UUP suspends rebel MPs
The Ulster Unionist Party has risked further fracturing the already-strained relationship between its leadership and rank-and-file, after three rebel MPs were suspended for declining the party whip at Westminster.
In a bid to clear the way for the rebirth of the Northern Ireland Peace Process, the Ulster Unionist Party suspended its president and two senior members, who snubbed the leadership’s call for unity.
Rev Martin Smyth (MP for Belfast South and president of the party), Jeffrey Donaldson (MP for Lagan Valley), the chief thorn in Mr. Trimble’s side, and David Burnside (MP for South Antrim) have consistently rejected the framework for peace proposed by David Trimble, without prior categorical assurances from Sinn Fein/IRA that terrorism and violence would be forever renounced.
Earlier, in Belfast, Jeffrey Donaldson led a bid to force David Trimble to reject some elements of the British and Irish government’ joint declaration which would effectively kickstart stalled peace discussions and power sharing at Stormont.
Stormont was suspended last year after the IRA was said to have spied on politicians.
He also opposed plans to would enable at large IRA operatives to return to Ireland free of the threat of prison.
But a majority of the 900-member ruling council in Belfast decided against the move. Mr. Donaldson threatened to walk as a result.
According to Mr. Donaldson, the suspension from the party signaled a ‘dark, dark day for the Ulster Unionist Party. I never thought the party would stoop to this level – that it would break its own rules.
“I’m astonished. We have not been afforded any opportunity to state our case before this decision was made. I do not think there is any provision in the rules for disciplinary action to be taken against the party member before he has had the opportunity to have his case heard.”
The three will have the opportunity to attend a disciplinary hearing on July 17, a source said.
