Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble will today launch an attack on the Democratic Unionists at his party conference over their handling of the talks to revive Stormont.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair must nail down the IRA on a commitment to fully disarm and end paramilitarism if Northern Ireland's Assembly is to return, it was urged today.
Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble told his party's annual conference in Newcastle, Co Down, the Prime Minister had missed an opportunity at talks in September to find out exactly what the IRA was prepared to do to revive power sharing at Stormont.
With the Governments preparing to put proposals to revive devolution to Northern Ireland's parties within the next week, he also accused the rival Democratic Unionist Party of letting republicans off the hook at the Leeds Castle talks in Kent.
"When Sinn Féin arrived at Leeds Castle, the cry was ringing in their ears that they were the Government's Stormont Fusiliers," Mr Trimble said.
"I suspect that they had been unable to persuade their grassroots to make what they would regard as big sacrifices.
"Like other parties, we do not know what republicans supposedly offered to Blair. I suspect the offer was more a bluff than anything else.
"Blair should have nailed it down, but with characteristic optimism he rushed at it. "The DUP could have covered themselves by confronting republicans and insisting they give clear details. But rather than engage in serious negotiations, they hid behind other issues.
"I did warn the DUP that they were letting republicans away in the smoke. Unfortunately, they did not listen. "But that should not obscure the fact that the main responsibility lies with
the government and republicans.
"The post-Leeds talks have run out of steam. "It is said that the government is preparing a paper to put before the parties. We have advised government that they first nail down republicans.
"There must be genuine acts of completion that satisfactorily resolve decommissioning and paramilitary issues. "Without that prospect, there will be no progress. With it, there is something to do and we will be ready."
After Leeds Castle, Mr Blair claimed the IRA appeared to be ready to resolve the issues of disarmament and paramilitary activity which have frustrated attempts to have power sharing.
However a deal on devolution and decommissioning has been frustrated by the failure of the Reverend Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists and nationalists to agree a future model for power sharing.
Mr Trimble said today the DUP had put forward no new deal in the negotiations and had in fact signed up to the Belfast Agreement after six years of opposing it.
He accused the DUP of flip flopping on engaging with Sinn Fein in television studios and in talks.
The Reverend Ian Paisley's meeting with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern in Dublin was the most dramatic reversal of all, the UUP leader claimed.
The Upper Bann MP also attacked the party for seeking separate elections in the Assembly for the Stormont First and Deputy First Ministers (DFM) if devolution returned.
"What is the gain if the DUP is not required to vote for a Sinn Féin DFM but it is prepared to accept a Sinn Fein DFM voted in by other means?" he asked. "This is merely stripping out one of the few cross-community provisions of the Agreement to spare the blushes of a sectarian party."
Mr Trimble accused the DUP of conceding to Sinn Féin the transfer of policing and justice powers to a Stormont Executive. With the General Election and local government elections approaching, he insisted unionism could not afford to have five years of the DUP.
"What is at stake for unionism is our reputation for fairness and decency," the UUP leader argued.
"To an extent not grasped here, the DUP, in a House of Commons completely dominated by Labour MPs, are held in scarcely concealed contempt. "Five years of their sourness will do unaccountable damage to the Union.
"Unionism cannot afford a representation that will make Gerry Adams appear good before the court of English public opinion." With the Ulster Unionist Council approaching its centenary year, Mr Trimble said the party had remained true to its core principles and did not believe unionism was the same thing as Protestantism.
He insisted the party's vision for unionism was inclusive regardless of religion, gender, race or lifestyle. Mr Trimble also said unionists should not be content with direct rule ministers from Westminster running government departments in Northern Ireland.
The introduction of water charges as well as proposed education and local government reforms in the province were all evidence of just how bad direct rule was for Northern Ireland. He welcomed US President George W Bush's re-election, saying Democratic candidate Mr John Kerry's position on Northern Ireland was closer to Sinn Fein than Senator Edward Kennedy's.