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Sir Reg Empy's problems just got worse, with the news that one of his local councillors has to the Conservatives. Peter Bowles, a former chairman of the Young Unionists, left the Ulster Unionist party in protest at the party's controversial new with the Progressive Unionist Party, which is allied to the the Loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force. I've only met Peter Bowles once, about a month ago, and we had a very enjoyable conversation. He's a solicitor from county Down, clearly very bright, and I was impressed by many of the things he said about how his party needed to confront the lessons of their recent electoral defeat. I was convinced he was part of the future of Unionism; which just goes to show how quickly things can change in politics.

Now all eyes are on Lady Sylvia Hermon, the party's only remaining Westminster MP, who has for the pact to be abandoned, claiming last week that the shooting of leading loyalist and the refusal of the UVF to begin disarmament rendered the deal unsustainable.