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29/10/2001
Trimble attempts to drum up re-election support
As hard line Ulster Unionists express reluctance to support the current stance of the Ulster Unionist leadership, David Trimble is bidding to win over crucial support for his campaign to be re-elected as First Minister.
Although the meeting of the UUP’s executive at the weekend endorsed Mr Trimble’s return to office in the Northern Ireland Assembly, the re-election bid could be thwarted by a failure to win grassroots support.
At least two Assembly Members have expressed grave reservations about supporting David Trimble’s re-election as First Minister, and anti-agreement factions within the UUP have called a meeting of the party’s ruling council to be held within the next tree weeks.
Speaking on Radio Ulster Assembly Member Pauline Armitage said she remained unhappy about the direction the party was taking and the questions about decommissioning remained unanswered. Earlier North Down Assembly Member Peter Weir said that the IRA’s move on decommissioning was a “one-off stunt”.
In order to be returned as First Minister, along with Deputy First Minister SDLP leader-in-waiting Mark Durkan, Mr Trimble must establish a majority amongst both unionist and nationalist Assembly Members.
While it is anticipated that the elections of the First and Deputy First Ministers will be held later this week, the Democratic Unionist Party has called on its members to prepare for Assembly elections. The anti-Good Friday Agreement DUP anticipate a collapse of the power-sharing Assembly if the re-elections of top ministerial posts fail to return a quorum of support from MLAs. The DUP said that meetings were to be held on Monday, October 29, to discuss the party’s strategy.
The Progressive Unionist Party’s Billy Hutchinson said that too many concessions had been given to nationalists. (SP)
Although the meeting of the UUP’s executive at the weekend endorsed Mr Trimble’s return to office in the Northern Ireland Assembly, the re-election bid could be thwarted by a failure to win grassroots support.
At least two Assembly Members have expressed grave reservations about supporting David Trimble’s re-election as First Minister, and anti-agreement factions within the UUP have called a meeting of the party’s ruling council to be held within the next tree weeks.
Speaking on Radio Ulster Assembly Member Pauline Armitage said she remained unhappy about the direction the party was taking and the questions about decommissioning remained unanswered. Earlier North Down Assembly Member Peter Weir said that the IRA’s move on decommissioning was a “one-off stunt”.
In order to be returned as First Minister, along with Deputy First Minister SDLP leader-in-waiting Mark Durkan, Mr Trimble must establish a majority amongst both unionist and nationalist Assembly Members.
While it is anticipated that the elections of the First and Deputy First Ministers will be held later this week, the Democratic Unionist Party has called on its members to prepare for Assembly elections. The anti-Good Friday Agreement DUP anticipate a collapse of the power-sharing Assembly if the re-elections of top ministerial posts fail to return a quorum of support from MLAs. The DUP said that meetings were to be held on Monday, October 29, to discuss the party’s strategy.
The Progressive Unionist Party’s Billy Hutchinson said that too many concessions had been given to nationalists. (SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Dry, bright start this morning with best of sunshine in the west. Thickening cloud over Down and Antrim this morning with a few showers, extending westwards this afternoon. Lighter winds. Maximum temperature 16 °C.Tonight:Rather cloudy and mainly dry at first, then showery outbreaks of rain extending westwards to most places during the night, turning heavier towards morning. Light winds. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
