Carla Lockhart resigns from DUP after Drumcree dispute

Updated / Monday, 2 Nov 2026 17:46

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has announced she has resigned from the DUP over its handling of the fallout from the Drumcree parading dispute, and is to sit as an independent unionist in the House of Commons.

Speculation had been mounting that Ms Lockhart was poised to quit due to the party's decision not to collapse the power-sharing administration in Belfast.

Ms Lockhart posted a statement on social media this evening saying her decision was "difficult".

It comes after the DUP last week announced that deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly would no longer participate in joint engagements with Michelle O'Neill and would not give the required permission for her to fulfil engagements on her own in the role of First Minister.

The unionist party's move was in response to Ms O'Neill's involvement in a protest the PSNI deemed unlawful against the Orange Order Drumcree parade in Portadown last month.

The First Minister and several of her party colleagues are being investigated by police for taking part in the protest on the Garvaghy Road that was staged to prevent the parade from proceeding through the predominantly nationalist area.

The DUP stopped short of withdrawing Ms Little-Pengelly from her role - a move that would have automatically forced Ms O'Neill from office.

Ms Lockhart had said the DUP stance fell "far short" of what she believes "the vast majority of unionists want".

More to follow...