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 The BBC's Tom Coulter"Finally the deadlock has been broken"  real 28k  David Trimble, Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party"There has been a clear endorsement of the proposals"  real 28kThe BBC's David Eades"By the end of the week, devolved government will have come to Northern Ireland" real 28k |
Trimble's strategy - step by step
David Trimble with wife Daphne after the meeting |
By BBC NI's political editor Stephen Grimason
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble's strategy has always been to secure just enough support at each stage of the peace process to enable him to make the next step.
He did not attain the psychological threshold of 60% support for the Mitchell proposals but 58% is still a win. Two important factors may have tipped the balance in his favour.
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There was some disappointment, however, that he did not address the council and that was taken as a less than whole-hearted endorsement.
One country delegate was heard to say: "That John Taylor is just like a corncrake, you can always hear him but you can never tell what field he's in."
Secondly, there was the insertion of a February failsafe, a second Ulster Unionist Council meeting in two months time to effectively decide if decommissioning had happened to the delegates' satisfaction.
That move, backed up by a post-dated resignation from David Trimble, also had an impact.
Mr Trimble is said to have given a letter to party president Josias Cunningham last Tuesday night containing the date beyond which he was not prepared to continue as First Minister of the Assembly should republicans not deliver on decommissioning.
The dissidents fought hard to have the failsafe brought into play, ironically playing a part in securing victory for their leader.
John Taylor: Declared himself in favour of the deal |
One leading dissident told me he believed Mr Trimble would live to regret the failsafe as it would give him absolutely no room for manoeuvre if there was any default on the weapons issue.
The debate itself lasted more than three hours and while the dissident voices were said to be more muted at the start they did intervene strongly towards the finish.
They sought to bring delegates face to face with the prospect of having Martin McGuinness, complete with his IRA background, as a ministerial colleague in government.
There were some fireworks as well. John Hunter, a former close personal associate of Mr Trimble and now leading anti-agreement dissident, heckled the party leader at one point.
"You are forgetting Robert Bradford," he shouted, referring to the former South Belfast MP who was murdered by the IRA in 1981. Mr Trimble replied by pulling a letter from his pocket.
It was from Mr Bradford's widow, pledging support for the Ulster Unionist leader. It was an important moment.
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See also: |
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27 Nov 99 | Northern Ireland |
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Blair hails Unionists' yes vote |
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27 Nov 99 | Northern Ireland |
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Timeline: Good Friday to agreement |
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26 Nov 99 | Northern Ireland |
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Belfast waits quietly for ordinary life |
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