Senior Ulster Unionist figures are claiming Mr David Trimble has severely damaged his internal position by his statement in Washington that he would consider returning to government with Sinn Fein without "arms up front". The sources said Mr Trimble would have "considerable explaining to do" in advance of Saturday's Ulster Unionist Council meeting. They did not believe a leadership challenge likely, but warned that the meeting could be "lively".
"Our leader's comments have alarmed both UUP members and the wider unionist community. It is noticeable that not one UUP politician in Northern Ireland has supported them," said a party source.
"While a leadership challenge is unlikely, nothing can yet be ruled out. There could still be a stalking horse candidate." The chairman of the Ulster Young Unionist Council, Mr Philip Weir, said that rather than the UUP leadership being taken from Mr Trimble, "it would appear Mr Trimble is trying his best to give it away".
The party officer team will be re-elected at Saturday's meeting and a bitter contest is expected between the pro- and anti-agreement sides. A motion is due to be debated pledging that the UUP will not re-enter the executive unless the British government promises to retain the RUC's name.
Sources expect this motion, which would substantially restrict Mr Trimble in future political negotiations, to be passed. The Taoiseach is expected to meet Mr Blair, probably on Thursday, on the fringes of the Lisbon EU summit, to attempt to devise a joint strategy to re-establish the North's political institutions.
Anti-agreement UUP politicians are privately pleased at Mr Trimble's comments, while some of his allies are expressing concern at what they claim was political misjudgment. "We don't know what David was doing in the States but there just isn't any support in the party for letting Sinn Fein back into government without prior decommissioning," said a colleague. "For David to say such a thing a week away from a UUC meeting defies belief."
Sinn Fein has responded coolly to the UUP leader's statement. Party chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said Mr Trimble had made similar claims in the past only to have them later reversed by his party. "We have been listening to Mr Trimble's party colleagues in the North and they are making it clear that Saturday's party conference could take a different view."
Mr Trimble told Saturday's News Letter that media coverage of his comments had been "misleading" and he had actually hardened his views on Sinn Fein's re-entry into the executive.
Anti-agreement UUP MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson said Mr Trimble's remarks could "deal a very damaging blow" to party unity. He said he was "absolutely gutted" and had not been consulted. "If these reports are accurate, then this would represent a substantial change in our party's policy. I would be totally opposed to such a change. Given that the institutions of government were suspended precisely because there wasn't decommissioning, it would be astonishing if the party now went into the executive without decommissioning."
The UUP MP for West Tyrone, Mr Willie Thompson, said: "The UUP leadership was fooled by Sinn Fein before. It would be appalling if it was fooled again." Anti-agreement MP Mr Willie Ross was also critical of Mr Trimble's comments. There is speculation that he might mount a leadership challenge to Mr Trimble on Saturday, but sources close to Mr Ross played down the suggestion.
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said: "David Trimble is earning the name in Northern Ireland and abroad as someone who is a putty man who can be easily shaped by presidents, prime ministers and Provos."
The UK Unionist leader, Mr Robert McCartney, said the UUP leadership was "scratching around" for a way to fudge the demand for Provisional IRA decommissioning.