On the 200th anniversary of Ireland's incorporation into the United Kingdom, Tory chairman Mr Michael Ancram has said the party would look foolish if it continued to contest seats in the North at the election.
Northern Ireland Tories, who suffered a drubbing in 1997, are determined to field nine candidates at the next election, one fewer than last time. But Mr Ancram has told activists they should not field candidates who are likely to lose their deposits.
This means that Central Office will only offer its support to candidates in three out of 18 parliamentary constituencies. These are believed to be East Belfast, North Down and Strangford.
The decision by the Tory leadership to wind down its efforts in the North has dismayed local members who were welcomed into the party 10 years ago after a lengthy campaign. In the 1990s, the leadership hailed its Northern Ireland members as a sign of the party's commitment to the Union, in contrast to the Labour party which refuses to organise there. One senior Northern Ireland Tory outlined the anger among local party members.
"Michael Ancram was very clear we should only stand in seats where he thinks we can hold on to our deposit. We did not agree because we have intelligence from the ground and believe we can do well."
Mr Jonathan Lund, the party's vice-president in the North, steered clear of criticising the leadership, while making clear the Tory torch should still burn in the North. "We offer a refreshing alternative to the traditional orange and green politics," he said. "This is an important time for conservatism in Northern Ireland because of the sectarian and bigoted political system in the province."
The decision by the Tory leadership contrasts with its efforts to celebrate this year's 200th anniversary of the United Kingdom. Northern Tories, who welcomed their leadership's criticism of the government for failing to celebrate the anniversary, believe the rhetoric falls short of action on the ground.
One senior Tory said last night that Central Office has a high regard for the stalwarts of the party in the North, who are seen as genuinely anti-sectarian.
But it is also keen not to take votes away from Mr David Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) which could be beaten by the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists by a couple of hundred votes in some constituencies.
The senior Tory said: "There is a strong feeling that whatever we do we should strengthen the position of David Trimble." The source also confirmed that the party is hoping eventually to heal the rift with the UUP, whose MPs used to take the Conservative whip at Westminster. The party has painful memories of the way Mr Trimble attempted to hold Mr John Major to ransom as the Tory majority dwindled in the run-up to the last election.