BOTH the Women's Coalition and the Labour Party are now considering following the example of the SDLP and withdrawing from the Ireland Forum. This would leave only the unionist parties and Alliance.
When the forum met yesterday, the leader of the Women's Condition, Ms Monica McWilliams, asked the chairman, Mr John Gorman of the UUP, to put the record straight on the rules.
Mr Gorman said that while the Women's Coalition and the Labour Party had not voted for the rules, he felt the consensus in favour of them had been sufficient to use the word "unanimous".
Ms McWilliams told The Irish Times that she had written to the Secretary of State asking him to look at the terms of reference under which the forum was set up.
"It was set up to promote dialogue and understanding between the two communities," she said. "Obviously this is affected by the absence of the SDLP. But we could still try.
"Last week's comments, like, for example, `Let us push these people back; it's time that we did,' were vitriolic, vituperative, sectarian and bigoted. They may represent the views of individuals, but if so it is up to the party leaders to dissociate themselves. Otherwise they must be happy with them.
"The talks are the place where political and constitutional issues are being discussed. This is where social and economic issues should be discussed. There is a real attempt to turn this into a political forum."
She said the Women's Coalition would consider its continued participation when it had had a reply from the Northern Secretary.
The Labour Party did not attend the forum yesterday. It is understood to be taking a vote about its continued participation.
Mr Seamus Close, deputy leader of the Alliance Party, said that the party had made it clear from the start it would support the forum if it was promoting constructive discussion. At the moment, however, he said, it was more inclined to promote friction and triumphalism.
"If they continue to have this street theatre and pantomime we won't be part of it. We will hang loose," he said.
However, the deputy leader of the UUP, Mr John Taylor, was more optimistic. "The procedures are now out of the way," he said. "I forgive the Alliance Party for acting like children. We are now into dealing with the bread and butter issues which affect the people of Northern Ireland."