Sir Reg Empey has asserted his confidence in Mr David Trimble's continuing leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party and has told pro-agreement unionists plotting his removal to stop. Sir Reg says he believes not only that Mr Trimble will lead the UUP into next year's Assembly elections, but also that he should.
This is a potentially important endorsement for Mr Trimble against recent evidence of some erosion of support within his pro-agreement Assembly power base. It will also be welcomed by Downing Street as likely to help stabilise the situation within the UUP ahead of next week's critical talks involving the British and Irish governments and the pro-agreement parties in Belfast.
The Stormont Enterprise Minister agreed to clarify his position on the party leadership following renewed reports last weekend that some UUP officers and Assembly members are advocating a so-called "dream ticket" succession, in which leading hardline MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson would become UUP leader with Sir Reg as first minister in the devolved Executive.
Speculation about such a possibility has been fuelled by indications over recent months that a cabal of senior unionists - sometimes referred to as "the men in suits" - discussed moves to persuade Mr Trimble to stand aside in late summer or in the autumn in favour of a new leadership which they consider necessary to maximise the party's chances of reuniting to face a strong DUP challenge in the Assembly contest.
Sir Reg declined an Irish Times request to discuss the leadership issue "on the record" but subsequently answered six questions submitted to his office.
Contrary to the whispered suggestion in unionist circles, he gives an emphatic "No" when asked if he personally has been party to the discussions about the Donaldson/Empey "dream ticket." Likewise, Sir Reg insists he authorised no colleagues to engage in such discussions on his behalf.
The Minister gives another one-word answer when asked what he would say to Assembly members or party officers engaged in these discussions. "Desist," he tells them.
And he deploys the same technique - possibly revealing both irritation and an unwillingness to fuel the speculation - when asked if he believes Mr Trimble will lead the UUP into next year's elections, and if he should. "Yes," he replies to both questions.
However, Sir Reg appears to leave the door at least open to the possibility that he and Mr Donaldson might yet form the nucleus of an Ulster Unionist leadership team in some future scenario, while making it clear he does not consider this a relevant issue between now and next year's election.
The Irish Times had asked: "Is it credible in your view to think Mr Donaldson might become leader with you as first minister at Stormont?"
Given his answers to three questions - that he has not been party to discussions about the "dream ticket", and that he believes Mr Trimble will and should lead the party into the election - Sir Reg says simply: "It is not an issue."