A report for UTV Live on the election of David Trimble
to the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party. Following the resignation of
James Molyneux after 16 years of leading the party, Trimble won the vote to
replace him after being at the forefront of the recent Drumcree stand-off. UK
government minister Michael Ancram is interviewed about Trimble's election,
while the selection of his front bench team is also discussed, focusing on
whether there will be any room for the other two heavyweight personalities of
the party, John Taylor and Ken Maginnis.
Having started off very much as a hardliner in
Northern Irish politics during the 1970s, Trimble eventually became a member of
the mainstream Unionist party and, despite his involvement at Drumcree, quickly
began to adapt a pragmatic attitude to his leadership by meeting with the
taoiseach in Dublin and eventually agreeing to talks with Sinn Fein.