Mr Tony Blair has been urged to "come clean" on claims he canvassed some of Britain's wealthiest businessmen to fund "moderate" political parties in Northern Ireland.
Democratic Unionist Assembly member Mr Ian Paisley Jr called on British Prime Minister Mr Blair to answer allegations he urged entrepreneurs at a reception in a London hotel last week to bankroll Mr David Trimble's Ulster Unionists and the SDLP to stave off Sinn Féin and the DUP in next year's Stormont elections.
The North Antrim MLA issued the challenge last night after a newspaper claimed the Labour leader warned several leading businessmen, including Stagecoach boss Mr Brian Souter, the peace process could collapse if the SDLP and Ulster Unionists are eclipsed by Sinn Féin and the DUP in next year's Assembly poll.
The Glasgow-based Daily Recordsaid the Prime Minister met the group in Claridge's Hotel for 35 minutes during which he spoke of his fears for the powe- sharing executive in Northern Ireland if the DUP and Sinn Fein were to emerge the two largest parties in the Assembly.
It was claimed a proposal was made at the meeting that donations could be paid into a "blind trust" that would be divided proportionally between political parties who support the Agreement. Sinn Féin, despite supporting the Agreement, would, however, be excluded.
"If it is true, then it means Tony Blair and his party have become the political pimps, the political sugar daddies of this process, desperate to prop up a process which makes a mockery of democracy," Mr Paisley said.
Spokespersons for the Ulster Unionists and SDLP declined to comment. However the leader of the Alliance Party, David Ford was "surprised" by the report. "I am completely unaware of any such actions by the prime minister or of any such event," the South Antrim MLA said.
PA