Unionists set for new showdown over split

The bitterly divided camps in the Ulster Unionist Party are to have another showdown at a meeting later this week, it was announced today.

UUP president the Rev Martin Smyth confirmed a meeting of party officers would take place this Friday after the Belfast High Court ruled on Monday that attempts to suspend him and two other MPs, Jeffrey Donaldson and David Burnside, for defying party policy were invalid.

The South Belfast MP, who along with Mr Donaldson and Mr Burnside resigned the party whip in a dispute with UUP leader David Trimble, also confirmed Arlene Foster, who has criticised party policy, would remain as a party officer.

Arlene Foster had tendered her resignation as an honorary secretary when party officers initiated disciplinary action against the three rebel MPs for resigning the UUP whip at Westminster.

But Mr Smyth said he had not accepted her letter of resignation.

He explained: “Given that Arlene announced her wish to resign as honorary secretary of the Ulster Unionist Council just shortly before the then disciplinary committee took the view that I was suspended, I did not respond to accept her resignation.

“In fact, I did not actually receive her signed letter until Monday – the same day that Mr Justice Girvan ruled that the suspension of myself and my colleagues was invalid.

“I have always been one for urging people to fight their corner and advance their view, so since Monday I have spoken to Arlene.

“She tendered her resignation as an officer on the basis that she did not wish to be part of an officer team pursuing an action through a process which she believed to be unjust and ill-conceived.

“Now the High Court has vindicated that stance and that particular disciplinary process has been forced to cease, I have asked Arlene to reconsider her position, rescind her resignation and remain on the party officer team. I am delighted she has agreed to do so.

“Arlene is a bright and articulate advocate for unionism who has much to offer this party.

“Particularly at a time when society is seeking to encourage women to be more politically active, we cannot afford to lose people like Arlene from positions of prominence such as being on the party officer team – the next meeting of which is scheduled for this Friday at 12pm.”

The party officers’ meeting will follow hard on a failed bid by opponents of UUP leader David Trimble to further embarrass him by a motion of no confidence in his Upper Bann constituency.

Mr Trimble survived the vote in his constituency last night by 115 votes to 69.