The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, has said that if Mr David Trimble "had any sense" he would resign as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.
Historical Ulster Unionist precedent indicated that now was the time for Mr Trimble to stand down as party leader, Dr Paisley said yesterday after a meeting with Mr Hugh Orde, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Mr Trimble said on Monday that he would not "desert my post" and that he expected to be returned as leader at the annual meeting in March of the Ulster Unionist Council - the ruling body for the UUP.
Dr Paisley said he did not want to intrude in the internal affairs of the UUP but that if Mr Trimble had studied what happened previous leaders he would realise it was time to quit.
"The point is that the voices of people who were very vocal in his support in the past are becoming scarcer and scarcer now," he told The Irish Times last night. "I would say to him if he had any sense he would go now."
The DUP leader said there could be a future for the UUP, but not if it continued to pursue a policy of supporting the Belfast Agreement. "If it changes its policy then it may have a future. But if it continues to go down the road it has pursued so aggressively then I would say it has no future."
Dr Paisley said it was a matter for Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, Ms Arlene Foster and Ms Norah Beare, who resigned from the UUP last week, as to whether they should apply to join the DUP. "But anyone who sees the light and adopts the DUP's policy would be welcome in the party," he added.
In such a case Mr Donaldson and the other former UUP MLAs would have places on the DUP's talks team in the New Year review of the Belfast Agreement. "Every member of the DUP's team should have a part to play in the negotiations," he said.
Dr Paisley again insisted that Sinn Féin could have no place in any re-established devolved government for Northern Ireland, notwithstanding private comments from some DUP members that some form of agreement could be thrashed out in the review that would be acceptable to all parties including Sinn Féin.
"Even the Taoiseach wouldn't have them in his Government, so why should they be forced on us," Dr Paisley said.
Mr Ian Paisley jun, who met Mr Orde with Dr Paisley yesterday, was also dismissive of Mr Trimble.
"It is fair to say that David Trimble is the weakest link as far as unionism is concerned. If Anne Robinson was in judgment, I know what she would be saying to the weakest link," he said.
"We're gracious enough not to say it to him but unionism cannot function in a viable fashion if it has a weak unionist leader," he added.
He said that among the issues discussed with Mr Orde was DUP opposition to further demilitarisation. "I think it is fair to say that the election on November 26th stopped the concessions to the Provisional IRA.
"From our point of view, it is important that that full stop to the concessions is maintained and the government does not make it a pause or a comma and then proceed with concessions later on."
