Another week and another crisis within the Ulster Unionist Party.
One of the party's leading lights, David McNarry, has quit the assembly party after being demoted by party leader Tom Elliott following a newspaper interview.
The row between the two men stems from talks that Strangford MLA McNarry was holding with the Democratic Unionist Party over closer cooperation between the two unionist parties.
"David McNarry had indicated to me that he was carrying out an interview with the Belfast Telegraph the following day and I had said to use the lines that had been issued in the press statement," Mr. Elliott said.
"Unfortunately he went above and beyond that.
"There was no issue with him talking to the DUP - I had him as a liaison with the DUP so there was no issue around that - it was because he went beyond his remit.
"Quite clearly, once you see someone talk about the possibility on the future of the DUP holding the first minister position and the Ulster Unionist Party holding the junior minister, that's way beyond the remit."
Mr. McNarry said he was shocked and insulted when Mr. Elliott told him he would be removed as deputy chair of the assembly's Education committee.
He said he felt "hurt, betrayed and disappointed" by his demotion.
As speculation about his political future grows, McNarry said he had been a member of the UUP since he was 15 and had no intention of
leaving the party. The party's assembly team will now fall from 16 to 15.
