Democratic Unionist Party on The Independent

March highlights loyalist divisions

Tuesday 01 April 1997

The sharp divisions within Ulster loyalism were publicly encapsulated yesterday when the new marching season's first disputed parade passed off without serious incident in south Belfast.

Labour is ready to ditch Unionists

Monday 17 February 1997

Tony Blair has decided to get tough with the Ulster Unionists by offering no concessions to them on Labour's Northern Ireland policy before tonight's crucial vote of censure.

Blair plans confidence vote to topple Major

Sunday 09 February 1997

Labour is planning a vote of no confidence in the Government if the Conservatives lose the Wirral South by-election - a threat that could force John Major to opt for an early election.

Loyalists' place at table in jeopardy

Wednesday 22 January 1997

The Government yesterday issued a pointed public warning to loyalist groups that more violence would jeopardise the place at the conference table which is occupied by "fringe loyalist" parties.

IRA shoots police guard in hospital

Saturday 21 December 1996

An RUC officer was injured last night in an IRA attempt to kill police officers guarding a well-known loyalist politician who was visiting his seriously ill child at a west Belfast hospital. Gunmen fired four shots at policemen in a hospital corridor close to where children were being treated. One bullet hit an empty incubator.

The Major minority

Friday 13 December 1996

Tory Commons majority wiped out as Labour hold Barnsley East; Jeff Ennis (Lab) 13,683 (77.69% of vote; share+0.50%) David Willis (LibDem) 1,502 (7.95%; -0.70%) Miss Jane Ellison (Con) 1,299 (6.87%; -7.30%)

The town where hatred burns stronger than hope in Ballymena

Sunday 08 December 1996

Sectarian violence has returned to blight Ballymena. Michael Streeter reports on the attacks on Catholics

Unionists poised to save Government on guns

Friday 25 October 1996

The Ulster Unionists were poised last night to help the Government win its controversial vote to exclude .22 weapons from a ban on handguns.

Paisley demand halts peace talks

Tuesday 10 September 1996

A demand from the Rev Ian Paisley for the expulsion of the fringe loyalist parties yesterday brought the Northern Ireland political talks to a halt within hours of their recommencement.

Talks resume on Ulster's long haul to peace

Monday 09 September 1996

While leading parties remain pessimistic about progress, a women's group retains a glimmer of hope

Mitchell urged to rescue talks

Friday 06 September 1996

London and Dublin are to look to the diplomacy of former United States Senator George Mitchell to defuse the row over death threats against two loyalist dissidents. The dispure threatens the fringe Unionist parties' presence at Northern Ireland multi-party talks.