Eric Hanvey has resigned from the Alliance Party and will not stand for re-election to Belfast City Council.

Hanvey was elected to the council in 2019 and represented the Lisnasharragh area.

He stated that politicians have become more focused on retaining power than serving the public.

Hanvey said the Alliance Party was damaged by entering the Northern Ireland Executive and criticised its decision not to remain in opposition.

He added that sectarianism remains unaddressed and that the party should have pushed harder for institutional reform.

Paul Doherty, who left the SDLP in April after a council vote on a statue of Bobby Sands, has confirmed he will stand as an independent candidate in the next Assembly election.

Doherty said he will continue to serve as an independent councillor in West Belfast while campaigning for the Assembly seat.