The dissident Ulster Unionist MP, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, has called for the creation of a new united unionist movement to draw together the various strands of unionism into "a powerful political force".
Mr Donaldson, who rejected the Belfast Agreement and challenged his party's decision not to let him stand in the Assembly elections, was speaking yesterday to south Antrim Orangemen gathered in Crumlin.
"I am ready to play my part in that process and to work with others within unionism to explore the potential for such a new approach," he said. Mr Donaldson said it was time "to urgently reassess the situation" because their share of the vote was declining as a result of disillusionment, brought on by in-fighting "and our continual failure to win".
"The sense of defeatism within unionism is palpable. We lack self-confidence and seem to work to an agenda which is about the management of decline within a political framework which is set by pan-nationalism."
The Lagan Valley MP said there was a need to develop a coherent approach. "Such an approach must address the need to draw up a set of democratic principles around which unionists can unite. We must offer a dynamic vision for Northern Ireland which will seek to promote the benefits of the Union for all our people."
He welcomed the Assembly, which he said could help restore democratic and accountable government, but again voiced his opposition to Sinn Fein members taking up seats on the executive without prior IRA decommissioning of weapons.
"There should be no place in the government of Northern Ireland for those who are wedded to terror organisations, who would have not given up violence for good.
"In practice, this means that unionists should refuse to sit in an executive with Sinn Fein/IRA until they have declared that their campaign of violence is over for good, and that they are engaged in the actual decommissioning of their illegal weapons and the dismantling of their paramilitary organisations. There must be no more backing down on this issue," Mr Donaldson said.
Calling for the Parades Commission to be scrapped, he said the British government should undertake a fundamental review of parades legislation, and accused residents of the Garvaghy Road in Portadown of "intolerance and intransigence".
Mr Donaldson also condemned the recent spate of loyalist violence, in particular the murders of three young children in Ballymoney at the weekend, which he said was "an absolutely appalling and tragic act".
"The people who perpetrated this evil are guilty of a most grievous sin. Such violence is sickening and disgraces the very name of Protestantism," he added.
He called for an end to the burning of churches, businesses and homes and said attacks on security forces or other individuals did nothing to advance the cause of civil and religious liberty. "If we are to earn respect and understanding for our cause we must not resort to the very tactics that we condemn our opponents for using."