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.