Carla Lockhart quits DUP over Drumcree dispute, citing point of principle

Carla Lockhart, the MP for Upper Bann, has resigned from the Democratic Unionist Party in a dispute over its response to the Drumcree parading controversy, saying she is leaving on a "point of principle" and will continue in the House of Commons as an independent unionist. The row follows unionist anger at 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. First Minister Michelle 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. O'Neill, the Sinn Féin vice-president, has defended her involvement, saying it was the "right thing to do". Lockhart had been calling for the DUP, which shares power with Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland's devolved government, to withdraw Stormont's deputy first minister in order to force O'Neill from their joint office. Last week the party announced it would block official engagements involving O'Neill, but leader Gavin Robinson stopped short of the removal Lockhart demanded. In an open letter to colleagues last week, Lockhart described removing O'Neill as the "only one credible option" and said any kind of "graduated response" would be "insulting to those who have trusted us". In a statement posted on Facebook on Monday, she said: "My first responsibility remains to the people of Upper Bann. You placed your trust in me, and I will continue to work every bit as hard for you, your family and our community." She described her departure as a "sad day and a deeply personal decision", adding: "I cannot stand idly by whilst Sinn Féin wilfully ignores the rule of law and the promised profound consequences fail to materialise." She said she would "look forward to working with all shades of unionism, elected or not, to advance the cause we love". The DUP said it regretted her decision, thanking her for her service to the party and her work on behalf of the people of Upper Bann. "The only winner out of further divisions within unionism is Sinn Féin," the party said, adding: "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." Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister congratulated Lockhart, saying: "Having myself resigned from the DUP almost 20 years ago, I know this was not an easy decision. But for honest politicians principle matters more than position." He claimed the DUP's preference for "O'Neill Must Stay" meant it had chosen Michelle O'Neill over Carla Lockhart, and said he looked forward to working closely with her, calling it "a hopeful day for unionism". According to BBC News NI political editor Enda McClafferty, Lockhart had been on a collision course with the DUP leadership for weeks. Though she had the backing of Portadown Orangemen and many unionists, Robinson retained the support of the party's officer and assembly teams, and was unwilling to risk collapsing the executive without an agreed budget or being blamed for a nurses' pay dispute strike. The resignation leaves the DUP with four MPs, down from the ten it once boasted, and comes with just seven months until the assembly election. The party has lost seats in the last two elections and is now losing seats in between elections, presenting Robinson with a recovery challenge he must address quickly.