A councillor who quit the DUP over the party's leadership turmoil has joined the Ulster Unionists.
Ryan McCready cited the DUP's treatment of ousted leader Arlene Foster and said the party was "no longer compatible" with his beliefs when he resigned last month.
The Derry and Strabane councillor, 35, is a former Royal Irish Regiment soldier who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was awarded Most Outstanding Soldier at an event at the Imperial War Museum in 2011.
UUP leader Doug Beattie, who was a captain in the Royal Irish Regiment, described Mr McCready as an "impressive individual and impressive councillor".
"I have known him for many, many years, and I am absolutely delighted he has decided the vision the Ulster Unionist Party has for the future is a vision he can share," he told BBC Radio Foyle.
"I see Ryan as somebody who will be on the benches in Stormont.
"There are processes to go through but I hope Ryan will now put his name forward in order to stand in the next assembly election. He is really someone who can add real value to the party."
The DUP has faced months of upheaval following revolts against Mrs Foster as party leader and her successor Edwin Poots, who quit just three weeks into the job.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson last week became the party's new leader, but on his first day an MLA quit the DUP.
Alex Easton said he saw no "respect, discipline or decency" in recent behaviour within the party.
Five councillors have quit the DUP in the wake of the removal of Mrs Foster as leader.
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