UUP probe into ‘McNarry affair’
David McNarry
THE Ulster Unionist Party has announced a probe into the “alleged indiscipline and breaches of party confidentiality” by David McNarry MLA and other party members.
UUP chairman David Campbell yesterday revealed he had referred the ‘McNarry affair’ to the party’s disciplinary committee after a week of humiliating headlines for the UUP following Mr McNarry’s resignation from the Assembly grouping.
Mr McNarry was the only person to be named in the statement by Mr Campbell, leading to speculation over who the others might be.
Mr McNarry dramatically quit the UUP Assembly team last Friday night after leader Tom Elliott demoted him from a Stormont committee position for remarks he made in a newspaper interview about UUP talks with the DUP.
The Strangford MLA took his seat alongside independent members in the Stormont chamber on Monday, claiming he had been overwhelmed with messages of support following his decision to walk away from the Assembly group.
Mr McNarry then blasted his party leader Tom Elliott on the radio on Wednesday for being in “a state of denial” and questioned his ability to lead.
But last night Mr McNarry told the News Letter that he remains a member of the UUP and will abide by Mr Campbell’s request for members not to speak about the issue publicly.
In the statement released yesterday, Mr Campbell said: “I have today referred the McNarry affair to the disciplinary committee of the Ulster Unionist Party for investigation.
“The committee will be asked to examine and report on the alleged indiscipline and breaches of party confidentiality by Mr David McNarry MLA and other associated allegations of indiscipline, including breaches of party confidentiality by other party members.
“The disciplinary committee will report in due course to the party officers.”
Mr Campbell completed the statement, which was emailed to party members yesterday as well as being issued to the media, by ordering members not to speak publicly about the matter.
“There is to be no further comment on this issue from any party member,” he said.
Mr McNarry had been on a panel of Ulster Unionists taking part in talks with the DUP.
However, he incurred his party’s anger when he spoke about the UUP/DUP talks in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph last week.
In a letter to party members, Mr Elliott said that such talks are “perfectly normal in politics, particularly for a party involved in a coalition government”.
However, Mr Elliott told Ulster Unionist members that he has “always questioned whether a single party would deliver the required electoral success for unionism”, but that he wished to “do justice” to those who pressed last May for unionist parties to work together more closely.
“The brief was nothing more than to explore areas of co-operation for the benefit of unionism in general, but without prejudice to the interests or integrity of the Ulster Unionist Party,” he wrote, adding that no proposals have emerged from the talks.
Meanwhile, while speculation remains about Mr McNarry’s plans, the DUP last night denied that there were any discussions currently ongoing, although a spokesman said the party “always welcomed new members” and claimed they have recently had a number of new members join.
Mr McNarry has been an MLA since 2003 before which he served as a special advisor to former Ulster Unionist leader and First Minister David Trimble. He also served as a councillor in Newtownards and is a senior member of the Orange Order.
Yesterday, the News Letter received a number of phone calls expressing support for him.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
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