UUP braced for resignations after hardliners defeated

The Ulster Unionist Party was today facing the grim prospect of mass resignations following the defeat of hardliners led by Jeffrey Donaldson at a meeting of its ruling council in Belfast.

A bid by the Lagan Valley MP to force party leader David Trimble to reject the Irish and British governments’ plan for the future of the peace process failed to win over a majority of the 900-member ruling council in Belfast last night.

But in an emotional press conference afterwards, Mr Donaldson confirmed that he was contemplating his future in the party and questioning whether it still stood for the principles he believed in.

“Tonight we had an opportunity to address concerns,” the Lagan Valley MP lamented.

“Tonight we had the opportunity to speak to those homes, those families and say we understand your concerns, we understand why you have lost your confidence and we are going to do something about it.

“Tonight we lost that opportunity. For five years I have tried to persuade this party that those principles are worth something.

“Perhaps my energies will be better employed in other ways.”

Mr Donaldson had opposed the British and Irish governments’ joint declaration because it offered the Irish government a role on a sanctioned body against parties who are in breach of the Good Friday Agreement and also offered a judicial scheme to enable IRA members who have been on the run since the troubles to return to their homeland without being jailed.

Ulster Unionist council members voted 446 to 348 in favour of an amended motion from party leader David Trimble which fell short of an outright rejection of London and Dublin’s plan.

Mr Donaldson said afterwards he was going to consider his future in the party once he had faced down a motion of no confidence against him in his own constituency.

But as he left the South Belfast hotel which hosted the Ulster Unionist Council meeting, Lagan Valley Ulster Unionist sources hinted that the motion of no confidence could be withdrawn “in the interests of party unity”.

Ulster Unionist honorary secretary and Donaldson supporter Arlene Foster today confirmed she was also questioning whether she should remain in the UUP.

She said: “It was an emotional meeting. It was a defining moment for the Ulster Unionist Party.

“Given the outcome, we have to take our time and consider where we go from here.”

It was still unclear today who would join Mr Donaldson and Ms Foster in a breakaway faction from the Ulster Unionist Party.

However there was mounting speculation that any breakaway group would form an alliance with the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists and other Good Friday Agreement unionists.

While Mr Trimble and his supporters rejoiced, the UUP leader nevertheless urged Mr Donaldson not to quit.

“I would like him to consider his position and the only way for him to do that is to remain in the party,” he said.