David Trimble has dismissed newspaper reports that he has designs on the Conservative leadership.

Speaking on Monday, the Ulster Unionist leader also claimed that there were no plans for his party and the Tories to merge, although he admitted that the two work together within the European Union.

Trimble, who has faced constant leadership challenges from hard line unionists opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, said his "onerous" job helped him understand the problems of others - comments that followed the latest outbreak of Tory infighting.

"I am the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, that is a very onerous job in itself, and it gives me some insight into the problems that people have as leaders of other parties," he told the BBC.

"I have no desire, no intention of taking on an even bigger task, I have enough problems of my own.

"Yes, I have talked to the Conservatives, I have done that on a number of occasions. We do work together, we work very closely together for example in Europe, and we consider from time to time what we can do here within the UK."

However, Trimble is seeking a greater role for Northern Irish politicians in UK politics.

"I want to see Ulster Unionism at the heart of British politics. I don't see any justification for our being excluded from national politics, which in many respects we are," he argued.