The British government is under pressure today to recognise Northern Ireland's new political order by giving the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists seats in the House of Lords.
As the UUP survey the damage following the general election rout which saw them lose their leader David Trimble's seat and three other MPs, DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said the House of Lords should reflect his party's superiority in unionism.
The DUP now has nine MPs to the Ulster Unionists' one. "We would consider it as being absolutely essential for the Government to immediately reflect the political order in Northern Ireland," Mr Robinson said.
"It is a ridiculous state of affairs that there is no House of Lords representation for Northern Ireland's largest party. "We will not tolerate circumstances which allow that to continue."
The Ulster Unionists currently have eight peers.
The DUP, with 241,000 votes in Thursday's election, have no Lords despite having almost 33.7 per cent of the vote. The Ulster Unionist vote fell to 127,314 - just 17.7 per cent.
PA