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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fred Cobain leaves UUP and joins DUP | Fred Cobain leaves UUP and joins DUP |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The former Ulster Unionist MLA, Fred Cobain, has left the party and joined the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). | The former Ulster Unionist MLA, Fred Cobain, has left the party and joined the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). |
| The 66-year-old father of two had been a member of the UUP for more than 30 years. | The 66-year-old father of two had been a member of the UUP for more than 30 years. |
| He was welcomed into the DUP at a news conference at Stormont, attended by party leader, Peter Robinson and DUP deputy leader, Nigel Dodds. | |
| Mr Cobain said the UUP was "riven with personal and policy difficulties" and was "politically exhausted". | |
| 'Disillusioned' | |
| "I don't think they have any new ideas or big ideas", he told the news conference. | |
| Mr Cobain said it was not a decision he had taken lightly but added he had been "disillusioned with the party for a number of months". | |
| He is the third, high profile UUP veteran to sever ties with the party since Mike Nesbitt took over as leader last March. | He is the third, high profile UUP veteran to sever ties with the party since Mike Nesbitt took over as leader last March. |
| In May 2012, the UUP expelled David McNarry, its assembly member for Strangford. | In May 2012, the UUP expelled David McNarry, its assembly member for Strangford. |
| Mr McNarry later joined the UK Independence Party (UKIP). | Mr McNarry later joined the UK Independence Party (UKIP). |
| In August 2012, Lord Maginnis of Drumglass quit the UUP after he was disciplined for making controversial comments about homosexuality on BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan show. | In August 2012, Lord Maginnis of Drumglass quit the UUP after he was disciplined for making controversial comments about homosexuality on BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan show. |
| Publicly criticised | |
| Lord Maginnis said he did not regret describing homosexuality as "unnatural and deviant" and claimed the election of Mr Nesbitt as UUP leader had been a "mistake". | Lord Maginnis said he did not regret describing homosexuality as "unnatural and deviant" and claimed the election of Mr Nesbitt as UUP leader had been a "mistake". |
| Since taking over, Mr Nesbitt has also disciplined two other high profile UUP MLAs - John McCallister and Basil McCrea. | Since taking over, Mr Nesbitt has also disciplined two other high profile UUP MLAs - John McCallister and Basil McCrea. |
| Last month, Mr McCrea lost the party whip when he publicly criticised the UUP's handling of the union flag dispute. | Last month, Mr McCrea lost the party whip when he publicly criticised the UUP's handling of the union flag dispute. |
| In October, Mr McCallister, was stripped of his position as UUP deputy leader after he made a speech criticising unionist unity. | In October, Mr McCallister, was stripped of his position as UUP deputy leader after he made a speech criticising unionist unity. |