Former Assembly minister Sir Reg Empey, who last night confirmed he would stand for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party, said it was unlikely he would share power with Sinn Féin until autumn 2007 - were the IRA to stand down now.
Sir Reg is one of the favourites to replace David Trimble as UUP leader, notwithstanding that on Wednesday UUP peer Lord Kilclooney, formerly MP John Taylor, characterised Sir Reg and other candidates as "has-beens".
Sir Reg, who is MLA for East Belfast but has never held a seat in the House of Commons, last night said the UUP required radical reorganisation, "significant" general leadership changes and a disciplined and unified front.
More than 100 of his supporters attended his campaign launch in the Holiday Inn in Belfast last night, among them five MLAs including Fred Cobain, Danny Kennedy and Tom Elliott. MEP Jim Nicholson, who was not present, has also pledged his support. With the number of MLAs there and apologies from other Assembly members, it was indicated that more than half of the UUP's 24 Assembly members support his candidacy.
The party's only MP, Lady (Sylvia) Hermon, was not present, did not send her apologies and is not seen as a supporter.
The Ulster Unionist Council (UUC), comprising about 800 members, will elect the new UUP leader on Friday June 24th. The other declared candidate is Strangford MLA David McNarry, while Lord (Ken) Maginnis and North Down MLA Alan McFarland are prospective candidates.
Lord Kilclooney, who has offered himself as an interim leader until the annual meeting next March of the UUC, was dismissive of all declared and expected contenders. He suggested an outside figure such as Col Tim Collins would be an ideal choice, although the Iraq war veteran responded that he was "not qualified".
Sir Reg said if Lord Kilclooney was proposing leaders who were not members of the UUP, he should at least check if they were willing to stand. Of the peer's "has-beens" remark, he said: "If this party is to succeed, the days of Excocet politics have to come to an end." Were the IRA to stand down fully, end activity and decommission, he believed it would take the lifetime of the current Assembly, due to expire in autumn 2007, before the UUP would enter a power-sharing Executive with Sinn Féin.
The strength of the UUP in the House of Commons was reduced from five to one in the British general election on May 5th.
