Ulster Unionist councillor resigns from party

Carol Black will now become an independent councillor on Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.

Following the resignation of Councillor Black from the Ulster Unionists, Alderman Jim Speers MBE, who is the group leader on ABC Council, said: “As someone who helped fund Carol Black’s successful by-election campaign back in 2008 which opened the door for her to get into elected politics, I am disappointed, but not surprised, by her decision to resign from the Ulster Unionist Party.

“This has been coming for some time and the Ulster Unionist Party will move on without her. We have a vison of unionism that embraces everyone and clearly Carol Black does not subscribe to this, given her comments. We are a political party open to all faiths and none.”