resigned the party whip in a dispute with UUP leader David Trimble, also confirmed Arlene Foster, who has criticised party policy, would remain as a party officer.