Decision time?

After years of effectively leading a party within a party Jeffrey Donaldson is finally preparing (subs needed) to publicly square up the current leadership. In proposing a challenge of the latest joint declaration at his party’s ruling Ulster Unionist Council, he is effectively challenging his leader to make a decision well in advance of the Autumn, when Trimble might have expected a substantive from the IRA.

Much will depend on how Trimble himself responds. In the past he has taken a conciliatory route on internal party disputes, possibly at the risk of weakening his own position viz a viz working with other parties. Last night Donaldson was interestingly ambiguous with Gerry Moriarty:

…he did not care if people portrayed his initiative as an attempt to unseat Mr Trimble as leader. “People can characterise this in whatever way they like. This is about rejecting the Joint Declaration. I have always been open about what I am doing.”

Mick Fealty

Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty