DUP officially welcomes Councillor Aaron Callan to its ranks

Causeway Coast and Glen's Councillor Aaron Callan joins the DUP after defecting from the Ulster Unionist Party

First Minister Arlene Foster has officially welcome Councillor Aaron Callan to the DUP Ranks.  Limavady Councillor Callan defected from the UUP this week, leaving the Limavady area without any UUP representation..

In a lengthy statement Cllr Callan outlined his reasons for leaving the UUP, citing a 'drift from Unionist values and principals.'  Cllr Callan added that he 'thought long and hard' about his decision.

Cllr. Callan also claimed a mitigating factor in his departure from the Ulster Unionists, was that he felt East Londonderry "had become irrelevant to the members of the Ulster Unionist Assembley Group."  He said, therefore he believes his constituents will be best served with him as a member of the DUP.

Meanwhile First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster MLA officially welcomed Aaron to the Party, referring to him as a "talented and enthusiastic representative."She added that he would 'fit in well' with the East Londonderry DUP team headed up by Gregory Campbell.

Gregory Campbell MP said he was looking forward to working with Aaron Callan, stating that the DUP was the "main Unionist Party in the East Londonderry Area"

Happy to announce that I have joined @duponline to be part of a strong and united team for East Londonderry @DUPleader pic.twitter.com/FYt6m9z9VS

— Aaron Callan (@acallan87) October 27, 2016

Mr Campbell said that Cllr. Callan's defection was "not about the UUP now not having any elected representation in the Limavady area, but it is about building for the future."  He added that Aaron's decision to join the DUP was "vindication of the stance [they] are taking"

In a statement regarding Cllr Callan's resignation from the party, the Ulster Unionist Party said that "We have built our success in recent years on teamwork. On that basis Councillor Callan is unlikely to be missed."

 Cllr. Aaron's statment in full:

I am delighted to announce that I have joined the Democratic Unionist Party and I look forward to working with my new party and colleagues at this very exciting time for unionism and for Northern Ireland.

 Some people may be asking why I have decided to leave the Ulster Unionist Party to join the Democratic Unionist Party.  I have thought long and hard about this decision.  It has become clear over the last twelve months that the DUP is now the mainstream unionist party.  I have felt uncomfortable within the UUP, and its leader, for some time now given its drift further from what I believe are Unionist values and principles.

 First and foremost my interest is in best representing my constituents and my local area.  The reason I stood for election in 2011 and 2014 was my love and passion for my local area of Limavady and the wider East Londonderry area.  I have been concerned for some time that East Londonderry was becoming irrelevant to the members of the Ulster Unionist Assembly group. This has disheartened me greatly particularly at a time when so many other rank and file unionists are joining the DUP at grassroots level.  

 I am firmly of the view that the DUP is taking Northern Ireland forward in a positive way and by joining the DUP team in East Londonderry my constituents interests are best served as part of a strong and united team.  Working with Gregory Campbell MP, and three DUP MLAs alongside local councillors more can be achieved for Limavady and East Londonderry in jobs, services, and investment.   The DUP, under the leadership of Arlene Foster, is providing a confident vision for Northern Ireland underpinned by a plan that has widespread support.

 First and foremost my interest is in best representing my constituents and my local area. I now firmly believe that can be best served as a member of the DUP. I thank those who have supported me in this decision and hope to have continued support in the months and years ahead.”