Donaldson: Council meeting is 'defining moment'
Hard-line Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson would not be drawn on his future as colleagues gathered for a crucial showdown of the party’s ruling council this evening.
As he arrived at the south Belfast hotel hosting tonight’s 900-member Ulster Unionist Council meeting on the British and Irish Governments’ plan for the future of the peace process, Mr Donaldson hoped the party would reject the document.
“I think, come what may, tonight this is a defining moment for the Ulster Unionist party,” the Lagan Valley MP said on his arrival.
“I hope we get it right.”
Ulster Unionists have been split in recent weeks over the joint declaration released by London and Dublin last month covering a range of issues from policing to criminal justice reform, equality and human rights.
Anti-Good Friday agreement UUP members have convened tonight’s meeting to force a harder line from the party firmly rejecting the plan.
In particular, they have been critical of proposals dealing with a sanctions body for dealing with parties in breach of the Good Friday agreement and a scheme which would enable IRA members who have been on the run since the troubles to return without being jailed.
In the run-up to tonight’s meeting Mr Donaldson has warned that he would have to consider his future in the UUP if the 900-member council did not reject London and Dublin’s joint declaration.
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble arrived at tonight’s meeting, saying little.
Earlier he urged members of the party not to focus solely on their own concerns.
However, the Upper Bann MP said he would listen closely to what party members had to say in tonight’s debate.
“We have always operated on the basis of discussion and of consensus,” he said. “I hope we will continue to do that.”
