UUP whip replaced after Tory clash claims

A senior Ulster Unionist was tonight replaced as chief whip amid claims from the DUP he was sacked after clashing with his party’s would-be partners – the UK's Conservative Party.

The UUP said Strangford Assembly member David McNarry was leaving the Stormont role to concentrate on the progress of two private members bills in the devolved assembly. He is being replaced by North Belfast representative Fred Cobain.

However the DUP dismissed this explanation and said the outspoken unionist had been stood down after challenging the Tories.

Last month Mr McNarry demanded an apology from a senior Conservative Party member in the North after he made critical remarks about the Orange Order.

Jeffrey Peel described the order as a “backward-facing, history-obsessed, parish-pump society”.

However, that controversy came on the heels of a joint announcement by Conservative leader David Cameron and UUP leader Reg Empey that they were going to explore the possibility of establishing a formal political alliance.

DUP South Antrim MP Willie McCrea said Mr McNarry, who is a senior Orangeman, had been axed for daring to speak out against a Tory.

“David McNarry has been unceremoniously stabbed in the back,” he said. “It is apparent to everyone that this is retribution being meted out because Mr McNarry defended the Orange Institution from the attacks of senior Northern Ireland Tories such as Jeffrey Peel.”

He added: “That Mr McNarry should have been treated in this fashion by Reg Empey says a great deal about the state of the Ulster Unionist Party. The Empey-led UUP would rather keep on good terms with the Jeffrey Peels of this world than defend a key-element of the Unionist community.”

Mr McCrea said Mr Cobain, a left leaning member of the UUP, had been elevated to the role of chief whip for backing the Conservative links.

“Reg Empey’s selection of Fred Cobain to replace Mr McNarry is no accident either,” he said. “Mr Cobain is known to have Labour Party sympathies but was wheeled out by the UUP Press Office to dutifully assert that he had no problem with where Reg Empey was taking the Ulster Unionists. He has received his reward today.”

The demotion of Mr McNarry is one of a series of switches announced by the UUP today.

The Strangford member declined to comment on the matter. However, party leader Reg Empey vehemently denied the DUP allegation.

“I can categorically say that under no circumstance was Mr McNarry sacked from his post,” he said.

“He has conducted his business on behalf of the party with professionalism from the time of his appointment and this was roundly acknowledged by our members this morning.

“Mr McNarry has been appointed our party spokesperson on finance as well as maintaining his post as deputy chairman of the DCAL (Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure) committee and will be spending more time on his two private members bills, one on carers and the other on access to school estates in coming weeks.

“Mr McNarry has continued to support my decision to appoint a working party to hold talks with the conservative party and Mr William McCrea is mischief making if in trying to link these issues pertaining to the loyal orders to this issue.

“I note with interest that the DUP takes so much interest in the loyal orders while its leadership has never been members.

“At the time of Mr McNarry’s comments with regards to the loyal orders I was on annual leave and as a lifetime member of the Orange Institution I need no lectures from Mr McCrea, many of whose colleagues remain outside the institutions.”