Unionist 'ceasefire' likely to end

By Gareth Gordon BBC Northern Ireland political correspondent

Lightning, they say, never strikes twice which, given the ferocity of Tuesday evening's thunderstorm across Northern Ireland, is just as well. But that was not the only apocalyptic event of the week.

Twenty four hours after the biggest electric storm anyone can remember came another chance for sparks to fly when Gregory Campbell became the first Democratic Unionist Party member to take part in a debate at the west Belfast festival.

We wondered what he had done to deserve such a fate.

Surely nothing could merit being thrown to the lions in such a spectacular way?

Until very recently, no party member would have even been allowed to share a platform with the likes of Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey - never mind do so in the heart of republican west Belfast.

I do not need to take lessons from a failed politician representing a minority of unionist opinion Gregory Campbell DUP MP

Some listened for a softening of tone - a clear sign that the DUP was indeed preparing for the day when, as the largest unionist party, they would have to think the unthinkable and actually share power with Sinn Fein.

Disappointment on both counts, however.

The lions were friendly, though curious.

Hundreds of people turned up to see in person a man many had only previously seen on television.

And as for the object of their attention, well, the message was pure undiluted DUP-speak.

The audience listened in respectful silence - though one woman politely told Mr Campbell that one day, when it suited his party, it would indeed sit down with Sinn Fein.

In fact, true to form, the row happened the following day - a war of words with the Ulster Unionists about who was following whom.

Dermot Nesbitt, who took part in a similar debate a few years ago, said the DUP was playing "catch-up" and accused them of "a lamentable u-turn."

Dermot Nesbitt accused the DUP of a 'lamentable U-turn"

Mr Campbell said he did not need to take lessons from "a failed politician representing a minority of unionist opinion."

At least for once this was the UUP turning its fire on its main unionist rivals - and not just itself.

There has been a ceasefire in the civil war within Ulster Unionism, though it is likely to end soon.

The party leader David Trimble is due back from holiday this week and the three-week "adjournment" in the disciplinary action against three MPs, who resigned the party whip, is due to end on 12 August.

Party sources say the leadership would like officers to meet to give the green light to proceed soon.

Precarious

However, there is also a move to have such a meeting postponed until the last week in August, when the party president, Martin Smyth - who is one of those "in the dock", returns from holiday.

And all the while Sir Reg Empey and Jim Rodgers continue their mediation efforts.

Last week, they met the three MP's separately, as well as party chairman James Cooper and Mr Nesbitt.

This week they plan to see Roy Beggs, one of the two MPs still loyal to Mr Trimble, as well as former leader Lord Molyneaux and party officer Arlene Foster, an avowed supporter of the "gang of three."

Some want the party to declare a new position on the British and Irish Governments' Joint Declaration, "accepting some parts of it" but, according to one well-placed source, "rejecting the vast majority of it."

Mr Trimble's position continues to look precarious

It is less than the three MPs want and probably a good deal further than Mr Trimble would be prepared to go.

Further disciplinary action is the most likely course but Mr Trimble's position continues to look precarious.

There is still much talk of senior figures preparing to go to Mr Trimble to ask him to stand aside in favour of the so-called "dream team" of Jeffrey Donaldson and Sir Reg.

Arlene Foster, meanwhile, has led the party charge against new measures confirmed last week which would see PSNI officers who are members of the Loyal Orders, Freemasons or Catholic organisations like the Ancient Order of Hibernians, having to disclose their involvement to the chief constable.

Such a move was envisaged in the Patten Report, but Ms Foster says it is "McCarthyite."

She told BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politics programme that if such a list must be drawn up it should also include the GAA - a point rejected by Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy who compared the Orange Order to the Ku Klux Klan.

More popular is the government's ground-breaking decision to give the relatives of the Omagh bomb victims the £800,000 they still need to pursue a civil action against five men suspected of being responsible.

In the week when Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt was sentenced to 20 years in prison for directing terrorism it sends a powerful message to any dissident republicans thinking of following him.

The Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, said Omagh was "exceptional" - but other victims' groups will have taken note.