Carla Lockhart, a sitting Member of Parliament, has resigned from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) amid a dispute over the Drumcree parade.
Lockhart had publicly called on the DUP to move to remove Michelle O'Neill from her role as First Minister, a demand that highlighted deep divisions within the party over how to respond to the Drumcree controversy. The disagreement culminated in her decision to leave the party.
The Drumcree row centres on a disputed parade at Drumcree that has long been a flashpoint in Northern Ireland politics, drawing strong reactions from unionist and nationalist communities. Lockhart’s departure underscores how sensitive and polarising the issue remains within unionism and among elected representatives.
Her resignation is likely to add pressure on the DUP as it navigates internal debate and broader political tensions in the region. The episode also reflects continuing strains in Northern Ireland’s power-sharing arrangements, with calls to remove a sitting First Minister highlighting the potential for institutional confrontations to spill into party politics.