The UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, received a standing ovation from all but two people at a meeting in the Strangford Unionist Party constituency headquarters last night, according to a source.
Members said the mood was for acceptance at the Ulster Unionist Council today. A woman said: "Giving it one more go, I am going to bribe them all to vote Yes with mince pies." An Assembly member, Mr Michael McGimpsey, was "confident that common sense will prevail" today.