It was smiles all round and backslapping aplenty as a senior Ulster Unionist enjoyed a standing ovation at the weekend’s SDLP conference.

MLA Basil McCrea's brief address to SDLP delegates included the subject of a closer working relationship and a “shared future".

Mr McCrea said he looked forward to discussing these issues in the future, including an exploration of ways in which the two parties could work more closely together.

Wishing the SDLP well, he suggested this closer relationship could be "perhaps even a shared future".

Although only at the meeting as an observer, he was nevertheless invited to make the address to delegates and – as it came exactly a week after the SDLP’s only Executive Minister Margaret Ritchie spoke at the Ulster Unionist conference – he took the opportunity to praise her in response.

The Lagan Valley Assembly man praised the "sensitive" way the Social Development Minister had approached the UU gathering, at which she was also given an ovation.

Formally welcomed by the party's outgoing chairman Sean Farren, Mr McCrea was also warmly greeted by SDLP leader Mark Durkan.

Mrs Ritchie herself was also given two standing ovations on Saturday, when praised by Mr Durkan and during the social development debate over her decision to axe the £1.28m funding for a UDA-linked Conflict Transformation Initiative.

Meanwhile, MLA Dominic Bradley told the three-day meeting that the murder of Paul Quinn, not far away from the conference, held in Cullyhanna, was pre-planned and organised and the machine which provided the existing network behind it must be dismantled once and for all.

(BMcC)