Speculation mounts over Unionist MP's future

Speculation is rife over whether Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson will join the Democratic Unionist Party.

That has been the question on many people's mind since the renegade Ulster Unionist MP was defeated in a Ruling Council vote last week over the party's stance concerning the British and Irish Joint Declaration.

Then Mr Donaldson, alongside South Belfast MP Martin Smyth and South Antrim MP David Burnside, resigned the party whip at Westminster earlier in the week, effectively turning the Ulster Unionist Party into the smallest grouping in the Houses of Parliament.

However, an article in today's Times newspaper by Mr Donaldson has fanned the flames further after he called for a realignment of unionism "capable of defending the union".

In today's opinion piece the Lagan Valley MP claimed the UUP, under David Trimble, had "done everything asked of them" as far as the Good Friday Agreement goes but since then demands had been extorted from Unionism "far in excess of what was agreed five years ago".

Calling into question Mr Trimble's leadership, he went on to claim that the Joint Declaration had taken Unionism "into even more dangerous territory", with the Irish Government given a key role in the workings of the Northern Ireland Assembly, "a fundamental breach of a Unionist principle".

However, the big question posed in today's opinion piece came when Mr Donaldson questioned the Government's stance over Sinn Fein's lack of movement over the decommissioning of arms.

He said: "Politics in the Province have been suspended since the IRA spy ring at Stormont brought the issue of Sinn Fein’s unwillingness to become a normal political party to a head. In the absence of Sinn Fein agreeing to reform, a 'pause button' has been pressed.

"Which is odd because when the constitutional, and more electorally popular, DUP dissents from a political development, it’s criticisms are ignored."

Many will look into this last paragraph as a testament to the stance of the DUP over the Good Friday Agreement, and its continued drive to attempt to renegotiate, on behalf of the majority of unionists, the agreement.

Could it be also that Mr Donaldson wants to re-align himself with Dr Paisley's party – something he, Mr Smyth and Mr Burnside called for during their resignation announcement – and force the Government to deal with, what is now, a majority of anti-agreement unionists inside Westminister?

It certainly looks that way, especially if Mr Donaldson's last comment about the peace process is taken on board.

He said the goal was to "realign Unionists into a force capable of defending the Union" and questioned whether David Trimble could deliver on this.

However, under such a weight of numbers it is unlikely the Government could continue to ignore staunch anti-agreement unionists, such as the DUP.

(MB)