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FORMER mayor of Coleraine has left the UUP to become an independent councillor.
David Harding, pictured, said established parties are putting voters off. He also cited difficulties over talks about joint unionist candidates. The Causeway Coast and Glens councillor, who has unsuccessfully stood for the UUP in Westminster and assembly polls, had put his name forward to stand in May's general election but withdrew.
Last night he told The Irish News he "couldn't join any other party".
"I believe that the party feels that in order to retain its electoral position it has to move into fields that I am not comfortable with. If the UUP is to mean anything it has to be a separate party in its own space," he said.
"I want to find the people who are not voting and engage with them and there is baggage with established parties."