Northern Ireland: Trimble's Dilemma

Robin Sheeran
Politics Show, Northern Ireland

On Thursday 29 January 2004, Ian Paisley and a deputation from his Democratic Unionist Party met the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at the Irish embassy in London.

Since its success in the Assembly elections in November 2003, the DUP has become the centre of political interest in Northern Ireland.

Can they do business with the other parties?

David Trimble and the UUP took a beating?

Will the review of the Agreement, due to begin on 3 February 2004, result in a solution that sticks?

This should have left the Ulster Unionists with time to recuperate, lick their wounds and regroup.

The party of Carson, Craig and Brookeborough took a beating in the elections, with 27 seats to the DUP's 30.

The rot did not stop

The Lagan Valley MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, defected to the DUP along with assembly members Arlene Foster and Norah Beare.

The party's youth wing has disbanded and the local branch in Kilkeel voted itself out of existence.

In its defence, the UUP says new members have been flocking to join.

The Democratic Unionists now have 33 seats at Stormont, and form the largest Northern Ireland at Westminster.

In the immediate wake of the November elections the UUP leadership appeared happy to sit back and watch the hardline DUP fail to reach agreement with the other parties.

East Antrim MLA, Ken Robinson

There was talk of another election in the summer of 2004 when the UUP would spring back to its position as the natural leader of unionism.

So, is the party in need of the proverbial Big Idea if it is to make an electoral comeback, and how safe is the position of its leader, David Trimble?

The East Antrim MLA, Ken Robinson, reckons the time has come for drastic measures.

Mr Robinson has called for the UUP to reinvent itself; he said

The party has to become a professional operation, a professional machine.

Politics Show

On the Politics Show from Northern Ireland Jim Fitzpatrick examines the future of the Ulster Unionist party.

Let us know what you think. That is the Politics Show Sunday 01 February at Midday.

Join the Politics Show with Jim Fitzpatrick on BBC One on Sundays at Noon.

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