ULSTER Unionist MLA Billy Armstrong has said he would like to see his party amalgamate with the DUP.
Speaking in a personal capacity, Billy Armstrong said there was no need for two pro-Agreement unionist parties at Stormont.
Mr Armstrong said the DUP should acknowledge the foresight shown by the Ulster Unionists in signing the 1998 Good Friday Ag
reement.
He said he always believed there should be one unionist party.
"As an Ulster Unionist for Mid-Ulster, I want to see all the people (in the constituency) united together – if we could have three MLAs in Mid-Ulster, it would be great."
Ulster Unionists formed the first Government of Northern Ireland in 1921 after the island of Ireland was partitioned and held power until 1972 when direct rule from London was introduced because of the Troubles.
Formed in 1971, the DUP has been the largest party in Northern Ireland since the 2003 Assembly poll, overtaking the UUP which now has just one Westminster MP following a disastrous showing in the 2005 General Election.
The DUP remained opposed to the Good Friday Agreement until last March, when party leader Ian Paisley agreed in historic talks with Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams to restore devolution in Northern Ireland.
The UUP's party executive has been discussing a recommendation to accept a DUP offer of talks aimed at maximising the unionist vote at future elections.
Independent unionist MEP Jim Allister, who left the DUP earlier this year in protest against power-sharing with Sinn Fein, said some voters felt conned by the DUP's power-sharing deal.
He said many grassroots unionists want him to lead a new anti-Agreement party, something which the DUP said would damage unionism.
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