The records from the National Archives in Dublin show that the SDLP and the Irish government were heavily against the idea.

Mike Nebsitt delivered his leader’s speech remotely after contracting the coronavirus.

Stormont’s health minister was the only declared candidate to replace Doug Beattie as UUP leader.

Robbie Butler has confirmed he will not be seeking the nomination to be party leader following the resignation of Doug Beattie.

Mr Beattie quit the leader’s job on Monday following a bitter row with party officers.

It follows the resignation of Doug Beattie earlier this week.

Senior political figures have paid tribute to the outgoing UUP leader.

The decorated military veteran cited ‘irreconcilable differences’ with senior party colleagues.

The party is expected to issue a statement on Monday.

South Antrim became one of the most closely watched constituencies in Northern Ireland.

The DUP has suffered a bruising set of election results in the North

Tim Collins conceded just after midnight as boxes in the North Down constituency were still being opened.

Several of the 18 constituencies are set for tightly fought races.

Doug Beattie also hit out about personal abuse received from other unionists

Party leaders took aim at the Conservatives and focused on the UK Government’s Legacy Act as well as funding levels supplied to Northern Ireland.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said on Sunday: ‘Now more than ever, what we need to see is cohesion.’

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson quit on Friday after he was charged with historical sexual offences

The briefing said that Ken Maginnis was ‘in many ways the most attractive (in personal terms) of the UUP upper echelon’

The UUP delegation raised concerns about the phrasing of the timing of decommissioning in the summer of 1999.

Sinn Fein has welcomed the move by Dublin over the UK’s Legacy Act.

The Sinn Féin leader said the UK’s Legacy Act was a ‘flagrant breach of international human rights law’

The UK Government is making a final offer of £3.3 billion (€3.9 billion) to support the restoration of powersharing at Stormont

UUP leader Doug Beattie was speaking as the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee called for first and deputy first ministers to be rebranded as joint.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie said it is the latest incident which demonstrates Downing Street ‘doesn’t understand’ Northern Ireland