Disciplining rebel MPs 'could tear unionists apart'

Disciplinary action against three rebel Ulster Unionist MPs could wreck the party, it was warned today.

South Antrim MP David Burnside, who is one of the rebels facing disciplinary action, said before a meeting between David Trimble and party members in the constituency that the leadership risked confrontation with some of its biggest con “I think disciplinary action will wreck this party,” Mr Burnside said in Templepatrick.

“If disciplinary action is taken against the Rev Martin Smith, Jeffrey Donaldson and myself, it will have forced confrontation with three of the biggest constituency associations within the party.

“It will tear us asunder and it will make us incapable of winning an election for the Assembly or Europe or the next Westminster one.

“It should be dropped, forgotten about and we should unite on policy.”

The three MPs have been facing disciplinary action since resigning the whip at Westminster in June in a row over policy.

The trio had hoped that Ulster Unionists would have rejected proposals from the British and Irish governments for the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

However, their protest action has sparked a bitter internal feud within the party.

Ulster Unionist party officers last night decided that a meeting of the 900-member ruling council should go ahead next month to discuss the disciplinary action.

However, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble today played down the decision and said he hoped that it would finally put to rest the divisions within the party over policy.