Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid has accused Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble's internal party critics of having nothing to offer in his place.
Next Saturday Mr Trimble goes before a meeting of his party ruling council, which has the power to order him to pull out of power sharing with Sinn Féin.
Hardliners in the party say they should pull out of government with Sinn Féin because of IRA violence and are fearful that if they remain they will suffer at the next Assembly elections in May.
But the Northern Ireland First Minister is confident of again seeing off his hardline critics and last night Dr Reid expessed his backing for Mr Trimble.
Addressing himself to the 750 delegates who will decide next weekend, Dr Reid said bluntly: "David Trimble has delivered a lot more for unionists in Northern Ireland than any of his critics ever did."
He pointed out the principle of consent of the majority for any change in the constitutional position of northern Ireland, the Irish government's constitutional dropping of the claim over Northern Ireland, improved standards of living, devolved government and IRA decommissioning.
"It is David Trimble who has achieved all of this and none of his critics have achieved anything or had any alternative to what he is saying," said the Secretary of State.
PA