Two DUP councillors quit party over Edwin Poots' leadership

Two DUP councillors are among a number of members to quit the party over concerns about the direction it is taking under new leader Edwin Poots.

Glyn Hanna and Kathryn Owen have both resigned, along with other members in the South Down association.

In a statement, Mrs Owen claimed women and moderates in the party were being left "voiceless".

It is understood they will remain as independent councillors on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

BBC News NI has contacted the DUP for comment.

The move follows recent tensions within the South Down association between assembly member Jim Wells - a firm supporter of Edwin Poots - and members who had supported Sir Jeffrey Donaldson for the leadership.

The South Down association held its AGM on Saturday night, which saw Mr Hanna removed as chairman by an 8-7 vote.

In her statement, Mrs Owen said she had been considering her position in recent weeks, but resigned after witnessing the treatment of Mr Hanna at the AGM.

She said: "It is apparent to me there is a purging of Donaldson supporters and it is only a matter of time before this continues across the party.

"It would be against my principles as a veteran, mother and independent woman to stand idly by and allow this behaviour to continue, rewarded by my silence and inaction."

She added that women and moderates within the party felt voiceless, saying: "The only way to stop this coercion and control is to remove the fuel that feeds it and empower these voices."

Mr Hanna had been a long-standing member of the DUP ruling executive but had openly criticised the party during the vote to ratify Mr Poots as leader almost a fortnight ago.

He has also criticised the handling of Arlene Foster's ousting from office during the meeting.

His daughter Diane Forsythe, who stood for the party as its South Down candidate in the 2017 general election, has also quit.

Mrs Owen was co-opted in as a councillor in 2019 but joined the DUP nearly a decade ago.

She had also expressed concerns about the direction the party was taking.

Resignations of elected representatives had been threatened after the internal acrimony erupted, but Mr Hanna and Mrs Owen are the first councillors to officially step away from the party.

The Belfast Telegraph has also reported that Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has expressed support for those who have quit, saying it was highly regrettable that "senior and valued members now feel the DUP is no longer a warm house for them".