Rift widens among struggling Ulster Unionists

The deep divisions within the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) look to be growing as the Lagan Valley constituency association moves today to censure four councillors.

The four, who are accused of "acting in a manner disadvantageous to the party", could face expulsion if the motion by supporters of anti-Agreement UUP heavyweight Mr Jeffrey Donaldson is successful.

The dispute centres around the decision by pro-Agreement candidate Mr Ivan Davis, the former UUP chief whip in the Assembly, to run as an independent in the last election after failing to secure a nomination from his party in Lagan Valley. Three other councillors are also facing censure for supporting Mr Davis's stance.

The constituency association also said it "deplores" the ultimatum delivered to Mr Donaldson by the 108-member UUP Executive Council to resume the whip at Westminster or face sanctions. It also called on party leader Mr David Trimble to resign.

The Executive Council said Mr Donaldson's attacks on Mr Trimble and overtures to the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists were "detrimental" to the UUP. It will meet again on January 9th to decide on his fate.

Mr Donaldson and two other anti-Agreement MPs, the Rev Martin Smyth and Mr David Burnside, resigned the whip at Westminster in a row over policy in June. However, they were successful in a subsequent High Court challenge to a party attempt to have them suspended.

Another bid in September to discipline the three was cancelled when Mr Trimble won a vote at the party's 900-member ruling council for a resolution calling on them to resume the whip.

On Tuesday, senior UUP figures Sir Reg Empey and honorary secretary Mr Jim Rodgers began a campaign to try to reunite the party. . Mr Rodgers admitted there were "very real fears among the rank and file that the party could disintegrate".

The UUP failed to counter the threat of the DUP in the recent Assembly poll and is now the second largest unionist party.