The reason, according to reporters Michael Isikoff and David Korn: Armitage did not want to give the White House a pretext for placing the blame where it belonged - with the disloyal denizens of the State Department's seventh floor.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The disloyalists

David Paice and Delon Armitage also scored tries for England in a match that Ireland A led 10-8 at the break.

BBC: Varndell shines in Saxons victory

Mr Paisley had secured the necessary 30 signatures to table his motion on Monday when he secured the signature of a member of David Trimble's assembly party, Pauline Armitage.

BBC: Sinn Fein exclusion debate scheduled