SINN Féin Belfast mayor Daniel Baker has paid tribute a councillor who has resigned from the DUP and is leaving the council after losing "all confidence in the party".
Former deputy mayor Guy Spence (28) claimed the DUP's values and integrity have been "tossed aside" and his resignation was accelerated by a "blatant attempt to cause me harm".
In a Twitter post on Saturday, he said: "Yesterday I resigned from the DUP and at the end of this month I will retire from Belfast City Council.
"It has been a privilege to serve the people of my home District of Castle over the last nine years.
"Thanks to everyone who has supported me throughout my time in council."
He went on to say: "For the last year or more I have been wrestling with my conscience watching party values and integrity be tossed aside, often by personal agendas for individual gain.
"I have lost all confidence in the party, in particular in its integrity, making my position in it untenable.
"I have also written to the chief executive of Belfast City Council informing her that I will be retiring from the council at the end of this month, when I will be stepping back from politics to pursue a new career.
"Until then I will be an independent member of the council.
"My resignation and retirement has been accelerated by recent events involving a blatant attempt to cause me harm. Something I am not prepared to tolerate.
"It has been a privileged to serve the people of Castle District, the place I call home, for the last nine years.
"I want to thank every single person who supported me throughout my time in council and everyone I've had the pleasure to work with."
In a statement, the DUP said: "The party thanks Mr Spence for his service as a councillor.
"We will be co-opting his replacement in due course."
Among those who posted supportive messages in response to Mr Spence's tweet were mayor Daniel Baker, who wrote: "Sorry to hear this Guy, I have a lot of respect for you as a young representative. Your achievements in council is there for all to see and particularly for me your contribution in our climate sub group. Your voice will be missed."
Green Party councillor Mal O'Hara, Alliance councillor Kate Nicholl and the SDLP's Dónal Lyons were among others who wished him well for the future.
