The Ulster Unionist chairman has urged the party to rethink its constitution and procedures following a dozen meetings of the UUC to debate Belfast Agreement-related issues.
Mr James Cooper, in his annual address, said they must "bring the rules and organisation of this party into the 21st Century". He referred to the High Court ruling in July which found party officers had broken their own rule book in moving to discipline the three MPs who had quit the party whip. This illustrated how much reform was overdue.
He also castigated the rebel MPs for convening UUC meetings only to spurn the decisions taken by them. "I make no apology for saying that our long-running series of back-biting meetings has done this party more harm in the eyes of the public than anything that could be mustered against us by Sinn Féin or the DUP."
He said it was wrong that 10 per cent of UUC delegates should convene a meeting by signing requisition forms that do not have the proposal clearly printed on them. He claimed that a decision of the executive two weeks ago was not the outright rejection of the Joint Declaration that some unionists said it was. The declaration required "radical change" rather than rejection, he said.
Mr Cooper called on the three MPs who quit the whip to retake it quickly and to end "their self-imposed exile".
During a discussion on policing, the Rev John Bach said Sinn Féin's position on the new service was "tragic". He added that criticism of the former RUC and its subsequent replacement had proven difficult for many unionists, but they nonetheless welcomed the new PSNI.
He said policing had made "great strides ahead" under the Chief Constable, Mr Hugh Orde.
PUP conference
Mr Gerry Adams is on the verge of securing a huge IRA commitment that will transform the peace process, said Mr David Ervine, leader of the Progressive Unionist Party at its annual conference in Belfast on Saturday. He predicted the Provisionals would agree to end their armed struggle for good.