But it has entered Orange folklore as a famous victory for loyalist determination not to back down in a confrontation, and it helped get Mr Trimble his job. Instead, the party opted for Mr Trimble, the youngest and most militant of the five candidates on offer.What swung the election for him was his reputation as an uncompromising hardliner as epitomised by his performance several months earlier at what is known as as “the siege of Drumcree”. This was the incident in which Mr Trimble, an Orangeman, played a leading role in resisting a police ban on an Orange plan to march through a Catholic district in Portadown, Co Armagh.The 48-hour stand-off was attended by some disorder, and only yesterday, 15 people appeared in court on charges arising from it. In that moment, the veteran nationalist leader appeared to have been bested by Mr Trimble’s new Unionism.It may be that the triumph was beginner’s luck for Mr Trimble, who has led his party only since September. Or it may be that his proposal for an elected body simply suited the Government’s objective of maintaining a slow pace in the peace process. Or it may be a new era of a more constructive Unionism, though few non-Unionists are yet convinced. Last September, Mr Trimble was the surprise choice of his party to succeed the septuagenarian James Molyneaux; most thought the job would go to the man who is now his deputy – John Taylor.

It is much more common to see Mr Trimble in a temper than Mr Hume. The sight of Mr Hume, incensed and isolated in the House, was for them a rare and welcome reversal of roles. Most of all, it was heightened by the clear discomfiture of SDLP leader John Hume, who angrily accused Mr Major of seeking to buy votes.
Unionists have become glumly accustomed to being pilloried as obstacles to peace and progress. The position of those living outside the British Isles is perhaps different, since they have truly emigrated.Yours sincerely,Peter MarshallLondon, SW4. Ulster Unionist hearts swelled with pride this week when John Major rose in the Commons to endorse David Trimble’s suggestion that an election should become the centrepiece of the Irish peace process. The sweetness of the moment was increased by Mr Trimble’s quietly statesmanlike response to the Prime Minister.

Well over 200,000 people live in the mainland UK who were born in Northern Ireland. Should we have a voice in the election planned by John Major?
The position of Northern Irish people living in Eire may be similar. From Mr Peter Marshall

Sir: I guess the electorate of Northern Ireland numbers about one million. In economic terms, there might be a case for such a step; in political terms, it could well be disastrous.
Ever since the Maastricht treaty came into effect, a number of member states have gone to inordinate lengths to meet the Maastricht criteria.