Carla Lockhart left the DUP on a point of principle after urging the party to withdraw its deputy first minister and force Michelle O'Neill from office. DUP leader Gavin Robinson instead chosen to boycott official engagements involving the First Minister, keeping the devolved government intact with the backing of party officers and assembly members. Meanwhile, police have questioned O'Neill and other senior Sinn Féin figures over their involvement in the parading protest.
Key points
Carla Lockhart resigned over leadership's refusal to bring down the devolved executive in…: Carla Lockhart resigned over leadership's refusal to bring down the devolved executive in protest of Sinn Féin's actions.
Gavin Robinson preserved the power-sharing government with backing from party officers ah…: Gavin Robinson preserved the power-sharing government with backing from party officers ahead of an assembly election scheduled in seven months.
Michelle O'Neill defended her participation in blocking the Orange Order parade, maintain…: Michelle O'Neill defended her participation in blocking the Orange Order parade, maintaining that her actions were the right thing to do.
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- Published
Carla Lockhart has quit the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in a row over its response to the Drumcree parading dispute.
The MP for Upper Bann had been calling for the party to withdraw Stormont's deputy first minister to force First Minister Michelle O'Neill from their joint office.
Lockhart said she was leaving the DUP on a "point of principle" and would continue in the House of Commons as an independent unionist.
The fall-out comes after unionist anger over Sinn Féin's involvement in protests on Garvaghy Road, which blocked a contentious Orange Order parade from passing along the mainly nationalist street in Portadown, County Armagh.
O'Neill and several other senior Sinn Féin figures have been interviewed by police investigating the demonstrations, with unionists accusing the party of acting unlawfully.
Last week the DUP, which shares power with Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland's devolved government, announced it would block official engagements involving O'Neill in response to the fall-out.
The Sinn Féin vice-president has defended her involvement in the protests, saying it was the "right thing to do".
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