Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has said she will 'set out the path ahead early next week' amid mounting speculation she will leave the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). In a Facebook post on Thursday, Lockhart said her decision would be guided by principle and commitment to her constituents, adding: 'Rest assured, I am not going away.' DUP leader Gavin Robinson said he hopes she will not leave the party.
The row stems from Lockhart's demand that the DUP withdraw its deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from office, a move that would automatically force Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O'Neill from her role. Lockhart argues O'Neill can no longer serve because of her participation in an allegedly unlawful protest against an Orange Order parade in Portadown last month. The police are investigating O'Neill and several of her party colleagues.
Lockhart resigned from the DUP's main strategy-making body last week and has now written to party colleagues saying the party's decision to block O'Neill's joint engagements rather than remove her 'falls far short' of what unionists want. She said she could no longer be party to a 'clever halfway house' to 'gaslight those who have trusted us' and would 'take my own course, stand on my own principles and bear whatever personal cost comes with that'.
According to reports, Lockhart is expected to call time on her DUP career early next week. The News Letter reported it is understood she will stand down from the party.
The DUP leadership has halted joint engagements between first and deputy first ministers, meaning O'Neill missed an economic meeting in Glasgow with Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Scottish First Minister John Swinney and Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth. Robinson said the party is pressing the UK government to introduce stronger sanctions for ministers who breach their pledge of office, and that the DUP will not take steps that would 'punish the people of Northern Ireland' by collapsing the Assembly.
Other parties criticised the move. Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazard called it a 'pathetic, petulant and damaging stunt' that sacrificed Northern Ireland's seat at the National Economic Council. Alliance Party MLA Kate Nicholl said the absence was 'so disappointing' and 'completely baffling'. The Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister said the DUP's response was 'beyond pathetic', while Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows described it as a 'political fudge' that was 'all choreography and no consequences'. The Social Democratic and Labour Party's Matthew O'Toole said the move was not a sensible strategic move for unionism. Prime Minister Burnham said he was disappointed Stormont's leaders were not in attendance.
The furore comes ahead of the next Northern Ireland Assembly election, due in May. The Parades Commission had allowed the Orange Order parade down Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years, but large protests on 27 September prevented it. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant then banned the procession, a decision upheld by the High Court on Wednesday.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The DUP's internal split threatens the stability of Northern Ireland's power-sharing Executive, potentially leading to its collapse and fresh elections.
- The row has already caused Stormont to miss a key economic meeting with the prime minister, affecting representation and investment talks.
- It underscores deep unionist anger over Sinn Féin's conduct, with repercussions for community relations and the upcoming Assembly election.
Background
The Drumcree parade is a historic flashpoint between Orange Order marchers and nationalist residents in Portadown. After the Parades Commission allowed the parade along Garvaghy Road for the first time in nearly 30 years, large protests on 27 September prevented it from proceeding. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant subsequently banned the parade, a decision upheld by the High Court on Wednesday. Michelle O'Neill and several Sinn Féin colleagues are being investigated by police for their involvement. The DUP has faced internal pressure from unionists who see O'Neill's actions as disqualifying her from office.
Carla Lockhart, the DUP MP for Upper Bann, resigned from the party's officer board last week over what she called concerns about strategy. She has argued the DUP should withdraw its deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, which would automatically remove O'Neill as First Minister. The party leadership instead decided to halt joint engagements with O'Neill, but stopped short of collapsing the Executive.
Key Perspectives
- Carla Lockhart: Argues O'Neill must be removed from office and has said she will 'take her own course' if the DUP does not do so, describing its halfway measures as 'falls far short' of what unionists want.
- Gavin Robinson: Hopes Lockhart will stay in the party; says all DUP MLAs share the view that political sanctions are needed for O'Neill's behaviour, but his party will not take steps that would 'punish the people of Northern Ireland' by collapsing the Assembly.
- Sinn Féin (Chris Hazard): Calls the DUP's move a 'pathetic, petulant and damaging stunt' that harms businesses and workers, and says Northern Ireland's seat at the National Economic Council was 'sacrificed'.
- Alliance Party (Kate Nicholl): Says the absence from the economic council is 'so disappointing' and 'completely baffling'.
- Traditional Unionist Voice (Jim Allister): Describes the DUP's response as 'beyond pathetic' and accuses the party of being interested only in clinging to office.
What to Watch
- Lockhart's announcement, expected early next week, which could trigger a by-election in Upper Bann if she resigns her seat.
- The DUP's next moves: whether internal pressure forces a more drastic step, such as withdrawing Little-Pengelly and collapsing the Executive.
- The police investigation into O'Neill and other Sinn Féin members, which could escalate the political crisis.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 3 sources: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedLockhart will set out the future of her DUP role early next week.RTÉ News: “Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has said she will "set out the path ahead early next week" amid speculation she will walk away from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).”
- SupportedThere are expectations that Lockhart will leave the DUP.The News Letter: “It is understood Carla Lockhart will call time on her DUP career early next week, despite party leader Gavin Robinson making clear he would prefer that she stayed.”
- SupportedLockhart said on Facebook that she would “set out the path ahead early next week”.RTÉ News: “In a statement on Facebook, she said: "There is much interest in me and my future. But this has never been about me. It has always been a point of principle." ... "Whatever comes next, I will set out the path ahead early next week."”
- SupportedRobinson said he hoped Lockhart would not leave the DUP.RTÉ News: “Yesterday morning Mr Robinson was asked whether he expected Ms Lockhart to quit the DUP. "Well, I hope that’s not the case," he told BBC Radio Ulster.”
- SupportedLockhart called for the DUP to withdraw Little-Pengelly, which would automatically force O’Neill from office.RTÉ News: “She had called on her party to withdraw its deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from her office – a move that would automatically force Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O’Neill from her role.”
- SupportedLockhart argues O’Neill can no longer serve because she participated in an allegedly unlawful protest in Portadown last month.RTÉ News: “Ms Lockhart argues Ms O’Neill can no longer serve as First Minister because of her participation in an allegedly unlawful protest against the Orange Order Drumcree parade in Portadown last month.”
- SupportedPolice are investigating O’Neill and several of her party colleagues over the protest.RTÉ News: “Ms O’Neill and several of her party colleagues are being investigated by police for taking part in the protest on the Garvaghy Road”
- Partly supportedLockhart wrote to party colleagues saying the DUP’s decision “falls far short” of what unionists want.RTÉ News: “However, Ms Lockhart said yesterday that this "falls far short" of what she believes "the vast majority of unionists want".”
- SupportedLockhart said she could no longer be party to a “clever halfway house” to “gaslight those who have trusted us”.RTÉ News: “She said there should be no "clever halfway house" to "gaslight those who have trusted us". The MP warned she could "no longer be party to that"”
- Partly supportedRobinson said the DUP would not punish Northern Ireland’s people by collapsing the Assembly.BBC Northern Ireland: “He said his party "will not take steps that will punish the people of Northern Ireland".”
- SupportedO’Neill missed an economic meeting in Glasgow with Burnham, Swinney and ap Iorwerth.RTÉ News: “Ms O’Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly did not travel to an economic event in Glasgow yesterday. Stormont’s leaders were scheduled to meet Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Scottish First Minister John Swinney and Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth.”
- Reports differSinn Féin MP Chris Hazard called the DUP’s move a “pathetic, petulant and damaging stunt”.RTÉ News: “Sinn Féin MP Chris Hassard accused the DUP of engaging in a "pathetic, petulant and damaging stunt".”