Unionists set for 'collision course'

David Burnside appealed to the leadership to 'draw back'

The Ulster Unionist Party could be heading for a collision course, a senior party member 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 the leader, David 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 Tuesday, Mr Burnside, said it was time to try to reunite the party.

"If the unionist party decides this weekend to embark upon on a confrontation with half of its parliamentary party, Martin, Jeffrey and myself, it will then put us on a collision course where we will be obliged to call on the support of our associations which we believe we will get," he said.

Mr Trimble said the decision of the council must be accepted

"That will be disastrous for the future of the unionist party so we are asking the leadership and the officers and the members of the council to draw back and try to work toward reuniting the party."

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

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Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson has called for the charges against the three to be withdrawn.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