Ryan McCready: Ex-DUP councillor joins Ulster Unionists

A councillor who quit the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in June over the removal of Arlene Foster as leader has joined the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).

Ryan McCready, who sits on Derry City and Strabane District Council, initially left to become an independent unionist.

He said the DUP was "no longer compatible" with his beliefs and its internal differences are "almost insurmountable".

The party, he added, is "fractured".

"If you can't have a united front within your party, how on earth can you expect to unite the electorate and voters, and to move Northern Ireland into a progressive and more moderate future," he told BBC News NI.

He said a number of recent incidents involving DUP representatives had left him disillusioned.

They included Ian Paisley chanting criticism of Health Minister Robin Swann at an event with singer Van Morrison.

Mr McCready said: "I thought it was absolutely diabolical and unacceptable, and that there is no real tangible or visible discipline within the party."

Cllr Ryan McCready (centre) said the DUP's treatment of Arlene Foster was part of his decision to resign

Mr McCready, 35, is a former Royal Irish Regiment soldier who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The sergeant was awarded Most Outstanding Soldier at an event at the Imperial War Museum in 2011.

He was one of a number of DUP councillors who left the party following the removal of Mrs Foster.

She was replaced by Edwin Poots, who announced after 21 days that he would resign and was replaced by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

On Monday, Mr McCready said he turned down an offer from Sir Jeffrey to re-join the DUP.

"After the last three weeks I consulted with the electorate, went round and spoke to everyone that I could," he explained.

"The overwhelming majority want me to remain in politics, and to do so as a unionist I need a party.

"A more attractive route for me was with Doug Beattie and the Ulster Unionist Party".

'I see Ryan on Stormont's benches'

UUP leader Doug Beattie, who was a captain in the Royal Irish Regiment, welcomed Mr McCready to his party by describing him as "impressive individual and impressive councillor".

"I have known him for many, many years, and I am absolutely delighted he has decided the vision the Ulster Unionist Party has for the future is a vision he can share," he told BBC Radio Foyle.

"I see Ryan as somebody who will be on the benches in Stormont.

"There are processes to go through but I hope Ryan will now put his name forward in order to stand in the next assembly election. He is really someone who can add real value to the party."

Darren Guy, the UUP's group leader on Derry City and Strabane District Council, said Mr McCready would be a "welcome addition" to the party.

"We look forward to working with Ryan and believe his politics are best suited to the progressive politics of the Ulster Unionist Party," he said.