Ulster unionists hold emergency meeting over rebel MPs

Ulster Unionists were holding an emergency meeting today to decide the fate of three rebel MPs who resigned the party whip at Westminster.

Party leader David Trimble said nothing as he arrived at UUP headquarters in East Belfast to begin moves against the Rev Martin Smyth, Jeffrey Donaldson and David Burnside.

Mr Donaldson also declined to speak to reporters as he arrived more than five minutes late for the emergency summit.

The meeting follows the trio’s resignation of the party whip on Monday and their refusal to support Mr Trimble’s policy on the peace process.

The three men were furious that the UUP’s ruling council voted by 54% to 46% to support Mr Trimble and oppose demand for an outright rejection to the British and Irish Government joint declaration.

The party officers are expected to set up a disciplinary committee to consider the positions of Mr Smyth, the party president and Mr Donaldson, a vice president. It is not yet known whether action will be taken to expel all three from the party.

Mr Smyth has decided to stay away from today’s meeting, citing business at Westminster as the reason for his absence. Mr Donaldson had said that he would be there to fight his corner. He said that he was in the dark over what would happen at the meeting.

“I have no idea, I don’t know what they are going to propose. I haven’t broken any rules so far as I am aware.”

He predicted that if disciplinary procedures were taken against him and his two colleagues, it could lead to another meeting of the 860-strong Ulster Unionist Council.

The leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party was branded vindictive as one of the officers Arlene Foster left the meeting early.

She confirmed that Mr Trimble had brought three charges against three MPs and there was a debate on whether to set up a disciplinary committee to deal with them.

She said: “I see this action as a vindictive action of a leadership team who are detached from the people on the ground and who want to move against people who are in touch with the wider unionist community.”