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DUP officers are to meet on Thursday to discuss the party's next steps amid fallout from the Drumcree parading dispute

Gavin Robinson, pictured in September, faces the threat of further resignations from his own party officers if he resists calls to withdraw Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the Stormont Executive.
Gavin Robinson, pictured in September, faces the threat of further resignations from his own party officers if he resists calls to withdraw Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the Stormont Executive.

The DUP's ruling officers are convening Thursday to weigh two stark options: collapsing the Stormont Executive by withdrawing Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, or cutting all joint engagements with Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O'Neill. Withdrawing Little-Pengelly would automatically force O'Neill from her post under Northern Ireland's power-sharing rules. Pressure on DUP leader Gavin Robinson has intensified after a second assembly member backed O'Neill's removal.

Robinson has resisted collapse so far, arguing it would damage unionism, but Carla Lockhart resigned as a party officer over his inaction last week.

Maurice Bradley, the second DUP MLA to call for O'Neill's removal, said doing so need not bring down the Assembly itself.

The row stems from O'Neill joining protests on the Garvaghy Road that blocked an Orange Order parade, for which she and other Sinn Féin figures are now under police investigation.

MoreBBC News - PoliticsDUP party officers to meet to discuss Drumcree next stepsEvening StandardDUP party officers to meet amid ongoing fall-out over Drumcree disputeThe Irish SunDUP to meet amid ongoing fall-out over Drumcree dispute & cop probe as Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill’s position at riskRTE.ieDUP party officers to meet amid Drumcree fallout - RTE.ie
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