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Post by Harry on Apr 3, 2007 7:31:52 GMT
Two more councillors leaving DUP
The councillors have left over the decision on power-sharing
Two more Ballymena DUP councillors have resigned from the party over its decision to share power with Sinn Fein.
The town's mayor James Alexander and Councillor Robin Stirling announced their decisions during a meeting of the council on Monday night.
They will stay on the council as independents. Three other Ballymena councillors have already quit the DUP.
The resignations mean the DUP loses overall control on the council, but is still its biggest party.
Last year, Mr Stirling proposed a motion granting party leader Ian Paisley the freedom of the town.
The other councillors who resigned are Davy Tweed, Sam Gaston and founding member of the party, Roy Gillespie.
Ballymoney councillor Audrey Patterson has also left the party.
Last week, MEP Jim Allister resigned from the DUP a day after Mr Paisley's meeting with Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.
A number of DUP assembly members have spoken of their concerns about power-sharing with Sinn Fein on 8 May, but none have resigned.
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Post by Wasp on Apr 3, 2007 17:16:48 GMT
What I don't understand is why they resign now? I do sympathise with them but why did they not resign before the elections? Were they given false information? Were they led to believe the waiting time would be more than six weeks etc as this seems to be an issue with those that resigned.
As it stands I cannot see the UUP take control, although who flamin knows in todays world of changing politics.
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Post by bearhunter on Apr 3, 2007 20:15:58 GMT
If they feel that strongly about it, why don't they resign from the council as well? Since they were elected on a DUP slate, it's only fair that they test the wishes of the electorate by resigning and having a by-election. If the people truly support their anti-agreement stance they will be voted back in. If not, then sayanora.
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Post by Shades40 on Apr 3, 2007 22:59:51 GMT
Their a dying breed these dissidents.
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Post by An Fear Dubh on Apr 3, 2007 23:58:31 GMT
Now my first thought is - I wonder why Harry decided to use a new topic for this? As I was lead to believe that Harry like topics kept together in neat lines. But then this is Harry's rules and he makes them up as he goes along!
While some may wish that these people also resign from the council. They are not doing anything that most others have done in the past. And they maybe doing the rate payers in Ballymena a service by not causing an election.
If they had of left before the meeting of their party on Saturday (the meeting with Gerry was on the Monday after that) then they would have not been able to vote at that party meeting. Prehaps they were expecting some of the big guns who voiced similar thoughts as themselves to stage a bigger campaign than turned out. And it has taken them this long to consider leaving a party that some have known most of their lives.
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Post by Harry on Apr 4, 2007 7:55:22 GMT
Now my first thought is - I wonder why Harry decided to use a new topic for this? As I was lead to believe that Harry like topics kept together in neat lines. But then this is Harry's rules and he makes them up as he goes along! While some may wish that these people also resign from the council. They are not doing anything that most others have done in the past. And they maybe doing the rate payers in Ballymena a service by not causing an election. If they had of left before the meeting of their party on Saturday (the meeting with Gerry was on the Monday after that) then they would have not been able to vote at that party meeting. Prehaps they were expecting some of the big guns who voiced similar thoughts as themselves to stage a bigger campaign than turned out. And it has taken them this long to consider leaving a party that some have known most of their lives. Dry your big blue eyes would you   |
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Post by An Fear Dubh on Apr 4, 2007 12:35:25 GMT
Surely with a Sinn Féin-DUP coalition at Stormont. Any weakening of the DUP will effectively weaken any working agreement on the ground. Both parties are surely now reliant on the other.
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Post by An Fear Dubh on Apr 5, 2007 9:41:34 GMT
Now I am near sure but maybe somebody knows for certain. But were James Alexander and Robin Stirling not the councillors that led the drive to grant Ian Paisley freedom of the borough??
I am not sure who holds the power now but the resignations from the DUP in Ballymena mean that the DUP lost control of the council.
Banbridge councillor Stephen Herron has resigned from the DUP.
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