East Londonderry MLA David McClarty has confirmed he has resigned from the Ulster Unionist Party.
He said he made the decision after being deselected by his constituency association.
He says it was a “very difficult decision” to leave the party, and stressed that he “does not have an issue with the party generally”.
He said two or three individuals from the constituency association wanted rid of him.
Mr McClarty was elected to Coleraine Council in 1989 and the Assembly in 1998.
He will remain in Stormont until the elections in May and will retain his council seat as an independent.
When asked if he would consider joining another party or standing in the Assembly elections as an independent – he said he would consider things over the next few weeks and at the moment “nothing has been ruled in and nothing has been ruled out”.
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