The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader, Mr David Trimble, has maintained his offensive against internal opposition to the Belfast Agreement. He complained about dishonesty and hypocrisy from his opponents and said he was prepared to lose party members who could not wear the agreement.
Despite six of his 10 MPs opposing the deal, Mr Trimble insisted yesterday that the agree ment was the best way forward. "We have got it right and we are going to continue with it right. We may lose a few individuals along the way but that's all it is and that's all it will be," he told BBC1's On the Record yesterday.
"I think there is an issue here of basic loyalty and integrity. The party has decided the party's policy is clear. Therefore, people who seek the nomination of this party have to accept and follow through the party's policy."
He also signalled that he would oppose attempts by UUP No campaigners to be nominated to contest the assembly election in June. "I am quite sure that hypocrisy will not recommend itself to our delegates up and down the country who, by a clear majority, have endorsed this agreement."
The remarks were Mr Trimble's strongest criticism of his "in-house" opponents to date, although his deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, with his support, led a vehement attack on the UUP West Tyrone MP, Mr William Thompson, on Friday. Mr Taylor called on Mr Thompson to resign after he effectively said Mr Trimble should step down as UUP leader.
Mr Thompson was again in no mood for compromise yesterday. He said UUP politicians opposed to the agreement would be elected to the assembly and they would work to render it ineffective. "When the election comes round, we will find that we will be able then to get a majority of unionists who are against the deal into the assembly and that, in fact, will prevent its operation," he told the programme. Mr Thompson has stated that he has no intention of resigning from the UUP.
The Lagan Valley UUP MP, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, also a critic of the agreement, said it would be against party rules for the leadership to dictate which candidates stood for the assembly. "I am convinced, as a party officer, that the leadership will respect the autonomy of the constituency associations in this regard."
Meanwhile, Mr Sean Farren, the SDLP's North Antrim representative, said candidates entering the assembly must be prepared to ensure it operated properly. "With so much support for the agreement already evident through out all sections of the community, the people obviously want this agreement to work. When they give their expected resounding Yes on referendum day, the politicians must not fail to deliver on that verdict."
