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03/10/2001
Trimble meets Blair to discuss move to exclude Sinn Féin
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has met with Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss his party’s plans to exclude Sinn Fein from government.
Mr Blair had returned early to London from the Labour party conference to meet with the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.
Following the meeting, Mr Trimble said he would like to see the Northern Ireland executive continue without Sinn Féin.
He said: “We obviously want to see the administration continue without Sinn Fein, but if that isn’t possible and the administration comes to an end, then we would like to see a soft landing.
“We have made some exploration about this with the Prime Minister and will continue to do so that there is the minimal disruption to the government of Northern Ireland.”
Mr Trimble added that the government must do everything in its power to clamp down on paramilitary racketeering that was providing funds which were being used to payroll the operations of both loyalist and republican groups.
However, the move to exclude Sinn Féin has been criticised by both the SDLP and the Alliance Party. The SDLP’s Brid Rodgers urged David Trimble to “think again”.
While the motion to exclude Sinn Féin is thought unlikely to succeed, the Ulster Unionists and the Democratic Unionists have threatened to withdraw from the Assembly and collapse the power sharing executive. (AMcE/SP)
Mr Blair had returned early to London from the Labour party conference to meet with the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.
Following the meeting, Mr Trimble said he would like to see the Northern Ireland executive continue without Sinn Féin.
He said: “We obviously want to see the administration continue without Sinn Fein, but if that isn’t possible and the administration comes to an end, then we would like to see a soft landing.
“We have made some exploration about this with the Prime Minister and will continue to do so that there is the minimal disruption to the government of Northern Ireland.”
Mr Trimble added that the government must do everything in its power to clamp down on paramilitary racketeering that was providing funds which were being used to payroll the operations of both loyalist and republican groups.
However, the move to exclude Sinn Féin has been criticised by both the SDLP and the Alliance Party. The SDLP’s Brid Rodgers urged David Trimble to “think again”.
While the motion to exclude Sinn Féin is thought unlikely to succeed, the Ulster Unionists and the Democratic Unionists have threatened to withdraw from the Assembly and collapse the power sharing executive. (AMcE/SP)
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Sinn Féin attack Ulster Unionist Party’s stance
Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness has hit out at Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble`s refusal to back the British-Irish governments` package because of the lack of actual decommissioning.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
