The Ulster Unionist Party's deputy leader and senior party members have rallied behind the leader, Mr David Trimble, and confronted their unionist opposition after dissident MP Mr William Thompson effectively called for Mr Trimble's resignation. The UUP deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, acting with his leader's support, accused Mr Thompson of "stabbing Mr Trimble in the back" after the West Tyrone MP told BBC Radio Ulster there could be no unionist unity until the party leader stood down. "It would be very difficult to unite under the present leader," said Mr Thompson.
The strong attack on the West Tyrone MP, who is bitterly opposed to the Belfast Agreement, came on a day when Mr Trimble brought his campaign for a Yes vote in the referendum to the streets of Northern Ireland for the first time. The resolute criticism of Mr Thompson, which came the day after Mr Trimble accused the unionist No campaign of "political cowardice", marked the first sign of the unionist Yes supporters entering into the referendum campaign with passion and fervour, and confronting their unionist opposition, including the "in-house" UUP opposition.
Mr Trimble canvassed yesterday "for an overwhelming Yes vote for the Union" in Coleraine, Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Banbridge, and plans further meetings with party activists in the run-up to the referendum on May 22nd.
Mr Taylor claimed that Mr Thompson, who is vehemently opposed to the Belfast Agreement, was "increasingly becoming a parrot" for Mr Robert McCartney's UK Unionist Party.
The simmering row over the "maverick" West Tyrone MP's continued sniping against Mr Trimble and the UUP Yes camp finally flared yesterday after Mr Thompson issued his latest broadside against Mr Trimble on BBC Radio Ulster.
Mr Taylor, the UUP Yes campaign manager Mr Reg Empey, and the party chairman, Mr Dennis Rogan, all called on Mr Thompson to "do the decent thing" and resign. The attack on Mr Thompson had the imprimatur of Mr Trimble. An unrepentant Mr Thompson said he had no intention of resigning. "All I have said, which is absolutely clear to any political observer, is that the Ulster Unionist Party is split down the middle.
And it is the policy being pursued by David Trimble that has split the party," he added.
Mr Thompson received supported from fellow UUP MP and No campaigner, the Rev Martin Smyth. He claimed the party hierarchy was over-reacting. It could not be ignored that there was a "cleavage within Unionism", added Mr Smyth.
Mr Taylor said that similar resignation calls had not been made to other UUP No campaigning MPs such as Mr William Ross, Mr Roy Beggs, and Mr Smyth, because they had not called for Mr Trimble's resignation. He said Mr Thompson should go back to his West Tyrone Constituency Association to see if members would support him remaining as UUP MP for the constituency. Mr Taylor believed Mr Thompson would not get that support.
The unionist No campaign stepped up its attack on Mr Trimble and the UUP Yes team yesterday. The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, told a rally in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, last night that most unionists were against the agreement.
"Will Mr Trimble accept that his deal is dead as far as unionists are concerned? Or will he rely on the support of the SDLP and Sinn Fein voters to push on with the sell-out agreement?" added Dr Paisley.
The UK Unionist Party leader, Mr Robert McCartney, said UUP Yes supporters would not campaign on the streets and accused them of hiring "mercenaries" to sell their message.
"The Yes campaign will consist of a collection of mercenaries brought in: Mr Blair, who will not let a single voter in Northern Ireland vote for that party; Mr Major, whose stomach churned at the thought of talking to terrorists; Saatchi and Saatchi, brought in because they will be getting other profitable contracts down the line," said Mr McCartney.
The complaint about Saatchi and Saatchi was a reference to their support for the independent Yes campaign. The PR company has insisted that its cost-free support is motivated by belief in the campaign rather than any selfish impulse. The Alliance leader, Lord Alderdice, said he believed that a Yes vote would lead to paramilitaries eventually decommissioning. "I would hope that when we get a positive referendum result on May 22nd that will be the signal and trigger to begin a process of dismantling all the terrorist structures and arrangements," he said.
Last night the Sinn Fein vice president, Mr Pat Doherty, said that Mr Thompson should resign his seat. He did not represent the voters of West Tyrone and had no credibility, he said.
