Trimble calls for party unity at UUP annual Council meeting
The Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, will appeal for party unity at this morning’s annual meeting of his ruling party Council.
Mr Trimble is re-standing as party leader today although anti-Agreement members of the party are expected to make renewed demands for IRA decommissioning.
Mr Trimble would like to take a united party into next year’s assembly elections but the anti-Agreement wing shows no sign of accepting defeat.
Although they go into today’s meeting weakened after a period of relative political calm, there are storm clouds on the horizon.
The sceptics are demanding more IRA decommissioning, an end to government proposals on providing a limited amnesty for republican fugitives and more support for the police.
The Ulster Unionist Party is still split down the middle over the Agreement and there’s concern that they may use today’s meeting as a launching pad to re-group and ratchet up the pressure on Mr Trimble.
