Trimble scores a coup against McCartney

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Sinn Fein must be rightly chuffed with the DUP. The Rev Ian Paisley's team depicted David Trimble yesterday morning in the same manner as Sinn Fein portrayed Peter Mandelson on a West Belfast mural in recent months, as Pinocchio, with a long nose.

The DUP went one better than republicans, however, by creating a mobile billboard of an allegedly untrustworthy Ulster Unionist leader. With typical effrontery it parked the offending portrait outside the offices in Great Victoria Street where Mr Trimble introduced his party's manifesto yesterday.

Those candidates and sitting MPs who turned up at the launch - some didn't - studiously ignored the insult. Just this once they could afford to be dismissive. They, too, looked chuffed because Alliance had only an hour earlier tried to giftwrap North Down for the UUP's Lady Sylvia Hermon.

Dr Stephen Farry's unilateral withdrawal as the Alliance candidate in North Down left this a two-header between the sitting MP, Mr Robert McCartney, and Lady Hermon. In the last Westminster election the Alliance and the UUP candidates polled almost 19,000 votes between them, with Mr McCartney nonetheless taking the seat with just under 13,000.

This gives Lady Hermon a distinct advantage in what is viewed as a pro-agreement but often apathetic constituency. Mr McCartney isn't going to give up the fight easily and will try to gain some sympathy as a candidate stitched up by Alliance and the Ulster Unionists.

With such a fillip there was little surprise that the DUP visual jibe failed to upset the UUP. But was Mr Trimble in generous mood towards Alliance, which wanted him to withdraw his candidate, Tim Lemon, from East Belfast to give Dr David Alderdice a fighting chance against the DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson?

Mr Trimble's reaction prompted memories of a late, lamented social diarist on another Dublin paper who, when entertained at some reception, soiree or junket, sometimes failed to mention the particular event in his column.

To any complaints the diarist's reply was, "I like to astonish them with the depth of my ingratitude, dear boy."

And such was Mr Trimble's response yesterday when reporters asked him if he would reciprocate the Alliance gesture. "No," said Mr Trimble. He did say thanks, however.

Mr McCartney said Alliance had committed "electoral suicide" by its selfless gesture. The Alliance leader, Mr Sean Neeson, and his senior colleagues like Seamus Close and David Ford are fully aware of the dangers. Centre-ground politics is not a comfortable place these days.

Mr McCartney's scalp would be a major boost for Mr Trimble. It would cushion some of the blows he will have to take elsewhere, with the greatest threat in North Belfast, West Tyrone and Strangford.

The most effective part of the UUP manifesto was the backpage illustration of a 12-hour clock face, with the time at 9 o'clock. The hours from 1 to 9 indicated nine gains for unionism on issues such as devolution, the end of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the scrapping of the South's territorial claim to the North, and nationalists and republicans signing up to the principle of consent.

Ten o'clock has yet to strike. That's decommissioning. But nine successes, and just a few to be obtained, is a good record, according to the manifesto. No other unionist party could have achieved as much, argued Mr Trimble. "Don't Turn Back the Clock - Don't Let them Wreck It" was the back-page slogan. We all know what unionist party that is directed at.

Some anti-agreement Ulster Unionists have expressed dissatisfaction with the decommissioning references in the manifesto. Saying "The UUP will not be party to any attempt to bury the decommissioning issue" was not apocalyptic enough for them.

Which may explain why the outgoing Westminster anti-agreement Ulster Unionists, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, the Rev Martin Smyth, Mr William Thompson and Mr William Ross were absent from the launch. They had no difficulty with the manifesto, insisted Mr Trimble, who offered sceptical journalists excuses for each individual's non-attendance.

The former US president, Bill Clinton, will be in the North tomorrow and Thursday. The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, is also expected in Belfast this week. There is a possibility of their meeting. Expect some references from them designed to shore up the chances of pro-agreement candidates.

Mr Blair and Mr Clinton must balance their comments well. The pro-agreement side will welcome whatever support it can get, but if the former and continuing great leaders of our time are too heavy-handed it could just serve the purposes of Dr Paisley, Mr Robinson and Mr McCartney.