By Q Radio News
DUP councillor Guy Spence has announced he's quitting the party.
In a statement the former Deputy Mayor of Belfast says he has lost all confidence in the party and will step down from the city council at the end of March.
He says he resigned on Friday.
Yesterday I resigned from the DUP & at the end of this month I will retire from Belfast City Council.
— Guy Spence (@GuySpence) March 7, 2020
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! pic.twitter.com/kvrAWRvHjk
He said he had watched "party values and integrity be tossed aside often by personal agendas for individual gain" over the past year.
On Twitter he said: "My resignation and retirement has been accelerated by recent events including a blatant attempt to cause me harm - something I'm not prepared to tolerate," .
Mr Spence represented the Castle district and until the end of the month will be an independent member of the council.
He said he planned to step back from politics and pursue a new career.
"It has been a privilege to serve the people of my home District of Castle over the last nine years," he said.
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