A senior unionist has warned that Mr Gerry Adams could emerge as leader of the largest party should Mr Tony Blair call an Assembly election next month.
In a speech in his East Belfast constituency which seemed to indicate the likelihood of a November poll, Sir Reg Empey pointed to the possibility of Sinn Féin emerging with the largest Stormont grouping following a low unionist turn-out.
Warning that the divisions within unionism would act as a spur for Sinn Féin and the SDLP, he said: "If unionists poll badly, then it is possible for Sinn Féin to become the largest party. This is not an idle threat. It is real and people had better not keep their heads in the sand and ignore it."
He cited the case of council elections in 2001 when Sinn Féin became the largest single party in Belfast City Hall, which he blamed on 9,000 unionist voters staying at home.
However the former economy minister talked up the opportunities an election next month would offer. "An election will provide and opportunity to express our support for the Union. This support has not diminished despite the many disappointments we have endured over recent years."
In a side-swipe at the DUP, he added: "Unionists will also need to choose between our party, which has genuinely tried to restore devolution and free us from the yoke of the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985, and those who have run away from negotiations in the part and simply pretend to oppose the present institutions while at the same time taking every financial and other benefit that they bestow."
The re-emergence of Sir Reg follows a relative silence following the UUC meeting of September 6th when he was linked with rebel unionist Mr Jeffrey Donaldson. However, he is not understood to be among those involved in ongoing talks with Sinn Féin.
One source indicated yesterday to The Irish Times that contacts were continuing "at second level" and involved Trimble loyalists Mr Dermot Nesbitt and Mr Michael McGimpsey. While it was conceded there was "no immediate sense of breakthrough", it was claimed that the contacts still held out the prospect of progress.
Mr Trimble was back in London last night for more talks, having earlier repeated his insistence that an end to paramilitary activity was his bottom line. Meetings could take place at Downing Street next week between Mr Tony Blair and UUP and Sinn Féin leaders.
Another unionist source suggested the roles played by the British Prime Minister and the Taoiseach were still central to the chances of a deal being secured.
A trusted British source confirmed the expectation that an election would indeed be called but that it could take place against the background of a paramilitary statement which could fall short of what the British government regarded as necessary to restore trust to the political process.