UUP threaten to withdraw from Police Board

Ulster Unionist MP, David Burnside, says his party would pull out of the Police Board in the North if the British government tables new proposals to bring the law into line with the Patten Report.

Mr Burnside was speaking at the British Labour Party's annual conference in Blackpool where he was speaking at a fringe meeting.

The British government promised 14 months ago to table new legislation to bring policing into line with the Patten Report.

The proposals would make the Chief Constable more accountable to the board, giving political representatives more powers.

It was on this promise that the SDLP joined the new Police Board, a risky decision as Sinn Fein continues its boycott.

Ulster Unionists, however, continue to oppose any more reforms.

The anti-Agreement MP for South Antrim, David Burnside, said the UUP would argue against the new legislation, but if it was passed by the House of Commons against their consent, he could not see how they could continue on the Police Board.

Mr Burnside said he did not think the British government understood the depth of Unionist resistance to more policing changes.