DUP AND Ulster Unionist Party leaders Peter Robinson and Reg Empey are to address their Assembly parliamentary groups at Stormont today, with the greatest pressure on Sir Reg to stand down as leader.
Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister, after a poor election, is also weighing up whether there is any future for his brand of hardline unionism.
There is still the possibility that the election will see the resignation of the UUP and DUP leaders and Mr Allister standing down his party.
Sinn Féin and the SDLP remained buoyant yesterday after respectively holding their five seats and three seats, as did Lady Sylvia Hermon after her “landslide” victory in North Down, while Alliance’s first MP, Naomi Long, continued to bask in the satisfaction of making history for the party.
Senior British Labour MPs also continued in contact with many Northern MPs over the weekend to determine if they could win their support for a British government with Labour at the helm should the Conservative-Liberal Democrats talks collapse or falter.
In Northern Ireland though, the main focus was on the political fallout for unionism from the election. Senior Ulster Unionists were taking soundings over the weekend, while Sir Reg is to address his Assembly colleagues today. At the weekend, Strangford UUP Assembly member David McNarry said Sir Reg was “finished” as leader and last night that appeared to remain the view among Ulster Unionists.
That the UUP link-up with the Conservatives through UCUNF (Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force) failed to yield a single House of Commons seat is viewed by many Ulster Unionists as sealing his fate.
Sir Reg was in contact with party officers at the weekend ahead of today’s meeting with Ulster Unionist MLAs. Likely contenders for the leadership include UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy, Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea and Mr McNarry, notwithstanding that Mr McNarry has indicated he would not be a contender.
As Mr Robinson reflected on the results, senior DUP sources stressed there was no immediate pressure on him to resign as DUP leader or First Minister. Party members seemed prepared to leave the matter to Mr Robinson, with the implicit suggestion that he would stand down as DUP leader, but at a time of his own choosing.
Mr Robinson is to speak to his Assembly team at Stormont today where he is expected to be also back fulfilling his role as First Minister with Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
“The fact of the matter is that apart from East Belfast we had a brilliant election. We saw off UCUNF and we saw off Jim Allister and the TUV. Peter lost for reasons that had nothing to do with the party,” said one senior party figure.
“We fought the election on a positive agenda, that devolution was good for Northern Ireland, and that we must not be dragged back to the past. That was the strategy dictated by Peter Robinson, and it worked. Peter lost for personal reasons,” he added.
Another senior DUP source added that there were “no vultures hovering” over Mr Robinson. He said there was no pressure from within the party for Mr Robinson to stand down. “What Peter does is really a matter for Peter,” he added, a view repeated by several DUP members over the weekend.
Mr Allister was also taking stock over whether to continue in politics. He is also to meet TUV members this week to discuss what the options are.
Sources said there were conflicting views in the TUV, with some arguing the party should fight on, while others contending that the 4 per cent vote won in the election was so poor they must fold.
If the TUV vote were repeated in next year’s Assembly elections the party would probably win only one seat, Mr Allister in North Antrim.
“We fought a campaign based on truth, honour and decency but the people did not support us.
“We still hold to our convictions but we also accept the people’s verdict.
“My personal view is that the TUV should be wound up and Jim [Allister] should return to the bar,” said a leading TUV source.