Trimble denies talks snub

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble today vigorously denied claims that he was planning to scale down his party’s involvement in talks involving the Prime Minister Tony Blair next week.

The Northern Ireland First Minister, in a statement issued to PA News, claimed that he was ‘‘amazed’’ at press reports in Northern Ireland that he was planning to hold a brief meeting with Mr Blair next week at talks also involving Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.