In what is said to be the biggest political survey carried out in the North, indications are that unionists are just about evenly divided on whether their leaders should take part in negotiations with Sinn Fein.
A total of 1,561 people took part in the survey for the BBC Northern Ireland Hearts and Minds programme, which was broadcast last night. The results showed that just over 50 per cent of unionists want their leaders to take part in face-to-face talks with Sinn Fein, with just under 50 per cent against.
The executive committee of the Ulster Unionist Party meets on Saturday to decide whether it will join all-party talks on Monday. The survey showed that support for the UUP had fallen over recent months. Sinn Fein also suffered a decrease but support for the Alliance party has risen dramatically.
The UUP received 23 per cent of the poll, compared to 28 per cent in last May's council elections. The DUP stayed static at 16 per cent. The SDLP was up from 21 to 22 per cent. Sinn Fein was down from 17 to 15 per cent. Alliance was up from 7 to 11 per cent. The fringe loyalists also appear to have grown in popularity. The Ulster Democratic Party, the UDA's political wing, is up from 1 to 3 per cent. Support for the Progressive Unionist Party, the UVF's political wing, has doubled from 2 to 4 per cent.
The survey indicated a huge difference of opinion between unionists and nationalists about the IRA ceasefire, with two-thirds of Catholics believing it to be permanent but only around one in 10 Protestants feeling the same way.
On decommissioning, nearly half the unionist population believed that no weapons would ever be handed over. There was also general scepticism about the British government's timetable for a settlement, with four out of five people disbelieving there would be a deal by May.
Meanwhile, the DUP has described the suspension of deportation proceedings against former IRA men living in the US as "a further pacification of republicans" while Sinn Fein has welcomed the announcement.
The Clinton administration made the decision in order to help the peace process in the North. However, the DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said it was an "extremely provocative move".
"This latest sop to IRA terrorists stands out in stark contrast to the US's attitude to its own terrorists. For them the electric chair or life imprisonment awaits," he said.
DUP councillor Mr Sammy Wilson said republicans were clearly winning. "Every concession necessary is being given to the IRA to stop them reopening their bombing campaign."
However, the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said: "I welcome this positive action on the peace process by the US government. This humanitarian decision is a continuation of the constructive investment which has been the hallmark of this administration's involvement in building the peace process."
The Alliance leader, Lord Alderdice, said yesterday he was optimistic about all-party negotiations. He said the political environment in the North had greatly improved since events during the summer. The Alliance deputy leader, Mr Seamus Close, however, criticised the fringe loyalist parties for refusing to take part in the plenary session of all-party talks on Tuesday and for not saying whether they would be at the negotiating table when substantive talks begin on Monday.
"For the past year the spokesmen of the PUP and UDP would have us believe that they were the fresh and constructive voices of unionism. They have sought to give the impression that they were prepared to take on Sinn Fein in any body," he said.
"Now these spokesmen are playing silly games over the talks. They are erecting artificial obstacles and preconditions to their participation. Their protestations over Sinn Fein's commitment to the Mitchell Principles are highly hypocritical given the dubious nature of the loyalist ceasefire.
"The loyalists are sounding more and more like the typical negative unionist politicians."