Carla Lockhart quits DUP over its refusal to remove Michelle O'Neill as First Minister over Drumcree actions

The Upper Bann MP will now represent the constituency as an independent unionist – and has set out her view on how the issue should be dealt with by unionist parties.

She had been on a collision course with the party leadership for weeks, demanding tougher political consequences for the Sinn Féin first minister than the DUP was willing to take.

The DUP has said it will not collapse the Northern Ireland Executive – saying that would punish the people of Northern Ireland and not Sinn Féin.

Leader Gavin Robinson said last week that he did not want to see Carla Lockhart go – but that the “fundamental position of the Democratic Unionist Party has been decided.”

In her resignation letter, addressed to the unionist people, Carla Lockhart said: “I am resigning as a member of the Democratic Unionist Party. I have set out my reasons in a letter to the party leader dated 2 November 2026, which should be read alongside my letter to colleagues of 29 October.

“My first responsibility remains to the people of Upper Bann. You placed your trust in me, and I will continue to work every bit as hard for you, your family and our community. I will keep making your voice heard at Westminster, helping with the problems you bring to my office and working to make Upper Bann a better place to live, work and raise a family.

“For over twenty years, the DUP has been my political home. I have made enduring friendships and worked alongside many good people whose commitment to our country and community I value.

“This is a difficult and deeply personal decision. But I want to be a politician whose word means something. When I say I will take a stand, people should be able to trust that I will follow through. The party has chosen its approach, as is its right. I must now act according to my convictions”.

She added: “I wouldn’t change a thing about standing with my community over these last number of months”.

In a post on social media, Ms Lockhart added: “Today in the Assembly Michelle O’Neill again stands defiant, declaring she is as much First Minister this week as last week. This simply is not tolerable. A line in the sand needed to be drawn in unionism long ago: today I am drawing my line”.

At the weekend, Ms Lockhart’s former DUP colleague in Upper Bann, Jonathan Buckley MLA, said that despite “deep anger and frustration” over the conduct of Michelle O'Neill and other nationalist leaders, pulling Emma Little Pengelly out of the Executive could “rapidly escalate towards the complete collapse” of the Northern Ireland government.

“My concern is that a full collapse of our government could produce a significant Sinn Féin electoral surge, leaving unionism confronting an emboldened republican movement demanding further constitutional or institutional changes and renewed pressure for a border poll”, the DUP MLA said.

Michelle O’Neill and other prominent nationalist politicians have attended police interviews in recent days over their attendance at a protest on the Garvaghy Rd, which stopped the Orange parade from taking place.

In the days after police stopped the Drumcree march on safety grounds, the PSNI said that “anyone blocking the Garvaghy Road will still be treated as participating in an unnotified and therefore illegal protest”.

Police said last week that are preparing case files for prosecutors on 18 people following an allegedly illegal protest during the Drumcree parade dispute. Some 60 people have been identified as suspects during the investigation.

The DUP said: “We regret Carla Lockhart’s decision to resign from the Democratic Unionist Party. We thank her for her service to the Party and recognise her work on behalf of the people of Upper Bann.

“The only winner out of further divisions within unionism is Sinn Fein.

“We share the anger felt across unionism at Michelle O’Neill’s actions. Our disagreement is over the course of action that will secure accountability and best serve Northern Ireland”.