Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Condemns Treatment Of Councillors

New DUP leader Edwin Poots has been warned that he must "quickly get a grip" of the party following a number of resignations.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who lost the party leadership race to Mr Poots last month, issued the warning following a number of resignations from the South Down Association, expressing his fear that "many others may also conclude that the DUP is no longer capable of being a broad church and providing a home for the type of unionism we espouse."

Sir Jeffrey said that many in the party have "serious concerns about the manner in which Arlene was removed from the leadership and about the future direction of the party" but that he had sought to "quietly to reassure those ... who have contemplated resignation from the party".

However he said that efforts made by members on South Down to continue participating in the work of the party "were thrown back in their face" in what he described as "a purge of loyal members who have served our party well but whom are now deemed by some as being unacceptable because they had supported me at the recent party executive meeting".

He said that the treatment of Glyn Hanna was "an absolute disgrace" and that the party "simply cannot afford to lose talented women like Kathryn (Owen)".

Sir Jeffrey concluded: "It saddens me that Glyn, Kathryn, Diane Hanna and several other members in South Down regrettably now feel that the DUP is no longer a warm house for them.

"I fear that if Edwin fails to quickly get a grip of this situation, then many others may also conclude that the DUP is no longer capable of being a broad church and providing a home for the type of unionism we espouse."