Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattie resigns from the Ulster Unionist Party, which he formerly led, and will sit as an independent in the NI Assembly

Mr Beattie has been an MLA representing Upper Bann for 10 years. He first entered politics as a UUP councillor sitting on Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council.

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A retired Captain in the army, Mr Beattie was awarded the Military Cross following a tour of duty during the Afghanistan War.

In an open letter published on social media on Sunday, the former army captain made his opinions very clear to the current leader of the Ulster Unionist Party Mr Jon Burrows.

His resignation wasn’t entirely unexpected following the resignation of his colleague Cllr Kate Evans who also resigned from the UUP and will be sitting as an Independent on Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council. Cllr Evans also works in Mr Beattie’s constituency office in Portadown.

Both Mr Beattie and Cllr Evan’s profiles have been removed from the UUP website.

A UUP party spokesperson said they do “not accept the characterisation of recent events set out in Mr Beattie’s letter”.

In his letter to Jon Burrows, Mr Beattie said: “It has become clear that my continued membership of the Ulster Unionist Party is no longer tenable. Therefore, it is with genuine sadness and regret that I submit my resignation from the Ulster Unionist Party with immediate effect.

"Serving as an elected representative for this great party has been a real honour, and leading it for almost four years has been the highlight of my political career. During my time as leader, I met Kings and Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers; I led the party through Northern Ireland's centenary year, represented the party at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation of King Charles III. I secured the party's return to Westminster after a seven-year absence and saw an MLA elevated to the House of Lords for the first time in thirteen years.

"Over the last twelve years, I have made many valued friendships within the party, and I sincerely hope those friendships endure. However, over the past two years I have witnessed a marked deterioration in the relationships between the Party Management Board, constituency associations, the Ulster Unionist Councillor Association, and the MLA group at Stormont.

"This became particularly apparent and accelerated following your election as party leader, when MLAs were increasingly marginalised, ignored, isolated, and discredited. Your leadership style became dismissive and overly centralised, empowering individuals to actively undermine elected representatives. In the absence of any coherent policy direction from the leadership, a toxic atmosphere has been allowed to flourish within the party.

"The Ulster Unionist Party once prided itself on its social conscience, its progressive and moderate outlook, and its respected conservative tradition. I no longer believe that is the case and I no longer feel at home or comfortable within the party. I have been especially concerned by the appalling treatment of both Alan Chambers MLA and Councillor Kate Evans.

"Even as I raised concerns directly with you, an insidious campaign of rumour and gossip was being waged against me regarding selections, party relationships, financial matters, and employment issues.

"This came to a head last Thursday when you rang me to say that you intended to reopen a disciplinary matter against me. Something that had already been dealt with by the Party Management Board four years previously and had received considerable media attention at the time. This felt vindictive and a deliberate attempt to drive me from the party.

"As I step away from the Ulster Unionist Party, I remain committed to many of the policies I helped develop and write, particularly regarding the Northern Ireland criminal justice system and the legacy of our past. Areas of party policy shaped during my ten years as the party's Justice spokesperson.

"I will continue to advocate for a justice system that puts victims first as I sit as an Independent Unionist MLA, while continuing to represent the people of Upper Bann and the wider interests of Northern Ireland.

"I wish the party well in the future and hope it can rediscover its social conscience and return to the path set by Mike Nesbitt MLA in 2012. A path that led me to join a party founded on the principle of country first and party second.”

A UUP spokesperson said: "The Ulster Unionist Party received Doug Beattie's resignation today. We thank Doug for his many years of service to his country and to the party, and we wish him well.

"The party does not accept the characterisation of recent events set out in Mr Beattie's letter.

"The Party Management Board met on Thursday evening to consider serious concerns about Mr Beattie's conduct and judgement. The Board unanimously agreed a course of action, which was due to be communicated to Mr Beattie by the Party Leader on Monday. Mr Beattie's resignation has overtaken that process.

"On Councillor Kate Evans, who Mr Beattie's letter references, we again thank Kate for her many years of service to the party and to the people of Craigavon. The Party Leader, Jon Burrows MLA, reached out to Kate personally to wish her well and offered to meet at any time. We wish her and her family well.

"The party's focus remains on serving the people of Northern Ireland, on delivering for them, and on the work ahead."