London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Sep 04, 2025

DUP councillor Adrian McQuillan leaves party after suspension

DUP councillor Adrian McQuillan leaves party after suspension

A Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) councillor and former MLA has left the party following disciplinary action.

Adrian McQuillan claimed he was targeted in a "four-year witch hunt" by people including senior elected members of the party.

The Causeway Coast and Glens Borough councillor was suspended by the DUP in September 2022 for 12 months.

A DUP spokesperson said a disciplinary panel found Mr McQuillan's conduct had brought the party into disrepute.

It said he published material online which "directly attacked, smeared and without foundation, called into question a number of DUP colleagues".

Mr McQuillan said the allegations, including claims of bullying and harassment, were false.

He appealed the disciplinary action but was told on Monday that the party was upholding his suspension.

In a statement, the councillor said he was disappointed to announce his resignation.

"It is clear to me that there has been an orchestrated plan to remove me prior to the selection process for the upcoming local government election in May," he said.

He added that his resignation was "driven by elements of the party with personal grudges".

"Sadly the DUP is no longer the party that I joined, and despite me still having many good friends in it, the hierarchy has lost its way and it appears no longer wants to be associated with grassroot unionism or anyone with an opinion which differs from them," he added.


'Deeply regrettable'


Mr McQuillan sat in the Northern Ireland Assembly until 2017, when he lost his seat.

He was previously suspended by the DUP for six months in 2019.

The DUP said Mr McQuillan "was only readmitted to party membership on the basis that he would uphold the rules and constitution of the party and work in a collective manner with his party colleagues".

"It is deeply regrettable that cllr McQuillan, whilst a member of the party, engaged in such behaviour which led to his second period of suspension.

"It was his actions and attitudes alone that directly led to his further suspension from the party."

Mr McQuillan says he will continue in his role as an independent councillor.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Queen Camilla’s Teenage Courage: Fended Off Attempted Assault on London Train, New Biography Reveals
Scottish Brothers Set Record in Historic Pacific Row
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
Pickles are the latest craze among Generation Z in the United States.
Deadline Day Delivers Record £125m Isak Move and Donnarumma to City
Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Following Undisclosed Relationship with Subordinate
Giuliani Seriously Injured in Accident – Trump to Award Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
EU is getting aggressive: Four AfD Candidates Die Unexpectedly Ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia Local Elections
Lula and Putin Hold Strategic BRICS Discussions Ahead of Trump–Putin Summit
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that looks a lot like Telegram.
Investigations Reveal Rise in ‘Sex-for-Rent’ Listings Across Canada Exploiting Vulnerable Tenants
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
×