Taylor urges timetable for a review of agreement

The deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist party, Mr John Taylor MP, has said his party must draw up a "clear and specific timetable…

The deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist party, Mr John Taylor MP, has said his party must draw up a "clear and specific timetable" to review the Belfast Agreement and exclude Sinn Fein from government.

He was addressing the Young Unionist conference in Belfast at the weekend. About 40 delegates attended the conference. Other speakers included anti-agreement MPs Mr Willie Ross, the Rev Martin Smyth and Mr Jeffrey Donaldson. Mr David Trimble was not invited to speak.

Last year, Mr Trimble attacked his party's youth wing which is stridently anti-agreement. Young Unionist chairman Dr Philip Weir said the decision not to invite the party leader was deliberate.

Mr Taylor told delegates there was clear provision in the Belfast Agreement for the exclusion of Sinn Fein from government - and its continuation without the party - if the Provisional IRA failed to hand over weapons.

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"Such people cannot remain in the government of Northern Ireland for much longer - they have been totally exposed. The UUP must now decide upon a clear and specific timetable to bring about a review of the Agreement and the exclusion of Sinn Fein/IRA from the Executive."

Mr Ross told the conference there had to be a swift return to the UUP's policy of "no guns, no government".

He said a few "peekaboo" inspections of arms dumps was not enough. "We must insist that decommissioning has to be credible, verifiable and ongoing until all illegal weapons are destroyed." In a clear rejection of Mr Trimble's demand for an end to party wrangling, Mr Ross said he was against presenting a face of "bland unity" to the world.

"I believe that open debate and the turmoil of competing ideas is an absolute necessity in politics." Dr Weir told delegates a tactical UUP withdrawal from the Executive had to be neither catastrophic nor permanent.

"It is scare-mongering to suggest the Assembly and agreement would collapse. The committees could continue to meet and Assembly members would maintain influence in determining departmental policy.

"No democratic deficit could develop and all the people of Northern Ireland would not be penalised for the behaviour of terrorists. Returning to ministerial power would provide an incentive for republicans to disarm since even the most optimistic now recognise they will never disarm of their own free will."

The conference passed a resolution stating it was "inappropriate" for the UUP to remain in government with Sinn Fein because the Provisional IRA had failed to decommission and was still engaged in illegal activity.