Mr David Trimble's Nobel lecture was "arguably one of the finest political lectures of this decade," according to an Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member, Dr Esmond Birnie.
Dr Birnie said that people who were unhappy with Mr Trimble's speech were at variance with the views of members of the Nobel Committee, who described the lecture as "inspired".
He added: "Enough of this spiteful jealousy from the admirers of Sinn Fein. David Trimble deserves the prize. He is the most courageous unionist leader of this century."