Further challenge to Trimble

Mr Oliver said he was in the race to become the next UUP leader

A second challenger to David Trimble's leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party has emerged.

Portadown businessman and member of the Orange Order Robert Oliver announced on Wednesday that he would be putting his name forward at a meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council on 27 March.

Mr Oliver, who is a delegate of the party's ruling council and treasurer of Mr Trimble's Upper Bann constituency, said he was in the race to win it.

"The Ulster Unionist Party, if it is to have any sort of future, needs change and it needs it now," he said.

The party was overtaken as the main unionist party in last November's assembly election by the Democratic Unionist Party.

Anti-Agreement Jeffrey Donaldson's defection to the DUP brought the party's Stormont contingent to 33, nine more than the UUP.

'Political abyss'

Party rules state that the Ulster Unionist leader must seek the ruling council's endorsement.

Mr Oliver said Mr Trimble had been unable to deliver stable devolution or a united UUP.

"We cannot allow things to continue any further in this direction, and that is why I will be asking those at our AGM on Saturday to help me bring the party back from the edge of the political abyss," he said.

It is believed some opponents of Mr Trimble are deeply unhappy that Mr Oliver has entered the race, believing it weakens the chances of unseating the leader.

However, a former Stormont Minister, Sam Foster, has hit out at Mr Trimble's critics.

He accused them of wrecking the party and engaging in "shameful and destructive behaviour".

Last week, Coleraine based management consultant David Hoey said he would run against Mr Trimble.

However, Mr Hoey said if he won the leadership fight, he would stand aside to make way for a new leadership team.

A former member of the Apprentice Boys of Derry loyal order, Mr Hoey said he believed he could win the contest.

Mr Trimble has walked out of the Good Friday Agreement review over Sinn Fein's continuing participation in the talks amid alleged IRA activity.