Split in DUP is evident - Empey

The DUP held talks amidst claims of party discontent

A split within the DUP over the St Andrews Agreement is not in the wider interests of unionism, Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey has said.

The DUP leadership held a one-day meeting near Templepatrick on Friday to agree party strategy towards power-sharing.

Interviewed for BBC's Inside Politics, Sir Reg said the evidence of division within the DUP was obvious.

"We understand it, everyone knows it and it's not surprising," he said.

"They have launched on a policy for which they have no mandate and which is against everything they stood for for the last 40 years," he said.

"While some people may say it's happy days for you guys seeing your biggest critics in the same position as you once were.

"(But) in the wider unionist context there are very great dangers out there for unionism generally and I don't think it's going to help if the DUP become so split up that they become incoherent."