It was a new unionist political party that according to its strapline would 'aspire to better' for Northern Ireland Just two days before a council election, the party descended into chaos
It was a new unionist political party that according to its strapline would "aspire to better" for Northern Ireland.
Mr McCallister recalled it was a "scorching hot day" as they launched NI21 on June 6 2013 at the Mac in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter.In founding NI21, he said they hoped to represent people who "just wanted Northern Ireland to work". Less than 12 months after launching, the party faced their first test at the ballot box with the European Parliament and council elections held in May 2014.
From the Northern Ireland Protocol to other thorny issues inside Stormont and exclusive interviews - we’ve got you covered.Mr McCallister publicly objected to the party's decision to switch from designating as "unionist" in the Stormont Assembly to "other".A Stormont standards commissioner later investigated and in 2016 dismissed all complaints against him.
Reflecting on the controversy that engulfed the party, Mr McCallister said it was a "dreadful period for pretty well everyone involved". Mr McCarthy recalled how, with little expectation of being elected, he decided he was not going to wear a suit. "There was a core of us who tried to rebuild but I suppose the initial excitement dissipated very swiftly because of everything that went on. It became very difficult," he said.
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