A conservative-Ulster Unionist deal which could put Mr David Trimble on the Tory front bench at Westminster is under active discussion, The Irish Times has confirmed.
Sources close to the talks insist it could go ahead whether or not Mr Trimble resigns as Northern Ireland's First Minister in six days. Mr Trimble's opponents were content to see him re-elected leader without a challenge at Saturday's meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council. However, buoyed by Mr Jeffrey Donald
son's poll-topping performance in the party officer elections, they expect that Mr Trimble will quit the power-sharing Executive without an actual start to IRA decommissioning within the week.
Confirmation of talks about a new relationship between the Conservatives and the Ulster Unionists provides the clearest signal that Mr Trimble does not consider himself a spent political force.
The UUP leader denied newspaper reports yesterday that he had already been invited to join the shadow cabinet in a deal brokered by Lord Cranborne.
However, insiders said the denial of claims that the UUP was on the verge of linking up with the Conservative Party was not as "watertight" as it might have first appeared. The Irish Times has been told that the various aspects of a renewed relationship between the two parties have been considered by Mr Trimble in talks with Mr Michael Ancram in his previous capacity as chairman of the Conservative Party.
Sources say there is no constitutional impediment to Mr Trimble serving as First Minister and as a member of the shadow cabinet at Westminster.
Meanwhile, at their meeting in Downing Street last Monday, Mr Trimble is understood to have told the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, that "actual delivery" is needed if crisis for the Belfast Agreement and its institutions is to be averted.
Well-placed sources say Mr Trimble specifically told Mr Blair and Mr Ahern that "words and promises about timetables and modalities" would not be enough. One of them predicted last night that in the absence of any breakthrough on decommissioning London and Dublin would probably allow Mr Trimble's resignation to go ahead before deciding on fresh elections or the suspension of the Assembly and other institutions in mid-August.
As in February last year the British government could act to pre-empt Mr Trimble's post-dated resignation letter by forcing a suspension, with or without Dublin's agreement.
However, the impression is that, without a deal on arms, Mr Trimble would prefer to resign. Some sources say his motivation, in part, would be "to take Seamus Mallon with him". Relations between the First and Deputy First Ministers are described as "poisonous".
As the British government considers its options, one idea canvassed is that Mr Trimble might appoint a "caretaker" First Minister. However, it is not clear what statutory authority, if any, a caretaker would have, or how this would impinge on the rules requiring the fresh election of a First and Deputy First Minister six weeks after Mr Trimble's threatened resignation.
The Secretary of State, Dr John Reid, yesterday dismissed suggestions that there was no hope of immediate progress at the start of a potentially momentous week for the peace process.
But with the two governments officially "realistic" as opposed to optimistic, there were even suggestions that Mr Blair and Mr Ahern might only resume the leadership of the negotiation if a successful outcome appeared likely.
Dr Reid and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, will carry forward the talks between the main pro-agreement parties over the next 48 hours, with Mr Blair and Mr Ahern tipped to travel to Belfast on Wednesday or Thursday if required.