Prominent NI21 members resign from ailing party

David Honeyford and Neil McNickle, who stood for election in May, said the party had descended into a “soap opera”.

Their resignations come in the same week that NI21’s Deputy Leader, John McAllister, said he regretted forming the party with Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea and that it had been the “most toxic and poisonous experience of my entire life”.

Announcing his resignation, Mr Honeyford said: “Since the election we have all seen the often daily, soap-opera that has been played out in the media. As a member and candidate of NI21 I expected better. As a member and candidate I have been kept completely in the dark by the new party executive. Yet I read a pathetic, naive public statement that simply enraged the situation and widened the soap-opera plot. I have no confidence in the party leadership or executive.

“Therefore, it is with a heavy heart and many thoughts of ‘what-could-have-been’ that I resign my membership of NI21 with immediate effect.”

Neil McNickle added: “It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from NI21, the party has some fantastic grass roots members and I wish them well with their future careers in politics.”