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Carla Lockhart says the DUP failed to deliver 'profound consequences' for Michelle O'Neill's 'flagrant law breaking' over Drumcree

Carla Lockhart, 41, who quoted Thatcher before a loyalist rally crowd of 15,000 ahead of her resignation from the DUP.
Carla Lockhart, 41, who quoted Thatcher before a loyalist rally crowd of 15,000 ahead of her resignation from the DUP.
Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Féin vice president, is under police investigation over the Garvaghy Road counter-demonstration that triggered Lockhart's resignation.
Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Féin vice president, is under police investigation over the Garvaghy Road counter-demonstration that triggered Lockhart's resignation.

Carla Lockhart, the DUP's only female MP, quit the party on Monday after 20 years, saying she could not remain when leadership refused to remove Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly — which would have automatically ousted Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill. The Upper Bann MP, 41, will now sit as an independent unionist at Westminster, leaving the DUP with just four MPs.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson called it a disagreement over 'strategy not sentiment', insisting Northern Ireland needed a functioning government and budget.

The DUP's Westminster group has shrunk from 10 MPs in 2017 to four, with five different brands of unionism now fragmented across the Commons benches.

TUV leader Jim Allister has left the door open to Lockhart, saying he looks forward to 'working closely' with her — deepening fears of further unionist splintering.

MoreFinancial TimesNorthern Ireland’s biggest pro-UK party damaged by Drumcree parade falloutEvening StandardRobinson insists party ‘fully behind’ his position on Drumcree disputeEvening StandardLeaving DUP was a particularly painful and difficult decision – LockhartGB NewsCarla Lockhart resigns: DUP civil war erupts as MP quits over Orange Order parade rowIrish TimesUnionism splinters again as departure of DUP’s Carla Lockhart from party deals a blow
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