Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has resigned as a DUP party officer, in a move that lays bare deep internal tensions over the party’s response to the Drumcree dispute.
In a statement issued on Thursday night, Ms Lockhart confirmed she had stepped down from the small, senior group which helps set the DUP’s direction and strategy – and claimed news of her resignation had been leaked from within the party.
“Party Officers is a small decision making body of the party, one I have been a part of for the past five years,” she said.
“This is not something I intended to share publicly, but it appears someone internally within the DUP grouping leaked this to the media.”
The Belfast Telegraph had earlier revealed that she had quit the role, suggesting the decision “could be the start of a chain of events” leading to her leaving the DUP altogether.
Ms Lockhart said she could no longer play a central role in shaping the party’s strategy while harbouring clear misgivings about its current course.
“I believe in standing true to my principles. I cannot continue to be part of the team that decide on the direction and strategy discussions of the party, whilst clearly having concerns about that,” she said.
She added that she had already “highlighted my concerns publicly about the need for profound consequences”, a reference to her repeated calls for a much tougher DUP response to the decision to overturn an earlier determination allowing the Drumcree parade to proceed.
“Whilst the party has been clear that all options are still on the table, I believe that the speed of these needs to be quicker,” she said.
Ms Lockhart has been widely seen as on a collision course with DUP leader Gavin Robinson over how far the party should go in response to Drumcree.
The Upper Bann MP has argued that Mr Robinson should withdraw deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the Executive and collapse the Stormont institutions – or at the very least, lead to the removal of Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill as First Minister.
The DUP leader has so far resisted that, saying only that it cannot be “business as usual” at Stormont in light of the row.
Speaking on BBC NI’s Nolan Show earlier on Thursday, Ms Lockhart refused to discuss whether she might resign from the party, but made clear she would not be silenced.
“No one speaks for me,” she said, describing herself as “no shrinking wallflower”.
Asked if she would leave the DUP, she replied that she was “not going to have the discussion on a radio programme”, adding: “People are obsessed with the internal workings. I speak for myself. I have very clear opinions and views and I will always seek to represent those in the best way I can. Whatever discussions need to be had, I’m not having those on the airwaves.”
When pressed on whether she had confidence in Mr Robinson, she said: “I have confidence that the unionist people want action. I have confidence that action is needed and wanted.
“I am not going to get into the intricacies of the internal workings of the DUP. I have confidence that all elected representatives from a unionist persuasion, including Gavin, know exactly how frustrated and angry unionism is in regards to the behaviour of Michelle O’Neill.”
In her Thursday night statement, Ms Lockhart said she was aware of “many stories” circulating about her recent stance but insisted she would speak for herself.
“There have been many stories written about me in recent weeks, I’d rather not be the subject of these, but I will not shy away from standing up for what I believe in. Don’t believe everything you hear about me. I will speak for myself and anything I want to say, I will say in my own name,” she said.
She stressed that, despite stepping down from the party’s senior officer team, she remained focused on her constituency.
“My focus will always be on representing Upper Bann. I will continue to do that without favour. As a proud unionist, I will continue to make the case for Northern Ireland and its place within the United Kingdom.”
The DUP has not yet issued any public response to Ms Lockhart’s resignation from the officer team or to her suggestion that details of the move were leaked from within the party.
