UUP Conference: Ulster Unionists returned to their constituencies after their most unified party conferences in years at the weekend, writes Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor.
Mr David Trimble used his leader's address to vilify the DUP, to insist that the IRA disarm and disband and to criticise Mr Tony Blair for failing to secure republican promises at September's Leeds Castle talks.
Referring to next year's UUP centenary, Mr Trimble detailed his vision of unionism and Britishness, casting them as open and inclusive and on a higher level than mere sectarianism.
The bulk of his criticism, however, was aimed at the DUP. Accusing the Rev Ian Paisley's party of failure in negotiations since last November's Assembly elections, he said the DUP now effectively endorsed the fundamental aspects of the Belfast Agreement.
That party's election slogan - a "fair deal" - was a hollow promise. The DUP had no grand alternative and what proposals it had put forward amounted to tinkering with structures or face-saving get- out clauses concerning the election of any Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister. "This is merely stripping out one of the few cross-community provisions of the agreement to spare the blushes of a sectarian party," he said.
He dismissed Dr Paisley's recent visit to Government Buildings as one of the party's greatest policy reversals. He derided DUP tactics in the House of Commons and claimed the six DUP MPs were held in near contempt by the large Labour majority. Their behaviour, he alleged, made Mr Gerry Adams look good before the court of English opinion.
With the Jeffrey Donaldson defection now behind him and the absence in the hall of his other chief critics, Mr David Burnside and the Rev Martin Smyth, the party leader painted a conciliatory vision of the UUP's "core values".
These included openness and tolerance, honesty with the electorate on both policy and tactics, and an acceptance of difference.
Talking up his notion of Britishness, he cited the "distinction of being Irish". "We are for a big United Kingdom, not just a little Ulster," he proclaimed.
Mr Trimble criticised direct rule, warning it was bad for Northern Ireland. He said government policy on water charges, reform of local government and on education posed serious threats which only a devolved administration could address.
Next year would hold the certainty of local government elections, the probability of a general election and the possibility of another Assembly poll, the conference heard.
To that end, the conference was urged to stem the DUP tide which has left the party with just five MPs, two of whom remain at odds with the leadership.
Candidates already selected were introduced to warm applause and there was acclaim for announcements concerning the running of party headquarters in Belfast and for a presentation from the new director of elections.
Mr Trevor Ringland, a former Ireland rugby international, appealed for support for the One Small Step campaign which aims to assist individuals to move on after 30 years of conflict.
He, like his party leader, laid out a vision of unionism which was tolerant, accepting and worthy of cross-community support.
A speech containing serious criticisms of the Chief Constable, Mr Hugh Orde, by Mr Roy Beggs was criticised afterwards by other senior unionists.
There was also a spat involving Mr David McNarry and Lady Hermon during the same debate.