The Ulster Unionist Party has suspended four members for standing against official candidates who supported the Belfast Agreement in elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly in June.
Mr Denis Watson and Mr Boyd Douglas, who were elected to the Assembly, received notification of their suspensions, which will be subject to a party disciplinary inquiry. The notifications came in letters from the party vice-chairman, Mr James Cooper.
Mr William Wright and Mr Jack Beattie, who failed to get elected, were also suspended.
The decision to suspend the four is being viewed by many within the UUP as "a deliberate decision" to make an example of them for breaking ranks with the party and publicly opposing Mr David Trimble, leader of the UUP.
Mr Watson, the Orange Order Grand Master in Co Armagh, who played a leading role in the Drumcree standoff, stood against Mr Trimble in Upper Bann as a United Unionist candidate. He said he was expecting the decision but "didn't regret opposing the party on such a fundamental issue".
However, Mr Beattie, who stood as a United Unionist candidate in Strangford, said he intended challenging the ruling.
He claimed he was unfairly targeted for acting in a matter of personal conscience.
"I had a life before I joined the Ulster Unionist Party, and I will have a life after it," he said.
Mr Wright said he and the other three members had been sentenced before being tried.
He said he had a good reason to oppose it but would not disclose what it was.
"As far as I am concerned now, I am not really bothered. I am finished with the party. It could have been done in a different way."
Mr Douglas, who has been closely aligned with Mr William Ross, the Derry MP, was not available for comment last night.