It has been revealed by the Belfast Telegraph tonight that Democratic Unionist Party councillor David Clarke has left the party, after being co-opted in October 2023 to the Carrick Castle DEA following Cheryl Brownlee’s appointment to the Assembly.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, he has quit the DUP “after being hospitalised with a heart condition which he puts down to stress caused by internal party spats”.
He will remain on Mid and East Antrim Borough Council as an independent councillor until the end of his mandate.
He told the Belfast Telegraph that his decision involved “very deep regret, sadness and hurt – it was a position I never wanted to be in, and I wrestled with it for a long time”. Mr Clarke said the situation had become so difficult, he was having sleepless nights.
“I actually ended up in Antrim Area Hospital on January 6,” he said.
