Unionist 'showdown' delayed

By Gareth Gordon BBC Northern Ireland political correspondent

The Ulster Unionist party's showdown over the three MPs who resigned the parliamentary whip looks like being delayed until the end of this month.

Party sources say the most likely date is 26 August, by which time all the main players will have returned from holiday.

The officers last met on 22 July to discuss the cases of Jeffrey Donaldson, David Burnside and Martin Smyth, but deferred making a formal referral to a new disciplinary committee until a further meeting of officers was convened within three weeks.

That deadline expired on Tuesday.

However, according to one pro-leadership source, the fact the deadline was missed was not a matter for concern.

"A deadline was useful for the purpose of focusing minds," he said.

"If there is a bit of slippage that is fine, the important thing is that we proceed with this and we will do so before the end of the month."

Mr Trimble's position continues to look precarious

However, the delay does allow more time for mediation attempts involving party officers Jim Rodgers and Sir Reg Empey, who last month voted against further disciplinary action.

They have already spoken to the three MPs separately as well as the party chairman James Cooper and former environment minister Dermot Nesbitt.

They are also meeting former leader Lord Molyneaux, and honourary secretary Arlene Foster - both of whom support the three MPs.

It is understood Sir Reg has also spoken to Lady Sylvia Hermon, one of the two MPs still loyal to the party leader David Trimble, while they are trying to arrange a meeting with the other MP, Roy Beggs.

Other meetings are understood to have been taking place involving another group made up of some former assembly members and other senior figures who have become disillusioned with Mr Trimble's leadership.

One well placed source said attempts were being made to get a group of key players to approach Mr Trimble.

'Dithering'

"There's a move to get together a number of key people - maybe seven - who are not officers but who could go along and ask David Trimble: 'Can you unite the party?'"

"Now I think he would have difficulty answering that.

"They would point out that an election is coming up and they may suggest that its time for him to consider his position.

"After all, the leader will have been in place eight years in September and that is a long stint."

"He has had the reports from the four comittees set up to consider the joint declaration for eight weeks and there is a feeling that he is deliberately dithering."

But the accusation is denied by Mr Trimble's special adviser, David McNarry.

"At a meeting of the chairmen and vice chairmen of constituency associations on the 22nd of July the leader undertook to present his analysis of the reports at the next meeting of the party executive which is due to meet in mid-September, subject to circumstances," said Mr McNarry.

"As for the question of whether he can unite the party. I would say if such a question was put to him his answer would be "yes" - provided everyone was prepared to abide by the decision of the majority."

The most likely outcome is that the issue will end up before another meeting of the ruling Ulster Unionist Council.

One could be called as soon as it becomes clear further disciplinary action is inevitable.

That, of course, would be a dangerous road for the dissidents to take. Mr Trimble has a habit of winning such votes - however narrowly.