UUP board announce second hearing against rebel MPs

The Ulster Unionist Party has decided to proceed with the second disciplinary hearing against three rebel MPs.

The officer board had initially established a disciplinary committee to decide what action should be taken against the MPs following their decision to resign the party whip at Westminster.

That committee suspended the three dissidents pending a disciplinary hearing, but the High Court in Belfast subsequently ruled that the suspensions were unlawful.

Jeffrey Donaldson, David Burnside and Martin Smyth resigned the UUP whip in Westminster after failing to convince the party's ruling council to reject the recent Irish-British declaration on implementing the Good Friday Agreement.