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 The BBC's David Eades reports"There are plenty of people ready to help Martin Smith"  real 28k  UUP leadership challenger Martin Smyth:tells BBC NI's Wendy Austin: "My campaign will not be pro or anti Agreement"  real 28kKen Maginnis MP of the UUP"He will have to engage in a reunification of the party" real 28kBBC NI's Mark Carruthurs interviews David Trimble"I am surprised and disappointed" real 28k |
David Trimble said he was "surprised and disappointed" at the news that South Belfast MP Martin Smyth that he will attempt to take the party leadership from him at the Ulster Unionist Council meeting.
He was given a boost when he was given backing by the Ulster Unionist deputy leader John Taylor on Thursday night.
The Strangford MP said he would be voting for Mr Trimble in the leadership contest on Saturday.
Mr Trimble has been criticised by hardline members in his party for saying that he would be prepared to re-form the suspended powersharing government with Sinn Fein before IRA arms decommissioning, provided guarantees were given.
 David Trimble: Trusting his party's "collective judgement"
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The Ulster Unionist leader indicated that he believed the 860 member ruling council of the UUP would back him, as they have done in recent crucial votes on policy in the peace process.
"I am confident to leave the decision to the delegates and I hope that this will finally clear the air.
"The party then will be able to unite around the democratic decision that the council has taken, which decision I'm sure will be in line with the council's decision again and again over the last couple of years," he said.
Mr Smyth told BBC Radio Ulster he would "set out his stall" at a press conference on Friday.
He said his campaign would be neither pro nor anti the Good Friday Agreement.
But he said he would be representing a significant number of anti-Agreement unionists who have been increasingly critical of Mr Trimble's leadership, and would have the support of hardline UUP MP Willie Ross and other party officers.
Mr Smyth said it was "time for a more vigorous promotion of Ulster Unionist policy than all the in-fighting that is going on because of the departure from it".
He said he believed he had a "50/50 chance of succeeding unless other folk come forward" with alternative challenges.
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The Ulster Unionist challenger said he "would be prepared to debate with Sinn Fein and recognise them as a bona fide party if there were no arms".
"I would talk to them as democrats and not as exponents of terror."
He said the UUP should be talking instead to the British, Irish and United States governments to find progress in the peace process.
Previous challenge
Martin Smyth has been a UUP MP for 20 years, a Protestant minister and a leading member of the Orange Order.
He failed in his leadership attempt five years ago after Jim Molyneaux's resignation, which led to David Trimble's election as leader.
But a power-struggle could damage Ulster Unionist unity, and is something the party leader could clearly do without at this time when the peace process is in disarray.
Speaking in Lisbon, where he is attending an EU summit, Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was "a very clear choice for people and the Ulster Unionist Party".
 Hardline MP Willie Thompson: "Smyth is man to unite UUP"
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Hardline Ulster Unionist MP for west Tyrone Willie Thompson welcomed Mr Smyth's move saying he was supported by the majority of UUP MPs and that he would unite the party.
However, deputy leader of the UUP John Tayor, party colleague Ken Maginnis and senior party negotiators Dermot Nesbitt and Michael McGimpsey have come out strongly in support of Mr Trimble.
The Ulster Young Unionist Council said all but one of its 34 delegates to the Ulster Unionist Council would vote for Mr Smyth.
On Saturday, the UUP ruling council will also vote on an emergency motion from the London-based unionist, David Burnside.
Mr Smyth has said he will vote in favour of the motion asking the party to refuse to take part in a new devolved government unless the title of the Royal Ulster Constabulary is retained. The RUC's name is due to be changed under the Patten reforms.
If passed, the motion would amount to a significant toughening of party policy.
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