UUP again seek legal advice on internal strife

A number of the Ulster Unionist Party’s top figures were meeting today in an effort to finds ways to patch up deep divisions within the party on current policy.

It is understood that some of those attending the meeting of members disaffected by party policy were a number of individuals previously loyal to UUP leader David Trimble.

An earlier entirely separate approach by Sir Reg Empey and Jim Rodgers has apparently been shelved as the gulf between pro-agreement and anti-agreement figures shows no signs of being bridged.

Two of the three dissident Ulster Unionist MPs who resigned the party whip in the House of Commons in June, the Rev Martin Smyth and Jeffery Donaldson may also be facing additional disciplinary action by the party as they hold the offices of party president and vice-president respectively within the UUP hierarchy.

A fractious two-hour meeting of party officers on Wednesday evening saw the matter heading back to the hands of legal counsel as the divisive issue rumbles on. Party Chairman James Cooper confirmed that legal advice was to be sought on whether the Ulster Unionist Council, the party’s ruling body, can decide not to hold meetings and whether its powers encompass disciplinary procedures.

A further meeting is expected to be held on Tuesday August 26.

The three MPs formally declined to accept the party whip over the UUP Council’s stance on refusing to reject the British and Irish government’s Joint Declaration which was presented by Mr Blair and Mr Ahern as the basis for a reconstitution of the currently suspended NI assembly.

The case last visited the courts in July when The High Court in Belfast ruled that the party’s suspension of three MPs was “invalid”.

(SP)