Trimble survival - Unionism remains factionalised

Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble has survived, yet again, in the face of another major heave against his leadership, but unionism remains in a brittle condition.

Despite the fact that the weekend decision of the governing Ulster Unionist Council (UUC) in relation to their three dissident MPs, Jeffrey Donaldson, Martin Smyth and David Burnside went in Mr Trimble’s favour, the party is still factionalised.

All three had resigned the party whip over their rejection of aspects of policy and called the meeting of the UUC to pre-empt disciplinary moves against them.

In the event, their strategy failed, and that of Mr Trimble, which was essentially an olive branch, while regretting their action but inviting them to accept the party whip again, prevailed.

Unfortunately, for unionism and the peace process, the democratic will of the UUC is not acceptable to the three MPs, who have vowed, according to Jeffrey Donaldson, not to resume the party whip at Westminster.

If they persist in that attitude, the logical corollary is that they should suffer the consequences which the UUC cannot afford to ignore, which must result in their expulsion from the party, especially Mr Donaldson and Mr Smyth who are officers of the party.

Because of their stand, one of the most respected figures in Northern politics, Reg Empey, who had stood solidly with his leader, is in an ambiguous position in regard to Mr Trimble, because of his attempts with Mr Donaldson to facilitate a middle course.

The fact is, that, irrespective of the weekend decision, neither the SDLP nor Sinn Féin can be confident which faction of unionism represents their official line, and with whom exactly they do business with.

It is a totally unsatisfactory situation insofar as progressing the peace process is concerned.