The UK Unionist leader, Mr Bob McCartney, has said that Mr David Trimble is guilty of either hypocrisy or naivety for expressing shock at comments by the Minister for Foreign Affairs about the potential powers of cross-Border bodies.
"Hypocrisy, if he knows - as he should know - exactly what is going on; and naivety if he really doesn't understand what the talks are about," said Mr McCartney. He said Mr Andrews had merely spoken the truth.
"David Andrews is like Basil Fawlty. He keeps mentioning the real purpose of the talks, which everyone is supposed to know about, but about which no one is supposed to speak." Mr McCartney argued that Mr Andrews's remarks confirmed his own analysis of where the talks were leading. He said that the Minister's problem was that he did not realise "that he is not supposed to tell the truth. Lies are permissible as `risks' for peace, but the truth can be `unhelpful' for the process."
Mr McCartney was speaking at a press conference to give details of his party conference, which will be held in Bangor, Co Down, at the weekend. The guest speaker will be the British Conservative MP, Mr Andrew Hunter. The event will also be addressed by Dr Conor Cruise O'Brien.
The UK Unionist Party yesterday started a campaign to attract new members in the North. Mr McCartney said: "Recent events and the party's clear policies and firm leadership have attracted calls for party organisations across the province.
"There is a clear need for a party based on equality of citizenship and pluralism but firmly based on the existing Union and constitutional position. The UKUP offers a form of unionism that is designed to meet that need and which offers an inclusive vision of equality of citizenship for everyone."