There is not likely to be a challenge to Mr David Trimble’s leadership at the Ulster Unionist Party’s annual council meeting next week, according to a newspaper report.
Speculation has been mounting that Mr Jeffrey Donaldson is prepared to stand against Mr Trimble at Saturday's meeting, but The Sunday Timesthis morning reports the rumoured challenge has been deferred until after the July 1st deadline Mr Trimble has set for resigning as Northern Ireland First Minister.
It is still unclear if the Rev Martin Smyth is willing to stand next week as he has indicated he would prefer to support a bid by Mr Donaldson.
In what may be a sign of a temporary truce, Mr Trimble on Friday appointed Mr Donaldson to the party’s teamthat will negotiate with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, over the outstanding points of the Belfast Agreement.
The newspaper reports that a deal has been privately agreed between pro- and anti-Agreement party members to defer the challenge in exchange for the mutual endorsement ofa Donaldson/Empey ticket after the First Minister’s anticipated resignation.
It has been reported that the party hopes pro-Agreement Assembly minister Sir Reg Empey and anti-Agreement MP Mr Donaldson will prove a ‘dream ticket’ that will unite both factions within the party.
Although Mr Empey has publicly denied that he will be involved in a challenge to Mr Trimble’s leadership, Unionist Party insiders are hopeful Mr Trimble will resign over the summer, if he stands down as First Minister, paving the way for the Donaldson/Empey ticket without the need to challenge current party leader.
Mr Trimble has lodged a letter dated July 1st tendering his resignation with the Speaker of the Assembly, Lord John Alderdice, and says he will only withdraw it if the IRA make a ‘significant’ move on decommissioning.