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12/12/2003
Donaldson UUP position in question
Jeffrey Donaldson's position within the Ulster Unionist Party is likely to be discussed at a meeting of the party's executive on Friday night.
It follows comments made by the Lagan Valley MP towards the party leadership in Kilkeel on Thursday.
Mr Donaldson, who had immediately questioned David Trimble's leadership following the poor performance of the party in the recent assembly elections, said if the party's leadership was unwilling to renegotiate the Agreement he would go to fellow thinking unionists such as the DUP and "achieve the change the unionist people voted for".
The Ulster Unionist Party found itself the smaller of the two unionist parties in Northern Ireland following last months elections.
For the first time ever Ian Paisley's DUP overtook Mr Trimble's party as the dominant force in unionism by taking 30 seats compared to the UUP's 27.
The result heaped more pressure on Mr Trimble who has come under fierce criticism within his party over his stance with republicans.
In June, Mr Donaldson and fellow Ulster Unionist MPs David Burnside and Martin Smyth were suspended from the party after resigning the party whip at Westminster.
Declaring that they did not support the Good Friday Agreement, the trio called for Mr Trimble to change party policy or step down as party leader.
In response, Mr Trimble said they should quit the party.
The party meeting tonight may well shape the fate of some senior figures within the Ulster Unionist party.
(MB)
It follows comments made by the Lagan Valley MP towards the party leadership in Kilkeel on Thursday.
Mr Donaldson, who had immediately questioned David Trimble's leadership following the poor performance of the party in the recent assembly elections, said if the party's leadership was unwilling to renegotiate the Agreement he would go to fellow thinking unionists such as the DUP and "achieve the change the unionist people voted for".
The Ulster Unionist Party found itself the smaller of the two unionist parties in Northern Ireland following last months elections.
For the first time ever Ian Paisley's DUP overtook Mr Trimble's party as the dominant force in unionism by taking 30 seats compared to the UUP's 27.
The result heaped more pressure on Mr Trimble who has come under fierce criticism within his party over his stance with republicans.
In June, Mr Donaldson and fellow Ulster Unionist MPs David Burnside and Martin Smyth were suspended from the party after resigning the party whip at Westminster.
Declaring that they did not support the Good Friday Agreement, the trio called for Mr Trimble to change party policy or step down as party leader.
In response, Mr Trimble said they should quit the party.
The party meeting tonight may well shape the fate of some senior figures within the Ulster Unionist party.
(MB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry in the southeast at first otherwise widespread light rain or drizzle for most. It will turn mostly dry towards dawn, although a few patches of light rain or drizzle continuing, mainly in the southwest. Minimum temperature 5 °C.
