Trimble branded "a liability"

Mr Ross blamed Mr Trimble and his backing for the Good Friday Agreement for the loss of his seat in last week's Westminister poll.

The election saw the Ulster Unionists suffer heavily at the hands of Rev Ian Paisley's hardline Democratic Unionists.

"What I was told on the doorstep day after day and told on election day was a vote for Ross was a vote for David Trimble and they weren't voting for David Trimble. It was as simple and brutal as that," said Mr Ross.