Rival unionist leaders Mr David Trimble and the Rev Ian Paisley have begun talks on how their parties should respond to the British government's policing plans, it was confirmed today.
Sources in both parties have confirmed to reporters that the Ulster Unionist leader and his Democratic Unionist counterpart have been in contact in recent days and that Mr Trimble informed his party executive at a meeting on policing yesterday.
Although both parties were at pains to stress the contacts are at "an early stage," they raise the prospect of a united unionist strategy to force the British government to further amend their policing reform plans.
An Ulster Unionist spokesman said today: "Contact has taken place between Dr Paisley's office and our leader's office.
"It would be envisaged that there will be further contact later this week."
But while the UUP spokesman would not confirm policing was on the agenda, a Democratic Unionist source said: "The discussions are covering how unionists should approach the implementation plan.
"It is too premature at this stage to say that a common unionist position is forming. It is too early to say where the talks will go.
"Everything depends on how the discussions go over the next few weeks between the two parties but our position is clear: we believe we can claw back some of the concessions on policing made to nationalists if unionists stand together and hold back on their nominations to the Policing Board."
The DUP source would not rule out the possibility that the parties would also consider teaming up in the Northern Ireland Assembly on a motion to exclude Sinn Féin ministers Mr Martin McGuinness and Ms Bairbre de Brún from the Executive following the arrests of three Irishmen in Colombia on suspicion of training left-wing rebels.
The leaderships of the UUP and DUP have not held formal talks since 1997 when the two parties forged an electoral pact before the British general election to prevent nationalists and republicans from winning marginal seats.
The two parties have since been involved in a bitter contest for unionist votes, with the DUP being highly critical of their rival's participation in multi-party talks involving Sinn Féin and eventual support for the BelfastAgreement.
The DUP has been making gains at the ballot box at Mr Trimble's expense - taking three Westminster seats from the UUP in the recent British general election in Strangford, North Belfast and East Derry.
Mr Trimble's decision to open talks with his DUP rivals will be seen as an attempt to mollify the anti-Belfast Agreement wing of his party led by Lagan Valley MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson and South Antrim MP Mr David Burnside.
After the UUP executive yesterday announced the party was withholding its nominations to the 19-member Policing Board which will handle the police reforms.
Mr Donaldson also warned the Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid that the British government would have to make substantial changes to its policing plan if the party was to participate.
The talks between the DUP and UUP also follow the first major fracture in the nationalist consensus which has characterised the peace process, following the SDLP's decision last month to break ranks from Sinn Féin on policing.
The SDLP is the first nationalist party in the history of Northern Ireland to urge its supporters to back the police and is the only party to declare that it would be taking the seats it is entitled to on the board.
Sinn Féin will not be taking its two seats because they believe the reforms do not go far enough.
PA