The margin of victory in this morning's Ulster Unionist Council meeting in Belfast could be as narrow as 20 votes, senior party sources said last night. In a frantic scramble for support, the balance of advantage still appeared to lie with the party leader, Mr David Trimble, in a very tight contest. He will be urging delegates to support a return to government with Sinn Fein.
The chief opponent of the Hillsborough package in the party, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, gained back some lost ground with a set of counter-proposals yesterday morning. However, Trimble supporters were reported to have canvassed heavily during the day and may have halted the drift of support towards the No camp.
Provided Mr Trimble wins a majority, powers could be restored to the Stormont Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive by the beginning of next week. While nobody in British government circles was taking the result for granted, the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, is ready to sign the Restoration Order this afternoon, to take effect from midnight on Tuesday.
But such considerations were taking second place last night to the stresses and strains of a bitter fight for the hearts and minds of the 871 UUC delegates who are due to assemble at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast at 10 a.m.
There was no formal confirmation of his position from Mr John Taylor. He was returning from Taiwan and was not expected to make any public pronouncement until this morning. There were unconfirmed reports that he would make the key closing speech in support of the party leader.
Further significant concessions to Mr Taylor on the Patten report have not materialised and it appears that nationalist and republican pressure on this issue has been successful.
Mr Trimble met Mr Donaldson at the latter's request for about an hour yesterday morning, but there was no agreement on the way forward. The party leader later dismissed as "out of date" Mr Donaldson's alternative proposal for IRA decommissioning in advance of the formation of an executive which included Sinn Fein.
Tentative plans were being made at Stormont for a possible restoration of the institutions. A Trimble victory would mean that both he and Mr Seamus Mallon would be at their desks on Monday, preparing to resume office.
Given that the institutions were suspended rather than dissolved, a meeting of the Assembly would not be required for Ministers to resume office. The Assembly is not expected to sit until June 5th, although complications could arise in the event of the DUP Ministers, Mr Peter Robinson and Mr Nigel Dodds, not returning to their posts.
Considerable importance was being placed on Mr Trimble's speech this morning, which could have a decisive effect on undecided voters. An amendment is likely to be proposed by the Donaldson camp and the outcome of the vote is expected at about lunchtime.