I have been working for the last number of weeks trying to rebuild unity within

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I have been working for the last number of weeks, trying to rebuild unity within out party."If our leader is going to change our policy and tell the world without consulting his colleagues, then how on earth are you supposed to maintain unity?"Democratic Unionist Party Deputy Leader Peter Robinson said Mr Trimble was outperforming himself as the "arch sucker" in the talks process."David Trimble is earning the name in Northern Ireland and abroad as someone who is a putty man, who can be easily shaped by presidents, prime ministers and Provos," the East Belfast MP said.Sinn Fein gave a more cautious response to Mr Trimble's remarks, with Gerry Adams saying Washington he was wary that "a lot of this is about spinning and putting hard-line positions in a more positive light."However, Sinn Fein National Chairman, Mitchell McLaughlin said if Mr Trimble were to repeat his comments on his return from the United States, it was possible "that we can do business"."We are entitled to be sceptical. We have to see the colour of his money," the Foyle Assemblyman said."If David Trimble is saying one thing in the United States and when he comes back to deal with his party colleagues he is saying a different thing, then really we are no further forward."Ulster Unionist security spokesman Ken Maginnis today backed Mr Trimble's signal that the UUP could go into government again with Sinn Fein ahead of IRA decommissioning.However, the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP added that republicans would need to spell out clearly that they would decommission before the power sharing executive at Stormont could be reactivated."It is important that David Trimble spells out again that there is the opportunity, that there is the accommodation and gives them yet another opportunity to grapple with it," he told BBC Radio Ulster."If we don't do that, then we're basically saying go back to your guns, go back to your bombs."However, DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley accused Mr Trimble of "doing another somersault" on the guns and government issue."The tragedy is that these somersaults do not effect him but they apply to the future of this country and the very life of democracy itself," the North Antrim MP remarked.. The United States President claimed he knew all the words to "Danny Boy" so SDLP leader John Hume put him to the test with an impromptu sing-along, joined by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, Bertie Ahern and his partner, Celia Larkin. The United States President claimed he knew all the words to "Danny Boy" so SDLP leader John Hume put him to the test with an impromptu sing-along, joined by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, Bertie Ahern and his partner, Celia Larkin. After a week of sombre attempts to get the Northern Ireland peace process back on track, the White House St Patrick's Day celebration was a chance to party in style.There were green dresses and ties and shamrock-patterned scarves galore as more than 1,000 people raised the decibel level with chat and laughter under the glittering chandeliers.Portraits of JKF and Jackie O looked down as a Who's Who of Irish politicians rubbed shoulders with the cream of Irish America, tucking into champagne and whiskey-flavoured chocolate cake to the tune of the harp, flute and tin whistle.Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness was kissed on the cheek by Derry-born Hollywood star Roma Downey, as she bent to whisper: "Tell Gerry (Adams) I was asking for him."Gerry was there, as was Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, peace talks saint Senator George Mitchell, Secretary of State Peter Mandelson, decommissioning body head, General John de Chastelain, Irish foreign minister Brian Cowen and his deputy, Liz O'Donnell."It's okay, I know this house," said Courtney Kennedy Hill, daughter of the late Bobby Kennedy and wife of one of the freed Guildford Four, Paul Hill, as someone paused to show her the way.There was raucous applause as a piper led the President and Mrs Clinton down the hallway flanked by Irish dancers in sparkling rainbow-bright costumes.A medley of Irish songs from the Belfast Handbell Choir and internationally-renowned New York tenor Robert White opened the entertainment.Authors Brian Friel and Frank "Angela's Ashes" McCourt applauded as Nobel Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney - "the man who actually managed to make Beowulf interesting", according to President Clinton, - read from his work.There were murmurs of appreciation when he recited a poem written about the peace process, when "hope and history rhyme", expressing his wish for a "great sea change on the far side of revenge."Hillary gave the welcomes, no doubt heartened by the sea of green lapel stickers proclaiming "Irish for Hillary" in support of her New York election campaign.Then the President took the stage to shouts and cheers, grinning all around at friends in the audience, as he spoke of his love for Ireland."It was a fortunate wind that blew me into your presence," he told them, before introducing Bertie Ahern with words of praise for his "heroic and wise efforts" for peace.The Irish premier abandoned his set speech as he cracked gag after gag.When laughter floated in from one of the other reception rooms he teased the President he shouldn't have opened the bar to Irish people before the speeches were over.It was President Clinton's last St Patrick's Day in the White House and he was determined to give his visitors a party to remember."I'm just worried about what we're going to do for a hall next year," joked Mr Ahern..

David Trimble's indication that his Ulster Unionist Party might relax its position on IRA arms decommissioning potentially represents a seismic shift in Northern Ireland politics. David Trimble's indication that his Ulster Unionist Party might relax its position on IRA arms decommissioning potentially represents a seismic shift in Northern Ireland politics. The first reports of a refinement sent tremors of excitement through a peace process which has been languishing in the doldrums since last month's suspension of the fledgling cross-community Executive.The Ulster Unionists have been at loggerheads with republicans on the decommissioning issue for so long that the idea of a shift in emphasis instantly awakened thoughts of a breakthrough. It could mean that new fertile areas will be explored in a search for an alternative to decommissioning.The recent political tone has been one of overwhelming despondency, given that the events of January and February appeared to signal that the entire peace process had seized up on the issue of "no guns, no government".The IRA had demonstrated that arms decommissioning was not on immediate offer, and the Unionists seemed to be refusing to budge from the stance that they would not go back into government with Sinn Fein without IRA guns "up front".In recent weeks, the party seemed to be digging itself even deeper into the decommissioning trench, with Mr Trimble apparently giving up much of his already limited room for manoeuvre. He recently pledged to refer any policy change on arms to the Ulster Unionist council, the 800-strong body which has always insisted that decommissioning is essential.Mr Trimble set up a key committee on the issue which included Jeffrey Donaldson MP, who has been implacable on decommissioning and disapproves of the peace process.Yesterday's groundbreaking remarks by Mr Trimble raise the question of whether he can successfully sell to his party - up to half of which is highly sceptical to the peace process - such a dramatic shift in approach.The party, and the Protestant community, have been divided on many issues, but the arms question has been one of the few which united Unionism. That solidarity has been built on decommissioning, a demand which many will not drop.The problem for Mr Trimble is that, while Unionists momentarily occupied the high ground when the Executive fell last month, the idea of getting guns from the IRA has come to be seen as a non-starter.

The reality is that persisting with the decommissioning demand effectively guarantees that devolution will not be restored. The question now is whether republicans can come up with an alternative which will assure Unionists that the IRA's war is over.. Alan Milburn yesterday sacked the chairman of an NHS trust after a report revealed appalling treatment of elderly patients. Alan Milburn yesterday sacked the chairman of an NHS trust after a report revealed appalling treatment of elderly patients. Mary Styth was dismissed after an independent inquiry supported allegations that a patient at a Cumbrian hospital was tied onto a commode and others were force fed while on the toilet. The inquiry's report made "very disturbing reading," said the Secretary of State for Health. "It is wholly unacceptable that any patient is treated in this manner."The investigation into North Lakeland Healthcare NHS Trust's Kielder House for elderly psychiatric patients at Garlands Hospital, Carlisle, followed allegations by student nurses in December 1998 that patients were being treated unacceptably.The report also substantiated allegations that up to 30 elderly residents suffering from dementia were beaten.