Trimble 'sees off' critics

Mark Devenport
BBC Northern Ireland political editor

"Final call for Ulster Unionist delegates" the receptionist at Belfast's Ramada hotel intoned over the public address system.

"Please proceed to the Grand Ballroom".

Certainly this year's Ulster Unionist annual general meeting had the feel of finality to it.

Mr Trimble's re-election saw his personal approval improve

For David Trimble it promised to be a final opportunity to see off his internal critics.

For some of his opponents it promised to be their last meeting before quitting the party.

When the results of the leadership contest came in, Mr Trimble was re-elected with just under 60% of the vote.

David Hoey, the Coleraine management consultant who stood as a stalking horse got just over 21%, whilst the Portadown businessman Robert Oliver took just over 17%.

It is not exactly a massive margin of victory over two relative unknowns.

But this is the Ulster Unionist Party, where close votes are the rule not the exception.

Sceptic

So David Trimble could draw some satisfaction from a three per cent increase in his personal vote in comparison to the last direct challenge to his leadership by the South Belfast MP Martin Smyth four years ago.

Martin Smyth, by contrast, tasted defeat - losing his position as Party President to Lord Rogan who has been consistently supportive of the Trimble leadership.

Another sceptic within the party officer team, the former Belfast Mayor Jim Rodgers, clung on.

However, the man talked about as the most credible alternative leader, former Economy Minister Sir Reg Empey, did not stand for re-election.

Sir Reg Empey did not stand for re-election as party officer

Sir Reg is understood to believe that elected representatives should not also serve as party officers.

Moreover, he wasn't happy that the other officers ignored his advice not to discipline the three MPs who rebelled against the leadership last year.

But with the stalking horse failing to make an impact on the front runner, Sir Reg's withdrawal from the election for party officers may be taken in some quarters as signalling the end of his ambitions for leadership.

Certainly the matter appears to be settled until the next Westminster election, and the stalking horse David Hoey has established a refreshing precedent within Ulster Unionism by declaring that he will not continue plotting in smoke filled rooms against Mr Trimble.

Pyrrhic victory

The immediate challenge is the European election, when some Ulster Unionist blushes might be saved by the retirement of Ian Paisley.

Conspicuous in not commenting on David Trimble's leadership in recent months, the party's European candidate, Jim Nicholson, was equally conspicuous in appearing alongside his leader immediately after his re-election.

Beyond Europe lies Westminster, and more questions.

Will David Trimble stand again and can he hold his Upper Bann seat against an increasingly confident DUP?

Will Michael McGimpsey - who some Trimbleites see as their man's rightful successor - inherit South Belfast or will Martin Smyth hang on to the seat?

David Trimble must feel relieved, but is retaining control of a dwindling party a Pyrrhic victory?

It is the DUP who hold the whip hand over whether a devolved government can or cannot be revived, and even a new, more united Ulster Unionist team will have their work cut out trying to make up the ground they have already lost.