Unionist disunity
On Wednesday afternoon the Grand Lodge of the Orange Order
refused to endorse the Agreement. They asked for clarification on
a number of issues, but reports indicated that the feeling at the
meeting was strongly against the Agreement. It is seen as a blow
for the Trimble leadership of the UUP.
Since the Loyalist storming of Stormont under the gaze of Carson
on the eve of last Friday's Agreement, unionist disunity has
surfaced to threaten David Trimble's mantle as the main leader of
unionism.
Led by DUP's Ian Paisley and his deputy Peter Robinson the press
conference in Stormont that followed the `invasion of Stormont,'
was literally a riot, as men who had previously been fodder for
DUP rhetoric jeered and heckled Paisley.
The next morning as the deal was presented to the waiting media
UUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson was notable in his absence from the
`united' front put forward by Trimble and the loyalist parties.
At the Saturday meeting of the Ulster Unionist executive council
it became evident that Trimble was facing serious dissension from
among his ten MPs. Led by West Tyrone MP William Thompson, the
gang of four - including MPs Roy Beggs, Willie Ross and Clifford
Forsythe - a hard core of `No' campaigners became evident.
Despite coming through the meeting relatively unscathed (he got a
2 to 1 mandate) Trimble's troubles continue.
Saturday's Ulster Unionist Council meeting is the next big, and
vital, test, where 860 members will vote to back or reject the
Agreement.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)