Carla Lockhart MP quits DUP

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has announced she has resigned from the DUP over its handling of the fallout from the Drumcree parading dispute and is to sit as an independent unionist in the House of Commons.

Her resignation was widely expected after a clash with the DUP leadership over its failure to remove Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill from her role as First Minister.

Ms Lockhart believes Ms O’Neill can no longer serve as First Minister due to her participation in an allegedly unlawful protest against an Orange Order Drumcree parade in Portadown last month.

Ms O’Neill and several of her party colleagues are being investigated by police for taking part in the protest on the Garvaghy Road that was staged to prevent the parade proceeding through the predominantly nationalist area.

The MP had called on her party to withdraw its deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from her office – a move that would automatically force Ms O’Neill from her role.

The DUP stopped short of pulling Ms Little-Pengelly out of her role but on Thursday last week announced she would no longer participate in joint engagements with Ms O’Neill.

Ms Little-Pengelly will also not be giving permission for Ms O’Neill to fulfil engagements on her own in the role of First Minister.

The DUP has expressed regret at the resignation of Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart from the party.

In a statement following Ms Lockhart’s resignation, a DUP spokesperson said: “We regret Carla Lockhart’s decision to resign from the Democratic Unionist Party.

“We thank her for her service to the Party and recognise her work on behalf of the people of Upper Bann.

“The only winner out of further divisions within unionism is Sinn Féin.

“We share the anger felt across unionism at Michelle O’Neill’s actions. Our disagreement is over the course of action that will secure accountability and best serve Northern Ireland.”