Donaldson: Decision 'will exacerbate matters'

Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson has claimed the UUP Officer Board's decision to proceed with a second disciplinary hearing against him and his two collegues has made matters worse.

The Ulster Unionist Party has been badly split over a decision last month by the party’s ruling council to back the leadership refusal to completely reject plans put forward by the British and Irish Governments for the future of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Donaldson, Mr Burnside and Mr Smyth resigned the party’s whip at Westminster last month in protest at party policy.

Emerging from the meeting, Mr Donaldson said: “Today’s decision will only exacerbate matters.

“There was an opportunity today after the court ruling on Monday to draw back from the brink.

“The party officers – a minority albeit – have decided to press ahead with disciplinary action.

“I think that is going to do damage to the party, damage to the party’s credibility.

“It will do nothing to heal the divisions within the party and I think that a majority of members of the party will be aghast at this decision.”

South Antrim MP David Burnside said the decision was "regrettable''.

He said: “It appears there are some officers in the party who are bent on confrontation rather than compromise and party unity.

“This latest disciplinary action will only lead to conflict in the party when they should be seeking party unity.

“It is a very regrettable decision following the disastrous legal action for the party leadership. Surely that should have been a lesson.”

Mr Burnside said his voters and constituency colleagues had hoped for a period of reflection in the hope that there could be an end to conflict within the UUP.

He added: “We will not compromise on our principles.”