The three dissident Ulster Unionist MPs who failed in their attempt to get the party's ruling council to block disciplinary against after they resigned the party whip at Westminster were crestfallen but defiant after today's meeting.
Lagan Valley MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson insisted the MPs would not retake the whip while legislation implementing the British and Irish Governments' peace process proposals was debated at Westminster.
He said: "Our position remains as it was. We will not be retaking the whip at Westminster, we are going to oppose the legislation linked to the joint declaration.
"We believe that the majority of unionists in the country are opposed to that joint declaration, someone has to represent their views and we will be there in Parliament to put forward our concerns, seeking to change that which we disagree with."
South Antrim MP David Burnside indicated that the trio would re-apply for the party whip once they had opposed the legislation at Westminster.
He added: "If the disciplinary action takes place and it disciplines Jeffrey, Martin and me - one is the President of our party and two are Assembly candidates - what way is it to go into an Assembly election?"
A long-time associate of Mr Trimble, former Stormont economy minister Sir Reg Empey came under criticism from some colleagues amid reports that he had discussed an alternative leadership in the run-up to today's vote.
Sir Reg remained silent throughout today's debate.
However, pro-Trimble members of the party claimed that he had sustained some damage because of his talks with Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson.
"I think any leadership ambitions have been dented," one source said.
Mr Donaldson denied he wanted to be leader of the party. "I want to see the policy of this party reflect the views of the majority of the unionist electorate who were opposed to the joint declaration, who do not believe it's the way forward, who want to see this party back, reunited with a strong, firm, clear policy.
"I don't wake up every morning wanting to be the leader of the unionist party. But I do want to wake up every morning being part of the United Kingdom.
"The way things are going and the mess that we are making of it, it will not be long before we are going down the road where that is seriously undermined and damaged."
Mr Donaldson confirmed that he intended to pursue his dialogue with other colleagues including Sir Reg Empey in a bid to find consensus.
Sinn Féin today claimed Mr Trimble had scored a resounding victory and it was now time for the British government to stop worrying about the Ulster Unionist Party.
Party chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said: "The UUC today made its decision.
"It backed the party leader David Trimble giving him a clear mandate.
"It is now time for the two governments to stop looking over their shoulders at the Ulster Unionists and get on with implementing the Good Friday Agreement.
"The British Prime Minister Tony Blair should immediately set a date for Assembly elections so that the parties can seek a fresh mandate from the electorate.
"The in-fighting within the Ulster Unionist Party can no longer be used as justification to stop people's right to vote."
PA