Madam, - I am saddened by the resignation of David Trimble as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. We have lost one of the best leaders our party has had because he tried to transform politics in Northern Ireland within the Good Friday Agreement - which in fact copper-fastened partition so long as the majority of the population wished to remain within the Union.
I believe David Trimble was more of a statesman than a politician, in that he saw the bigger picture more than most. It was once said that "it is a blessed thing that in every age some one had the individuality enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions."
Mr Trimble had that courage and strength of resolve. His defeat in politics came about, because, in my opinion, so many people in the unionist electorate allowed themselves to be emotionally influenced by what they think will be done as opposed to the reality of what can be done.
Some factors in his lack of success were: the Republican Movement failed to completely disarm, otherwise an Assembly would have continued to function; some of the senior members of the UUP "played to the gallery" and undermined his position by their lack of loyalty to the party. They had not the strength of conviction to remain with him, but through personality and petty jealousy factors confused the electorate, giving the DUP opportunity to further undermine the confidence of formerly UUP voters. Our prime minister was not strong enough with Republicans, allowing them to wriggle out of their deceit and falsehood.
It is unfortunate that so many people have not realised that it was under Mr Trimble's leadership that the deceit of the Republican movement was exposed to the world. The UUP created the bridgehead, "ploughed and furrowed", did the heavy work, faced the enemies of the state, when they saw there was a responsibility to be fulfilled, while others who stood aside now reap the rewards from the determination and strength of resolve of the UUP.
I commend David Trimble for his courage, his strength of conviction, his remarkable resilience in the face of so much pressure and back-biting from within his own party, along with what he had to face from the historical opponents of Northern Ireland. He had a great wealth of resolve and a professionalism lacking in politics here which will be an enormous loss to all. I believe that time will show he was moving in the right direction for the overall benefit of the people of Northern Ireland. History will deal with him kindly.
I wish him and his wife and family, health and strength and happiness in the days which are ahead of them. They deserve it all after their forbearance over these past years of nastiness channelled towards them by some uncaring people. - Yours, etc,
SAM FOSTER, Ulster Unionist, (Minister of Environment, 1999-2002), Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.