The DUP has remained tight-lipped on speculation of internal discontent over the handling of discussions with Downing Street on Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.
An adviser to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak travelled to Northern Ireland some days before his visit last week to brief DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, according to reports.
There is speculation of disquiet within the DUP over John Bew meeting with some party officers during his trip but not others.
Read more: Northern Ireland centenary stone approved by Stormont body
The DUP did not respond to requests for a comment on whether there is a rift emerging over some senior figures not being involved in the high-level discussions.
Several party officers and senior figures contacted by Belfast Live did not respond. Number 10 also declined to comment.
The prospect of a deal on the protocol between the UK and European Union looks set to slip to next week amid pushback from the DUP and Tory Eurosceptics.
Prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg accused Mr Sunak of imitating Theresa May's doomed Brexit strategy which eventually led to her resignation as Prime Minister.
The former Cabinet minister questioned why "so much political capital" was being spent on a deal without ensuring the DUP and his wing of the Conservative Party were on board.
He joined Boris Johnson in urging the Prime Minister to press ahead with the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which would unilaterally override the Irish Sea trading arrangements.
But in a new rift in the Tory party, former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland said the bill "no longer has any legal justification" now the situation has "dramatically" changed.
DUP MP Sammy Wilson, the party's chief whip at Westminster, on Monday accused ministers of going into negotiations with the EU with "an attitude of defeat".
He warned against a deal "which still keeps us in the EU single market", telling Sky News: "We would certainly not collaborate in administering Brussels law in our part of the United Kingdom."
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson gave a more measured response on Friday when he emerged from talks with the Prime Minister.
He said it appeared "real progress" had been made in negotiations between London and Brussels, but more work was needed to get a deal "over the line".
The Lagan Valley MP was accompanied by Emma Little-Pengelly, Gavin Robinson and Gordon Lyons, who would be considered close allies of Sir Jeffrey and more moderate voices within the party.
Number 10 foreign policy adviser Mr Bew travelled to Northern Ireland two days before Mr Sunak's visit to the region to brief Sir Jeffrey, officials told Politico.
The DUP leader was shown a draft text during meetings on Thursday and Friday, the same officials said.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris held fresh video talks with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic on Tuesday afternoon.
Mr Cleverly said he was looking forward to speaking to Mr Sefcovic again soon.
"As work continues between teams, we remain laser-focused on finding a solution that works for the people of Northern Ireland," he said.
Mr Sefcovic said the talks "continue at high intensity" and "we remain in close touch, focused on finding joint solutions", indicating they were set to speak again soon.
READ NEXT:
Stormont catering contract awarded to firm supplying 'substandard' food to US prisons
Two MLAs hit £7,000 office costs spending limit three months early amid rising energy bills
New Northern Ireland planning applications portal "unacceptably poor" says architecture group
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
