It is understood that the party had received allegations of bullying regarding Councillor Enright
A former Alliance Party councillor has accused the party of “restricting” what he could discuss as he announced his resignation.
Cadogan Enright said that he will continue as an independent councillor for Downpatrick and Lecale on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, having previously served as an independent before joining the party in 2022.
Cllr Enright said that he is “convinced that the party are no longer interested in retaining [their] South Down Assembly seat” and that he feels he could better represent his constituents as an independent.
“Today I have taken the difficult decision to resign from the Alliance Party. I will return to serving the people of my area as an independent councillor as I previously did for ten years before joining Alliance in 2022,” he posted on his Facebook page.
“As an Alliance councillor I have been restricted from saying anything remotely supportive about the Downe hospital campaign and have been chastised for calling for the restoration of health services in Downpatrick, that had been agreed under the ‘Transformation’ process.
“In recent months, I and my Alliance Council colleagues have been vociferously campaigning against proposals which would see the Council investing up to £80 million in wasteful, unnecessary projects.
“We have fought really hard against reckless SDLP and Sinn Féin plans to spend £50m on a Mournes Gondola and against a £30 million second council HQ in Newry. Alliance councillors in Newry, Mourne and Down have had to fend for ourselves in these campaigns – with no support from party HQ, despite sustained criticism from the bigger local parties – and I want to pay tribute to my exceptional Alliance council colleagues for their continued work and resilience in this regard, while long-standing constituency campaigns have been abandoned at MLA level.
“I am now convinced that the party is no longer interested in retaining our South Down Assembly seat in 2027. I therefore feel I will be better able to represent my constituents and stand up for them on the issues that matter, as an Independent Councillor.”
An Alliance Party spokesperson said: “It is regrettable Councillor Enright did not take up the opportunity to discuss this decision with the party prior to this announcement.
“Alliance made history in the South Down constituency with our first-ever progressive, cross-community MLA, and returned a record number of councillors in the area in 2023.
“We are determined to build on that record and are committed to delivering for everyone across Newry, Mourne and Down with a focus on inclusion, integrity and progressive politics.”
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