David Trimble

David Trimble is to face a challenge to his Ulster Unionist leadership, it has been announced.

David Hoey, a marketing and management consultant based in Coleraine, said on Friday he would run against Trimble at a meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council next week.

If he is successful, he has pledged to stand aside for a new leadership team to take charge.

"I think if all the people who have told me that they want change were to vote for that change at the council, then there would be a new leadership," he said.

"The onus is on members of the Ulster Unionist Council to make their mind up. Do they want a change of management to revitalise the party or do they want the status quo?"

"The only thing which would make him stand down would be a demand from the Ulster Unionist Council for change," he added.

"In the event of the UUC accepting the need for change and positively voting for change, I would stand aside and allow people to nominate themselves for the leadership from the floor. So really this is a two-stage process."

Under party rules, Trimble must seek endorsement of his leadership on an annual basis, but this year he faces a particular challenge.

Last November, the UUP lost their place as the largest party to the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party, leading to a number of high profile defections, including Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, and calls from rebel Ulster Unionist MP David Burnside for a change of leadership.

The last challenge Trimble faced was in March 2000, when his challenger and fellow MP, the Rev Martin Smyth, secured 43 per cent of the vote.