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Ousted Reilly joins TUV

New TUV recruit Henry Reilly with party leader Jim Allister
New TUV recruit Henry Reilly with party leader Jim Allister New TUV recruit Henry Reilly with party leader Jim Allister

THE Co Down councillor who was last week expelled from Ukip for speaking to The Irish News about internal party grievances has joined Jim Allister's TUV.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council representative Henry Reilly was thrown out of Ukip following a disciplinary hearing.

In September he was censured by Ukip regional leader David McNarry after telling The Irish News the two men had a "very, very strained relationship" and that the Strangford MLA did not plan to stand in the next assembly election.

Mr Reilly was regarded as a potential Ukip MLA, having secured more than 24,000 votes at least year's European elections.

In May's Westminster election he came fifth in the South Down constituency with 3,044 votes – less than 500 votes behind the DUP's Jim Wells.

Mr Reilly said he was "doing the right thing" in joining the TUV, saying it was the only party "standing unapologetically for the traditional unionist principles".

"It is also a party wholly committed to re-establishing the national sovereignty of the UK by taking the essential step of leaving the European Union," he said.

"Thus it is my natural home and I greatly appreciate the kinship and welcome which I feel in joining TUV."

TUV leader Jim Allister described his party's new recruit as a "proven, staunch traditional unionist and eurosceptic".

"As such he fits exactly into the TUV profile – I welcome him as a considerable asset to the party," Mr Allister said.