Former UUP Peer Appears In Court

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass has appeared in court on an assault charge.

The former UUP peer, 75, of Park Lane, Dungannon, County Tyrone, is accused of assaulting a man on 7 June 2012, in what is understood to be a road-rage incident.

Representing himself at Dungannon Magistrates Court, Lord Maginnis said he wanted the justice minister to give evidence in the case.

He said the charge was based on "conspiracy and corruption".

A hearing has been set for 19 August. Lord Maginnis said he will have legal representation for the hearing.

Ken Maginnis is the former UUP MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. He was MP from 1983-2001. He was also a UDR major and former member of the B Specials.

Lord Laird Resigns Ulster Unionist Whip

In a statement, today the Ulster Unionist party leader Mike Nesbitt said: "Having reviewed the video footage on the Daily Telegraph website, and other media reporting of Lord Laird's engagement with alleged lobbyists, I telephoned his home this morning and as a result he has relinquished the Party Whip, pending the outcome of the review of his behaviour that he has already requested of the relevant authorities at Westminster.

D-Day For Basil

Basil McCrea the Lagan Valley MLA is to face a Ulster Unionist disciplinary panel today. He has refused to be sworn to secrecy and has even suggested letting the press attend the hearing. Basil's crime is to support flying the flag above Belfast City Hall only on special days like Royal Birthdays etc. The three UUP councillors on Belfast City Council have threatened to resign unless action is taken against Basil McCrea. These three councillors helped the DUP hand out 40,000 leaflets which attacked the Alliance Party for supporting flying the flag on special days. The outcome of the hearing should be very interesting for those who wish to know if the Ulster Unionist Party has a future as a independent political party or will it be devoured whole by the DUP.

What Will Basil Do Next?

1 Join the Alliance Party a liberal unionist would fit in well but would he be able to hold on to his seat at the next election?

2 Join the NI Tories if he joined them he would lose a lot of liberal unionist support. Doing a reverse Enoch may not be that good a idea

3 Going Independent it has not done Lady Hermon in North Down or David McClarty in East Derry any harm could work out well

4 Start up a new Unionist Party maybe he could ask Lady Hermon and David McClarty to join him in forming a new liberal Unionist based on the Good Friday Agreement

Mike TV Removes The UUP Whip From Wee Basil

Mike Nesbitt has removed the Ulster Unionist whip from the Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea. Mr McCrea has been a thorn in the side of the party leader for some time. Basil has supported the Alliance party on designated days for flying the flag over Belfast City Hall. Speaking on the BBC Radio Ulster programme Talkback Mr McCrea says he is now considering his future in the UUP.