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MLA quit after 'row over Ballymena riots'

Brendan Hughes
BBC News NI political reporter
Pacemaker Fire crews tackling a blaze in Ballymena last month following street disorder in the County Antrim town Pacemaker
Properties were set on fire during several nights of racially-motivated violence in Ballymena last month

An Ulster Unionist assembly member decided to quit Stormont after a dispute over a party statement on rioting in Ballymena, BBC News NI understands.

Colin Crawford, an assembly member for North Antrim, announced last month on Facebook he was stepping down after less than a year in the role.

It followed a disagreement over the wording of a press release issued by the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) condemning the street disorder, according to several sources.

He was due to resign at the end of June, but it is understood the party has asked him to remain in post for the summer - giving them more time to find a replacement. BBC News NI has approached both the UUP and Crawford for comment.

Families fled their homes and dozens of police officers were injured last month during several nights of rioting in the County Antrim town.

Police described the violence, which targeted ethnic minorities, as "racist thuggery".

The disorder began following a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault.

Crawford is a former UUP councillor for the Ballymena area.

He announced he was stepping down as a member of the legislative assembly (MLA) at Stormont several days after the disorder broke out in the town.

UUP MLA Colin Crawford sitting on the blue benches in the chamber of the Northern Ireland Assembly at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. He is wearing a dark suit with a light blue shirt and no tie. His collar is open. He has short fair hair.
UUP MLA Colin Crawford said he was leaving politics after "much soul-searching"

In a post on Facebook, Crawford said he was stepping away from politics after "much soul-searching" and it was "the right decision for me and my family".

A day earlier, the UUP had issued a press statement in Crawford's name condemning the disorder in Ballymena.

He was quoted saying that "peaceful protest is a right, but violence, disorder and racism are not".

A senior source told BBC News NI that Crawford agreed the release, but was subsequently uncomfortable with some of the wording.

"It was the final straw, the nail in the coffin," the source added, saying that Crawford had found it difficult settling into his MLA role and being at Stormont.

Following his decision to resign, UUP leader Mike Nesbitt described Crawford as a "valued colleague" and wished him well for the future.

Crawford replaced Robin Swann as a UUP assembly member in July last year after he became the MP for South Antrim in the general election.

The selection of Crawford sparked an internal party row which led to Doug Beattie resigning as Ulster Unionist leader, after he had supported another candidate for the job.

Beattie told BBC News NI's Red Lines podcast the row had left him "bruised" after three years in charge.