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UUP man defects in Tory pact row UUP man defects in Tory pact row
(30 minutes later)
The chairman of North Down Ulster Unionist Association has resigned from the party and has joined the DUP.The chairman of North Down Ulster Unionist Association has resigned from the party and has joined the DUP.
Mark Brooks was unhappy with the UUP leadership's handling of the political alliance with the Conservatives.Mark Brooks was unhappy with the UUP leadership's handling of the political alliance with the Conservatives.
Last week, Lady Hermon said she would not stand under the Conservative and Unionist banner at the next election.Last week, Lady Hermon said she would not stand under the Conservative and Unionist banner at the next election.
Mr Brooks, who has been constituency association chairman for two years, was unhappy at how the matter was dealt with by party leader Sir Reg Empey.Mr Brooks, who has been constituency association chairman for two years, was unhappy at how the matter was dealt with by party leader Sir Reg Empey.
He had a meeting last week with Lady Hermon who asked him to stay in the party but he decided his future lay with the DUP.He had a meeting last week with Lady Hermon who asked him to stay in the party but he decided his future lay with the DUP.
He is also thought to have had other concerns about party discipline.He is also thought to have had other concerns about party discipline.
In a statement, Mr Brooks, a Donaghadee businessman, said he had been unhappy for some time within the Ulster Unionist Party.In a statement, Mr Brooks, a Donaghadee businessman, said he had been unhappy for some time within the Ulster Unionist Party.
Sylvia Hermon said she was "disappointed" at the Tory-UUP link upSylvia Hermon said she was "disappointed" at the Tory-UUP link up
"This unhappiness stems from the fact that internal wrangling and attempts to selling themselves to the Conservative Party have been of higher priority than that of serving the people of Northern Ireland," he said. "This unhappiness stems from the fact that internal wrangling and attempts to sell themselves to the Conservative Party have been of higher priority than that of serving the people of Northern Ireland," he said.
"That is not why I am involved in politics.""That is not why I am involved in politics."
BBC Northern Ireland political reporter Stephen Walker said: "For the Conservatives and Unionists who are in the midst of a European election campaign it is another blow after last weeks headlines involving Lady Sylvia Hermon." Sir Reg Empey said he had "never attempted to try and shoehorn people into something they were not comfortable with".
"We've got to try to solve these things, because ultimately, strategically, I believe it's right for unionism to broaden its base," he told the BBC.
"If it's confined to Northern Ireland then, I think, we are in a weaker position than if we have a national edge to us. That's what we're trying to do in this current campaign because we will be part of a larger, wider group in Europe."
BBC Northern Ireland political reporter Stephen Walker said: "For the Conservatives and Unionists who are in the midst of a European election campaign it is another blow after last week's headlines involving Lady Sylvia Hermon."