DAVID McNarry has been suspended from the Ulster Unionists for nine months, the party has confirmed.
The sanction comes in the wake of a public fall-out with outgoing party leader Tom Elliott.
Mr McNarry dramatically quit the UUP’s Assembly group in January after Mr Elliott demoted him from a Stormont committee position for remarks he made in a media interview about UUP talks with the DUP.
A party statement said: “The Ulster Unionist Party can confirm that a letter has been issued to David McNarry MLA by the Party’s disciplinary committee and that he has been suspended from the party with immediate effect.
“As this remains an internal disciplinary matter, the party will not be making any further comment.”
The disciplinary move comes only days ahead of the party’s AGM, when members will vote on Mr Elliott’s successor.
Both Mike Nesbitt and John McCallister are in the running to be selected as the new leader on Saturday.
Previously, Mr McCallister vowed to expel Mr McNarry from the party, if elected.
Mr Nesbitt has declined to comment on the matter.
- Read more in Friday’s News Letter