Carla Lockhart, the MP for Upper Bann, has quit the Democratic Unionist Party in a row over its response to the Drumcree parading dispute, saying she is leaving "on a point of principle" and will continue in the House of Commons as an independent unionist.
The fall-out follows unionist anger over Sinn Féin's involvement in protests on Garvaghy Road, which blocked an Orange Order parade from passing along the mainly nationalist street in Portadown, County Armagh. Michelle O'Neill, the First Minister and Sinn Féin vice-president, and several other senior Sinn Féin figures have been interviewed by police investigating the demonstrations. Unionists have accused the party of acting unlawfully; O'Neill has defended her involvement, saying it was the "right thing to do".
Lockhart had been calling for the DUP to withdraw Stormont's deputy first minister to force O'Neill from their joint office. Last week the party, which shares power with Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland's devolved government, announced it would block official engagements involving O'Neill. Leader Gavin Robinson stopped short of Lockhart's demand. In an open letter to colleagues last week, Lockhart said forcing O'Neill from office was the "only one credible option" and that any "graduated response" would be "insulting to those who have trusted us".
In a statement posted on her Facebook page on Monday, Lockhart 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 the decision as "a sad day and a deeply personal decision" but said her departure was "on a point of principle", adding: "I cannot stand idly by whilst Sinn Féin wilfully ignores the rule of law and the promised profound consequences fail to materialise." She concluded that 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 to resign and thanked her for her service. "The only winner out of further divisions within unionism is Sinn Féin," the party said. It added: "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."
The resignation leaves the DUP with four Westminster MPs, for a party that once boasted ten. BBC News NI political editor Enda McClafferty said Lockhart had the backing of Portadown Orangemen and many unionists, but that Gavin Robinson held the full support of the DUP officer and assembly teams. Collapsing the executive without an agreed budget, and risking the party being blamed for a nurse's pay dispute strike, was not a gamble he was willing to take, McClafferty wrote, with an assembly election about seven months away. The party has lost seats in the last two elections.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The resignation turns an internal dispute over Drumcree into a public split in the largest unionist party, with the assembly election now about seven months away.
- It narrows the DUP's parliamentary footprint: the party is down to four Westminster MPs after once having ten, and has lost seats at the last two elections.
- The standoff driving the row remains open: police are interviewing senior Sinn Féin figures over the Garvaghy Road protests, and the DUP is blocking official engagements with Michelle O'Neill.
Background
Northern Ireland's devolved government rests on a power-sharing arrangement between its largest unionist and nationalist parties, with the First Minister and deputy First Minister holding a joint office. The DUP currently holds the deputy first minister's post, and Lockhart's demand was that the party withdraw that minister to force O'Neill out of the shared office. The Drumcree parade, an Orange Order march that passes a mainly nationalist area of Portadown, is a long-running flashpoint in the region.
Key Perspectives
Carla Lockhart: Leaving the DUP "on a point of principle"; says she cannot "stand idly by whilst Sinn Féin wilfully ignores the rule of law" and argues that removing O'Neill was the "only one credible option".
The DUP: Says it regrets her resignation and that "the only winner out of further divisions within unionism is Sinn Féin"; it shares unionist anger at O'Neill's actions but disagrees over the course of action.
Michelle O'Neill: Defends her involvement in the protests as the "right thing to do".
What to Watch
- Whether other DUP figures follow Lockhart, or pressure builds on Gavin Robinson's leadership ahead of the assembly election in about seven months.
- The police investigation into senior Sinn Féin figures over the Garvaghy Road protests, and whether it produces charges or findings.
- Whether the DUP's blocking of official engagements with O'Neill hardens into a wider powersharing standoff or gives way.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedCarla Lockhart has quit the DUP in a row over its response to the Drumcree parading dispute.BBC Northern Ireland: “Carla Lockhart has quit the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in a row over its response to the Drumcree parading dispute.”
- SupportedLockhart will continue in the House of Commons as an independent unionist.BBC Northern Ireland: “Lockhart said she was leaving the DUP on a "point of principle" and would continue in the House of Commons as an independent unionist.”
- SupportedDUP leader Gavin Robinson stopped short of Lockhart’s call to force Michelle O’Neill from office.BBC Northern Ireland: “DUP leader Gavin Robinson stopped short of Lockhart's call to force O'Neill from office.”
- SupportedLockhart said she was leaving on a “point of principle”.BBC Northern Ireland: “Lockhart said she was leaving the DUP on a "point of principle"”
- SupportedProtests on Garvaghy Road blocked an Orange Order parade from passing along the mainly nationalist street in Portadown, County Armagh.BBC Northern Ireland: “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.”
- SupportedO’Neill and several other senior Sinn Féin figures have been interviewed by police investigating the demonstrations.BBC Northern Ireland: “O'Neill and several other senior Sinn Féin figures have been interviewed by police investigating the demonstrations”
- SupportedO’Neill defended her involvement in the protests, saying it was the “right thing to do”.BBC Northern Ireland: “The Sinn Féin vice-president has defended her involvement in the protests, saying it was the "right thing to do".”
- SupportedIn her open letter, Lockhart called forcing O’Neill from office the “only one credible option”.BBC Northern Ireland: “In an open letter to colleagues last week, Lockhart said it was the "only one credible option"”
- SupportedLockhart said, “I cannot stand idly by whilst Sinn Féin wilfully ignores the rule of law and the promised profound consequences fail to materialise”.BBC Northern Ireland: “"I cannot stand idly by whilst Sinn Féin wilfully ignores the rule of law and the promised profound consequences fail to materialise," she added.”
- SupportedThe DUP said, “The only winner out of further divisions within unionism is Sinn Féin.”BBC Northern Ireland: “"The only winner out of further divisions within unionism is Sinn Féin."”
- SupportedThe resignation leaves the DUP with four Westminster MPs; the party once had ten.BBC Northern Ireland: “he has now lost an MP from the DUP benches leaving just four for a party which once boasted ten members of parliament.”
- SupportedThe next assembly election is about seven months away.BBC Northern Ireland: “one he needs to recover from quickly with just seven months until the assembly election.”