DUP crisis continues as rising star and decorated army veteran Ryan McCready quits party

On the day when Arlene Foster is due to step down as First Minister after being forced to resign as DUP party leader last month, Derry City and Strabane District Council Ald. McCready confirmed this morning that he is quitting the party due to a “number of factors”.

"In terms of timing, the handling of Arlene Foster and the matter in which that leadership transition happened concerned me deeply," said Alderman McCready.

"For me it was very disgraceful. I wouldn’t accept it and it’s not how I treat people so it’s very difficult for me to remain in a party when they conduct themselves in that way at that high a level.”

Ald. McCready also said that equally when the leadership race happened, of the two candidates he would have preferred Sir. Jeffrey Donaldson “if I did have a vote, which I didn’t, which was another issue - none of the councillors had any say which just shows the disconnect between the higher levels and the lower levels within the party".

In his two years to date as an elected representative, Ald. McCready has been noted as a more ‘progressive’ and moderate voice for unionism.

“I would have been more in favour of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson who I believe would have kept on that trajectory of being more moderate, progressive initiated by Arlene Foster as opposed to what I perceive - Edwin Poots would be more regressive in his politics for me personally and would be incompatible moving forward."

Ald McCready also said that “Londonderry seems to always play second fiddle to Belfast not just in the DUP but in politics in general and that also needs to change.”

The 35-year-old former Soldier of the Year said he has not yet decided on his own future, and the decision on whether he will stay on as a public representative either as an independent or a member of different party or vacate his seat would be decided after speaking on the ground with the people who elected him.

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