Party whip removed from Councillor Adrian Watson

Published on 21/06/2012 14:00

A LOCAL councillor has had the Ulster Unionist Party whip removed from him over comments made on radio last week.

Cllr. Adrian Watson (pictured right) was disciplined for comments made on the Stephen Nolan show on Radio Ulster on Wedensday.

The former Antrim mayor Adrian Watson had the UUP whip removed from him for saying that he opposed power-sharing with Sinn Fein in the council.

Councillor Watson, who unsuccessfully stood for the Assembly last year, said that he had been phoned by Alderman Mervyn Rea, the UUP group leader on Antrim council, who told him that UUP leader Mike Nesbitt had instructed him to immediately withdraw the whip.

Cllr. Watson, whose suspension came the day before the election of the new mayor, said he was “disappointed” after 16 years in the party but that he had to “accept the party process”.

He added that he stood over the comments he had made.

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Party whip removed from Councillor Adrian Watson

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