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Email suggests Parsley defection Parsley leaves the Alliance Party
(about 2 hours later)
The BBC has seen an email which suggests that Alliance councillor Ian Parsley could be poised to leave the party for the Ulster Unionist-Conservative link-up. Ian Parsley has resigned from the Alliance following speculation he was going to defect to another party.
Earlier, Mr Parsley dismissed speculation that he was about to defect. Mr Parsley said he had already given the party notice of his decision to quit his job as policy officer.
He said he planned to stay on as a councillor in North Down and would likely be changing his designation to Conservative.
He said he was mindful he had been elected by Alliance voters and would work closely with the party.
The North Down representative is beginning a new job with a Conservative funded think-tank.The North Down representative is beginning a new job with a Conservative funded think-tank.
He is expected to make a statement at 1500BST on Friday. Until today Mr Parsley worked as an official with Alliance, but is set to begin a new post with the Centre for Social Justice, a think-tank set up by former Tory leader Iain Duncan-Smith.
Mr Parsley currently works as an official with Alliance but is set to begin a new post with the Centre for Social Justice, a think-tank set up by former Tory leader Iain Duncan-Smith. Earlier, Mr Parsley dismissed speculation that he was about to defect.
Despite this, he originally dismissed speculation that he was planning to leave Alliance. However, his hand appeared to have been forced after the BBC saw an email which suggested he had been formally assessed as as a potential candidate for the Ulster Unionist-Conservative pact.
But BBC political reporter Stephen Walker said he understood that Mr Parsley had been formally assessed as a potential candidate for the Ulster Unionist-Conservative pact. BBC political reporter Stephen Walker said: "I have certainly seen an email that was addressed to him and talked in such terms as though he was a would-be candidate," our correspondent said.
"I have certainly seen an email that was addressed to him and talked in such terms as though he was a would-be candidate," our correspondent said.
"It talked about a timeframe so if he comes out and says he's not going to join the party he's certainly had discussions with them and he has certainly been down that road.""It talked about a timeframe so if he comes out and says he's not going to join the party he's certainly had discussions with them and he has certainly been down that road."
There's also speculation that the Ulster Unionists and Conservatives want Mr Parsley to stand against current North Down MP Sylvia Hermon in the upcoming Westminster election.There's also speculation that the Ulster Unionists and Conservatives want Mr Parsley to stand against current North Down MP Sylvia Hermon in the upcoming Westminster election.
She has refused to endorse the link-up between the two parties and it's thought unlikely she will stand under the joint banner.She has refused to endorse the link-up between the two parties and it's thought unlikely she will stand under the joint banner.
Mr Parsley, who was a member of the Conservative Party as a student, was the Alliance Party's European Election candidate earlier this year. He was first elected to North Down Borough Council in May 2005.Mr Parsley, who was a member of the Conservative Party as a student, was the Alliance Party's European Election candidate earlier this year. He was first elected to North Down Borough Council in May 2005.