Donaldson set to stick with UUP

Anti-agreement Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson is expected to back down on his threat to quit the party following his recent defeat at the hands of party leader David Trimble.

According to reports this morning, Mr Donaldson and two of his anti-agreement colleagues, David Burnside and Martyn Smyth, will resign the UUP whip at Westminster, but will remain on as members of the party.

Mr Donaldson had vowed to consider his position if he failed to convince the UUP ruling council to reject the recent Irish-British declaration on implementing the Good Friday Agreement.

Earlier this month, the council decided to endorse Mr Trimble's stance rather than reject the document outright.