Paisley wins meeting with Blair

British Prime Minister Tony Blair will meet the Democratic Unionists after Downing Street talks next week involving the other Northern Ireland parties, it was confirmed today.

The British Government and DUP said a meeting is being arranged with the Rev Ian Paisley’s party following last night’s announcement from the EU summit in Gothenburg that talks involving the British and Irish Governments, Ulster Unionists, Sinn Fein and the SDLP will take place in London on Monday.