Nationalist politicians have delivered a guarded welcome to the Northern Secretary's decision to meet loyalist representatives next week, including leading figures in the outlawed UDA.
Mr Paul Murphy meets Mr David Ervine and other members of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is linked to the UVF, but more controversially he will also meet early next week the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG), which includes members of the UDA.
While the UDA is designated as off ceasefire it is understood that some of its so-called brigadiers from Belfast and Derry will be part of the UPRG delegation, which supplies political analysis to the UDA leadership. Mr Murphy and former Northern Secretary Dr John Reid have in the past met loyalist representatives that included senior UDA figures.
Mr Murphy said in the House of Commons yesterday that he was prepared to explore with loyalist representatives the opportunities for advancing the peace process. Equally, he said all loyalist paramilitary actions and criminality must be condemned.
A senior British source added that Mr Murphy was willing to test the bona fides of the loyalist groupings and to assess whether they were prepared to be part of a possible comprehensive deal that would see loyalist as well as IRA decommissioning and an end to active paramilitarism.
"Those who want to go down the political road will be supported. Those who don't will face the force of the law," he added.
Earlier this month on the 10th anniversary of the loyalist ceasefire, PUP and UPRG representatives said loyalism must be assisted by the British government to fully embrace the peace process. It is understood there was behind-the-scenes activity towards that end recently involving British officials and loyalists.
The meetings take place as the latest Independent Monitoring Commission's report on paramilitary activity is about to be released to the public. The report - likely to cite a reduction in IRA activity but state that "all" paramilitaries including the IRA and the loyalists are still engaged in paramilitarism and general criminality - will be presented to the Irish and British governments today. It is due to be published by the governments towards the middle of next week.
SDLP policing spokesman Mr Alex Attwood said that Mr Murphy engaging with the UDA when it was not on ceasefire and given its criminal and sectarian activities may not "add up" for some people. But there were "times when political risks and risks for peace are taken".
"In doing so, there must be a single strong message to the UDA: 'Either you close down your criminal, paramilitary and sectarian activities or you will be closed down by the full resources of the state and the law'. This is the basis on which to proceed. The message should be tough and simple," added Mr Attwood.
Sinn Féin chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin described the meetings as a positive move that could prove beneficial for the peace process.
"I think the dialogue has to begin and I welcome it on that basis and make it clear that I would foresee some value in these groupings talking to ourselves and talking to other political parties," he told the BBC.
