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04/10/2012
UKIP To Gain First MLA
The UK Independence Party (UKIP) could be set to acquire its first Northern Irish assembly member.
David McNarry, who was expelled from the Ulster Unionist Party last May following investigation by a disciplinary committee, may be about to become the Assembly’s first UKIP representative.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage is visiting Stormont on Friday in order to make a policy announcement. Mr Farage has left a message on his Twitter account which reads: “Off to Stormont tomorrow and looking forward to welcoming David McNarry as UKIP's first MLA."
UKIP currently has 11 MEPs. The party is seeking to achieve independence for the UK from the European Union. This latest news means the party could be about to gain its first representative in the devolved assemblies.
The news shows an apparent change of tack for Mr McNarry, as the politician has sat as an independent candidate since his expulsion from the UUP.
In January, then party leader Tom Elliot had demoted Mr McNarry from the deputy chair of the education committee.
This caused the resignation by Mr McNarry of the UUP Stormont whip. He also resigned from the Ulster Unionist Party’s assembly group, despite remaining a party member.
The fall-out was apparently initiated when Mr McNarry gave an interview to the Belfast Telegraph newspaper in which he spoke of discussions between the DUP and UUP regarding unionism.
Mr Elliot was replaced by Mike Nesbitt in March. At the time, he remarked on the situation surrounding Mr McNarry.
"I cannot imagine any circumstances under which David McNarry would be back in the Ulster Unionist assembly group of MLAs when I have control of the whip", he said.
(IT/GK)
David McNarry, who was expelled from the Ulster Unionist Party last May following investigation by a disciplinary committee, may be about to become the Assembly’s first UKIP representative.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage is visiting Stormont on Friday in order to make a policy announcement. Mr Farage has left a message on his Twitter account which reads: “Off to Stormont tomorrow and looking forward to welcoming David McNarry as UKIP's first MLA."
UKIP currently has 11 MEPs. The party is seeking to achieve independence for the UK from the European Union. This latest news means the party could be about to gain its first representative in the devolved assemblies.
The news shows an apparent change of tack for Mr McNarry, as the politician has sat as an independent candidate since his expulsion from the UUP.
In January, then party leader Tom Elliot had demoted Mr McNarry from the deputy chair of the education committee.
This caused the resignation by Mr McNarry of the UUP Stormont whip. He also resigned from the Ulster Unionist Party’s assembly group, despite remaining a party member.
The fall-out was apparently initiated when Mr McNarry gave an interview to the Belfast Telegraph newspaper in which he spoke of discussions between the DUP and UUP regarding unionism.
Mr Elliot was replaced by Mike Nesbitt in March. At the time, he remarked on the situation surrounding Mr McNarry.
"I cannot imagine any circumstances under which David McNarry would be back in the Ulster Unionist assembly group of MLAs when I have control of the whip", he said.
(IT/GK)
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