UUP dissidents refuse to rejoin party colleagues

The three anti-agreement Ulster Unionist MPs who resigned the party whip in Westminster earlier this year have refused to overturn their decision.

The three dissidents, Jeffrey Donaldson, David Burnside and Martin Smyth, were expected to rejoin the party in Westminster today.

However, they said they had decided not to do so as they were being asked to give unacceptable prior commitments such as supporting party policy on resuming to share power with Sinn Féin if an acceptable deal is negotiated with the republican party.