Reports of dissent within the Assembly group arose when Mr McNarry demanded an apology after an article appeared on a Conservative Party website criticising the Orange Order, describing it as "a backward-facing, history-obsessed, parish pump society".

The DUP claimed there was division because party leader Sir Reg Empey had not also criticised the anti-Orange comments and this would likely surface at a meeting of Assembly group members yesterday.

Mr McNarry, who is also Assistant Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, said: "When I made my comments, I made them because the website mentioned me, so I was defending myself and the Orange Institution which I'm very proud of.

"Sir Reg is on holiday so can't be expected to make comments and I'm his chief whip, so my loyalty is with him.

"Like any good chief whip, my loyalty is with my leader."

He said yesterday's meeting was a regular event and "no issue arose" and he had "no beef" with the possibility of forging further links with the Tories.

"If I may make a personal comment, I was one of the last Ulster Unionists to sit in the Conservative and Unionist Association at that time and sat in meetings in Smith Street in London.

"I have no beef with the current working party and the leader has pulled off a move that will bring Northern Ireland into the reality of national politics – where we should be, and I support that totally and always have, but I reserve the right to criticise people who make stupid remarks."

Mr McNarry said talk of division within the UUP was rubbish.

"To those who would rumourmonger and scaremonger – there is no division in the party's Assembly group and we are working together to be more effective and efficient in carrying out the duties for the electorate in the best interests of our country."