The Ulster Unionist MP, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, has said he has received almost 200 telephone calls of support from voters outraged that his party is barring him from contesting next month's assembly elections. "We have been inundated with calls and all but one have been in support of my position," he said. "People feel I should have been allowed to stand for the assembly." The UUP's officer team refused the Lagan Valley MP permission to contest the poll at a meeting on Tuesday night.
Under party rules, MPs must seek special dispensation to stand for the assembly but this has already been granted to the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, and his deputy, Mr John Taylor. The refusal to grant Mr Donaldson dispensation has been interpreted as a sign that the party is no longer prepared to tolerate dissent in its ranks.
Mr Donaldson defied his party leadership and opposed the Belfast Agreement. Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that his former constituency association chairman, Mr Jim Dillon, had written to the party saying Mr Donaldson should not be allowed to stand.
Mr Dillon, who supported the Belfast Agreement, said his recommendation had nothing to do with Mr Donaldson's stance on the issue and simply reflected his personal view that MPs should not hold other demanding political positions. Mr Donaldson criticised Mr Dillon's actions. Mr Dillon is standing for nomination as an assembly candidate in Lagan Valley tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, has urged women to grasp the economic advantages of peace. Speaking at a seminar organised by Opportunity 2000, involving businesses, she pledged to increase employment chances for women.
Mr Trimble joined by the three pro-agreement candidates with him for Assembly seats in his Upper Bann constituency. At a UuP selection convention last night, Mr Trimble , along with Mr George Savage, Mr Sam Gardiner and Mr Ashton Hanna were chosen to contest the June 25th election in Upper Bann.
In the East Belfast constituency, however, Mr Jim Rogers - a Belfast city councillor who has expressed misgivings about the agreement - was one of the three candidates selected by the local UUP organisation. Also selected for East Belfast were Mr Reg Empey, the UUP referendum campaign manager, and Mr Ian Adamson, a former Belfast lord Mayor, who is also pro-agreement.