Leading unionist opponents of the Belfast Agreement have denied that they plan to oppose Mr David Trimble for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party at the end of this month, although a number of them have urged a "stalking horse" challenger to come forward.
The opponents of the agreement made known their support for a challenge to Mr Trimble after a pro-agreement UUP Assembly member, Dr Esmond Birnie, issued a statement warning that any attempt to unseat the party leader would only play into the hands of republicans.
A number of unionists said yesterday that talks were taking place "informally" about challenging Mr Trimble at the annual general meeting of the UUP's ruling body, the Ulster Unionist Council, on Saturday, March 25th. By rule, the UUP leader must be re-elected every year at this meeting.
Any move to depose Mr Trimble is likely to come from the Young Unionists or the Union First group. Dr Philip Weir, chairman of the Young Unionists, said there had been some "informal" discussions about such a move, but "as yet no bones have been put on the idea". He added: "I certainly think it is a possibility that David Trimble could be challenged."
Mr Peter King, of Union First, said he was aware of the reports but knew of no firm plans to challenge Mr Trimble, although he favoured such a move.
Mr King recalled that in 1995 Mr Lee Reynolds, a 21-year-old unionist, had challenged the then party leader, Lord Molyneaux. Mr Reynolds, who secured 88 votes - 15 per cent of the poll - was unsuccessful in his bid, but the move led to Lord Molyneaux's resignation five months later and his subsequent replacement by Mr Trimble.
"Lee Reynolds managed to topple David Trimble's predecessor with 88 votes. Any challenger now would do better than that. If a leader as respected as Jim Molyneaux was invited to fall on his sword, then if the same happened David Trimble the men in grey suits might be asked to talk to him," Mr King said.
Mr William Thompson, the West Tyrone UUP MP, said a challenge to Mr Trimble's leadership "would help to indicate the amount of opposition within the party to the present liberal policies".
Dr Birnie said that if there was a challenger he or she should have the honesty to set out a viable alternative strategy to Mr Trimble's. "A challenge to Mr Trimble, or the expertly and mischievously leaked threat of such a challenge, will do no more than shift the spotlight away from Adams and the IRA at this very critical time," he said. "This is a time for unity rather than troublesome stunts. The same people who knifed Lord Molyneaux are behind the attacks on David Trimble."
Senior UUP and SDLP members, speaking after a meeting at Stormont yesterday, questioned why the British and Irish governments had not convened a meeting of the pro-agreement parties to try to break the political deadlock.
The former SDLP minister, Mr Sean Farren, said the two parties were searching for a "new approach" to help end the impasse over decommissioning.
The former UUP minister, Mr Michael McGimpsey, said there appeared to be uncertainty within both governments on what their next move should be. He supported the call from the SDLP for new round-table talks.
Mr McGimpsey said the UUP was "always prepared to look at decommissioning in a positive light", but the May 22nd deadline for paramilitary decommissioning would have to be adhered to, notwithstanding comments from Ms Liz O'Donnell, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, that this deadline was not binding.
