THE Ulster Unionists helped Mr John Major to a morale-boosting victory in last night's crunch vote on fishing policy in the Commons. Just four days after losing its parliamentary majority, Mr Major's government repelled the latest opposition attack by 316 votes to 305, a majority of 11.
A commitment to proceed with the beef cull, coupled with promises to help Northern Ireland trawlermen, was sufficient last night to secure unionist abstentions.
But the government was warned not to assume continuing unionist support. With just three days before the European Fisheries Council meeting, Mr William Ross MP (East Derry) suggested that "the real debate" would take place in January.
The pressure anyway on the Prime Minister will intensify early bin the New Year. Labour hopes to embarrass him into moving the writ for the by-election due in the Wirral. If the Tories lost that, the Ulster Unionists would in turn come under fierce pressure to join the other opposition parties and back a motion of no confidence.
Mr David Trimble, the UUP leader, has said he will not act "capriciously or irresponsibly" in the final stages of this parliament. But he may eventually decide there is no advantage in alienating Mr Tony Blair, and there are signs that he hopes Mr Major will go to the country earlier than his preferred date of May 1st.
While last night's vote was on a technical motion, the government pulled out all the stops to avert defeat. The Fisheries Minister, Mr Tony Baldry, wrote to the UUP promising to use the Hague preference - a facility to swap quotas with other members-states - in order to maximise the useful catch Northern Ireland boats could take.
In a second vote, on its own substantive motion, the government had a majority of 12.