Trimble starts Stormont campaign

Party leader will sell Stormont message across province

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has begun a major campaign to persuade his party to return to a power-sharing government with Sinn Fein.

He has exactly a week to convince the majority of the 860 members of the party's ruling council that they should accept the IRA's offer to put their weapons "beyond use", and go back in to the Stormont Assembly.

Sir Reg Empey backs David Trimble

The ruling council will vote next Saturday in what will be a defining moment in the party's history, Mr Trimble's leadership, and possibly the whole peace process in Northern Ireland.

With the party bitterly divided, a series of private meetings has been lined up across the province to help Mr Trimble get his message over.

His close associates were not prepared at this stage to predict the outcome of next week's vote in Belfast. Senior party officials estimate that one third of members are still undecided.

It's very difficult to assess how things will go but it's up to us to really concentrate on putting our case.

Sir Reg Empey

Leading Ulster Unionist Sir Reg Empey backs Mr Trimble in believing the IRA's willingness to let independent inspectors check its arms dumps is a good enough basis to get back to working in government with republicans.

Sir Reg was a minister in the executive before it was suspended in February because of the arms deadlock.

He said: "It's very difficult to assess how things will go but it's up to us to really concentrate on putting our case and putting it well."

A majority of Ulster Unionists backed David Trimble at the time of the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement two years ago.

But the IRA's refusal to actually hand over any weapons has led to doubts among some unionists who insist on arms being surrendered before they share power with republicans again.

No guns, no government?

As well as fears that the IRA's offer falls short of real decommissioning, there is great resentment about proposed new policing measures which could see name of the Royal Ulster Constabulary go.

Concerns over the flying of the Union Flag on government buildings have also heightened unease inside the party.

William Thompson MP is unimpressed

West Tyrone MP William Thompson is against a return to power sharing.

He said: "Trimble walked away from Stormont because there was no product and he is now asking us to go back and there still isn't any product. He has nothing to offer. He has nothing of any value."

The Sinn Fein leadership will be anxious to distance itself and not to get drawn into this huge row for fear of damaging Mr Trimble's chances of victory.