Rebel MPs 'risk party split'

David Trimble: leadership 'not directly affected' by meeting

Three rebel Ulster Unionist MPs are threatening to split the party, leader David Trimble has said.

The 900-member Ulster Unionist Council is due to meet on Saturday to debate divisions within the party.

The party's South Antrim MP, David Burnside, and two fellow rebel MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Martin Smyth are facing action after their decision to resign the party whip at Westminster in protest at party policies.

Attempts to suspend the MPs from the party by supporters of Mr Trimble were dismissed in July by a High Court judge because it contravened party rules.

A second disciplinary action has since been launched, triggering the Ulster Unionist Council debate.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Wednesday, Mr Trimble said he had made "considerable efforts" to keep the party together over the last few years.

"It is true that in June, we had an escalation, in that three members of the parliamentary party launched an attack, not just on party policy but on the party leadership and structures," he said.

"That, I think, was going ever so slightly over the top and I hope they will reconsider this and not split the party, as they are threatening to do."

When you have an all-out assault on the integrity of the party, you have a slight problem David Trimble Ulster Unionist leader

Mr Trimble said the issues to be debated at Saturday's meeting did not directly affect his leadership.

He said nobody was bigger than the party as a whole, and the three rebel MPs would have to reconsider their position and come back towards the party.

He said he had made efforts to bring people back, but "when you have an all-out assault on the integrity of the party, you have a slight problem".

The decision to call another council meeting was taken by party officers at their east Belfast headquarters last week.

David Burnside, Martin Smyth and Jeffrey Donaldson quit the party whip

Mr Trimble had originally questioned the validity of calling a meeting to discuss disciplinary action against the three MPs.

However, party officers decided legal opinion was not on his side.

Mr Trimble said he hoped that whatever decision was reached by the council, it would be accepted by all concerned.

Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson has called for the charges against the three to be withdrawn.

All three MPs have been charged with breaking an undertaking which they signed when they stood for election to take the party whip, and with bringing the party into disrepute.

Mr Smyth and Mr Donaldson are facing a charge of failing to implement decisions of the Ulster Unionist Council, in their capacity as party officers.