David Trimble, Won crucial vote
John Taylor, Supported David Trimble
The Northern Ireland power-sharing executive will be reinstated next week, following this afternoon's decision by the Ulster Unionist Party's ruling council to re-enter government with Sinn Fein. The 862-strong council voted to accept the Hillsborough proposals, tabled by the UUP leadership, by a majority of 53% (459) to 47% (403).
The news, which has been widely welcomed, was delivered at lunchtime by the Chairman of the UUP, Lord Rogan, at a press conference following the morning-long meeting at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. This afternoon, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Mandelson, signed a document at his official residence, Hillsborough Castle near Belfast, giving the go-ahead for the renewed partnership government to run the province's daily affairs under British sovereignty. The order will come into effect from midnight on Monday.
Despite the small winning margin, the result has reaffirmed David Trimble's leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party. Trimble put his leadership on the line by urging his party to give peace another chance by returning to the government which he headed until it was suspended by London in February amid a bitter row over disarmament.
Speaking after the announcement, David Trimble said it was perfectly obvious that the party had stretched itself remarkably. The UUP leader said it was clear that the party couldn't stretch further without an adequate response from the IRA. He called on the IRA to put confidence measures into place immediately, saying he and his party colleagues would hold the IRA to their commitments. Mr Trimble said that any foot dragging or delays would lead to problems. He called on his party to now unite around the decision. He also called on the Democratic Unionist Party to declare their position properly.
Before the meeting there was confidence among supporters of David Trimble that he would win today's vote, following an announcement this morning by deputy leader of the party, John Taylor, that he would be voting with his leader. Mr Taylor said things had changed in the past week and he was now satisfied with the situation. He added that he had made up his mind in the last few days.
The 862 UUP delegates voted only on the party leadership's proposals to re-enter government. It did not consider the alternative proposal put forward by Lagan Valley MP, Jeffrey Donaldson. The UUP effectively held the future of the peace process in its hands as it decided that an IRA offer to puts its weapons "beyond use" in internationally-monitored arms dumps, went far enough to merit a revival of the Belfast executive after more than three months in limbo. It is understood that 30 people addressed the UUP meeting.
The IRA is now expected to resume talks with the chairman of the international decommissioning body, General John de Chastelain. It withdrew its interlocutor on February 15 following the suspension of the executive. Three of the IRA's arms dumps will now be inspected by two independent monitors, former Finnish President Maarti Ahtisaari and African National Congress activist Cyril Ramaphosa. Both men will report back every three months.
