British election - Trimble’s resignation inevitable

It was a dignified, if somewhat inglorious, exit which David Trimble made from Northern Ireland’s mainstream political arena, having led his Ulster Unionist Party into an electoral wasteland in last week’s Westminster elections.

His resignation as leader was inevitable, having lost his own seat and seen his party’s representation in the Commons decimated to the extent it now has only one.

Trimble’s contribution to the peace process was significant and showed courage by leading the UUP party into government on three occasions with Sinn Féin.

By such actions he displayed his belief in, and commitment to, the Good Friday Agreement of which he was an architect, yet on several occasions presented barriers to its progress by seeking to impose conditions which were not included in it.

The new Northern Secretary, Peter Hain has already had telephone discussions with some of the North’s political leaders ahead of meetings he will hold in Belfast at which he will stress the British Government’s continuing commitment to the peace process.

One of his first tasks will be to appraise the likelihood of the IRA giving a positive response to the urging from Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams to embrace peace and democracy.

The Taoiseach and British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be anxious to get the process back on track, but the most immediate consideration has to be the outcome of the local elections and, subsequently, the election of David Trimble’s successor.

Counting in that begins today, and it would be extraordinary if the outcome does not mirror that of last week’s Westminster elections.

With the UUP in disarray, Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party will continue in the ascendancy, with Sinn Féin emerging to dominate the republican and nationalist vote.