Negotiations are under way for a joint visit to Northern Ireland by the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and the leaders of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to push for a Yes vote ahead of the referendum next month.
The Tory leader, Mr William Hague, proposed the idea and yesterday Downing Street confirmed that a joint visit is being planned. It could take place in mid-May, after the current round of local elections in Britain.
However, the plan has been strongly criticised by the Democratic Unionist Party leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, who said: "They never came here to fight the IRA, they never came to the funeral of one of the victims of violence, but now they are coming to tell the people of Northern Ireland, `You must vote Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, the godfathers of the godfathers of the IRA, into your government'."
The detail of what would be an unprecedented visit, with Mr Blair campaigning with Mr Hague and the Liberal Democrat leader, Mr Paddy Ashdown, has yet to be decided. Early suggestions by the Liberal Democrats include a joint press conference, or for the party leaders to meet people from both communities.
A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Blair "obviously welcomes" the support of the party leaders and would look at the detail of the proposals and "how to take things forward" when he returned to Britain from Israel. "I would not rule out some form of joint visit," he added.
Mr Blair has already asked the former prime minister, Mr John Major, to play a role in the campaign for the referendum on May 22nd and Mr Hague and Mr Ashdown have publicly pledged their support for a Yes vote since the Northern Ireland Agreement was signed on Good Friday.
A spokesman for Mr Hague said he would be speaking to Mr Blair later this week or perhaps early next week about his proposals but the first step was to establish the principle of "a unity of purpose within the United Kingdom of the support for the settlement".
If the joint visit goes ahead it will be the first time that the leaders of the three main parties have stood together on a political platform and the importance of such a symbolic gesture played a part in Mr Hague's proposal.
"We feel this would be a way of powerfully underlining the message that this settlement provides the opportunity to open a new chapter in the history of Northern Ireland. There are some uncomfortable compromises within the settlement but the main message we are arguing for is a Yes vote. There is a need to continue pressing the government for reassurance and we believe that Mr Blair has been looking to do that," his spokesman said.
Speaking on Sky TV, Mr Ashdown confirmed that he would "do anything" to help the Yes campaign. "I'm guided by my colleagues in the Alliance Party who tell me it will be helpful, and I am therefore taking part in the referendum campaign."
