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An Ulster Unionist who stood in the general election has become the third in three months to quit the party.

Harry Hamilton, a well-known Freddie Mercury impersonator, polled more than 10,500 votes in Upper Bann in the general election.

However, he was rejected as a candidate for next year's assembly elections.

Mr Hamilton said he was keeping "an open mind" about the future but would be open to an approach from the Alliance party.

It is understood he handed in his resignation this week, but had wanted to keep it quiet until after the party conference in Belfast on Saturday.

However, he confirmed that he was going when contacted by the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ on Friday.

Mr Hamilton said he didn't believe the Upper Bann association was fully behind the politics he was supporting.

Asked if he was thinking of joining the Alliance party, like Paula Bradshaw another Westminster candidate subsequently rejected by the Ulster Unionists, he said he would be open minded about any approach.

A UUP spokesman said: "We are disappointed that Harry Hamilton has decided to leave the Ulster Unionist Party.

"Harry worked hard during the general election and although he received more than 10,600 votes he did not win the Westminster seat.

"It is the nature of politics that you do not always win elections or selections."

A third Ulster Unionist Westminster candidate, Trevor Ringland, also left the party. This followed a dispute with new leader Tom Elliott over his position on attending GAA matches.

Meanwhile, another member of the UUP, John Lund has been suspended for six months.

It follows an interview he gave to the Nolan programme after Tom Elliott was elected as leader of the party.

The told the programme that the vote was bound to split the party and said it had been dragged back to "1969".

This prompted a complaint that Mr Lund had breached internal party discipline.

He failed to attend a disciplinary hearing at the party's HQ earlier this week and has now been informed of his suspension.