Former party chief says NI Conservatives ‘on the verge of becoming extinct’

The Conservative Party leader in Northern Ireland says the Conservative Party is on the verge of extinction.

Alan Dunlop said the party will field only one candidate in the May elections, up from 13 in the last Stormont poll in 2017.

The businessman, who quit the Conservative Party last year, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s party “could not understand” the impact of accepting the Northern Ireland Protocol.

He said Ireland’s post-Brexit maritime trade border agreement with the European Union “separated” Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Dunlop said: “This is a disappearance of the party. A candidate who fights and has the same hope of being elected as Michelle (O’Neill) in providing leadership to the DUP.”

“For Northern Irish Conservatives, this is the last roll of the dice. They are becoming an extinct species.

The party’s failure to deal with the vile and divisive Northern Ireland protocol is responsible for the party’s electoral collapse.

“My former party has pulled a coach and four from across the British Sovereignty.

They cut off Northern Ireland from the rest of the kingdom and did not realize the extent of their actions. “

The party’s current chairman, Matthew Robinson, is their North Down candidate.

Gary Hands was their candidate in Lagan Valley, but he left the party last month to protest protocol and run as an independent.

He accused his former party of being “unbelievably unchanged”.

Asked about the future of the Conservative Party in Northern Ireland, Hydes told Belfast Live: “They don’t have it.”

“I am independent to continue working for my local community and continue to help, listen and advocate for all who come to me,” she added.

Conservatives in Northern Ireland have been contacted for comment.