Ireland

Trimble accused of losing Ulster Unionist Party's trust

Mr David Trimble tonight faced the threat of a new leadership challenge without the support of his deputy after he was accused…

Fri Feb 27 2004 - 00:00

Mr David Trimble tonight faced the threat of a new leadership challenge without the support of his deputy after he was accused of losing the trust and confidence of the Ulster Unionist Party.

The South Down MP Mr David Burnside, once one of his closest confidants, called on him to stand aside in a bid to halt a disastrous electoral slide.

Having consulted across the party in recent weeks, it is clear David Trimble has lost the confidence and trust of the majority of the Ulster Unionist Party membership
Mr David Burnside

Mr Trimble is due to go forward for re-election next month, but opponents have insisted he must go if the party has any chance of recovery. Even supporters of the leader who has been under pressure for more than two years, fear he could be ousted on March 27th.

Sir Reg Empey, a former minister, in the powersharing executive, and another ex-Trimble ally, is being urged to put his name forward.

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Lord Kilclooney, the former MP John Taylor, and deputy leader, revealed tonight he would back him. Mr Burnside, who ruled himself out of any contest, also claimed Mr Trimble could no longer unite and rebuild the party after the failure to hold off the challenge of their bitter rivals in the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists in November's elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

They also fell behind Sinn Fein because of growing Unionist opposition to the Belfast Agreement.
 Mr Burnside declared: "There is a sea change in opinion throughout the membership who want a leadership that can unite and restore the party to its position of dominance within Unionism once again."

Mr Trimble, who has fought one leadership, tonight pledged to resist a second one.  His spokesman confirmed: "He considers it as his duty to offer himself to the party again."

Mr Burnside called for changes at the top after walking out of a bad-tempered meeting involving MPs, MLAs and other senior party members when he banged the table.

One insider claimed: "Burnside got a rough ride. The meeting was angry and antagonistic towards him."

Mr Trimble narrowly defeated the south Belfast MP, Rev Martin Smyth, now party president, in a March 2001 leadership challenge, and even though some sources claimed Sir Reg may hold back this time, opponents believe it has to be now or never, otherwise the party risks a humiliating defeat in June's European elections.

PA