Trimble faces no confidence move

Upper Bann sceptics press ahead with action against Mr Trimble

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble is to face a no confidence motion brought by sceptics within his constituency.

Last month, dissident unionists gathered 30 signatures for the motion of no confidence in Mr Trimble as Member of Parliament for Upper Bann.

The motion, due to be discussed on 8 July, was tabled following the latest row between Mr Trimble and anti-Agreement unionist Jeffrey Donaldson.

A similar party vote in the Lagan Valley constituency against Mr Donaldson was dropped "in the interests of party unity" following his narrow defeat in a vote taken by the UUP's 900-strong ruling council.

In June, Mr Trimble narrowly fended off a challenge from party rebels, led by Mr Donaldson, who wanted the party to reject the recent British and Irish Joint Declaration.

Rift

The rift in the party widened when Mr Donaldson, Martin Smyth and David Burnside were suspended from the party following a decision to quit the party whip at Westminster.

They quit the whip in a move designed to increase pressure on Mr Trimble by refusing to endorse his policy on the British-Irish joint declaration.

The Upper Bann sceptics said on Wednesday that they intended to press ahead with their challenge.

They said their action was not linked to the one against Mr Donaldson, and they remained opposed to their leader's handling of the political process.

Arnold Hatch, chairman of the 260-strong Upper Bann constituency association, said five more of Mr Trimble's opponents had signed the requisition of a special meeting than required under the rules.

"There is a lot of frustration in the constituency that needs to be addressed," he said.

"Some people might find it irksome, but members have a right to call a meeting if they feel there is an issue that needs to be addressed."

Speaking last month, a spokesman for Mr Trimble expressed confidence that he would retain the support of the majority of his constituency party.

The joint declaration, released in May, outlined plans to reduce troop numbers to 5,000 as part of an attempt to move the Northern Ireland political process forward.

The joint declaration included five annexes dealing with security normalisation, policing and justice, human rights and equality, on-the-run paramilitaries and mechanisms to verify and monitor any deal.

Northern Ireland's devolved administration was suspended last October amid allegations of IRA intelligence gathering in the Stormont government.