John Scott, who sits on Antrim and Newtownabbey council, said he agreed with same-sex marriage, adding: “If people are in love what’s wrong with getting married?”

Scott made his comments despite his party being staunchly opposed to same-sex marriage, believing in what they call the “traditional” definition of the union. The DUP has vetoed several attempts to pass legislation for marriage equality in Northern Ireland.

Speaking of the pro-marriage equality movement, party leader Arlene Foster said in 2016: “I could not care less what people get up to in terms of their sexuality, that’s not a matter for me – when it becomes a matter for me is when people try to redefine marriage.”

On Saturday at the DUP annual conference, it was announced that Mr Scott, formerly of the UUP, had joined the party.

In April of this year, Mr Scott also said there needed to be “more discussion around the issue of abortion,” and that the “law should be relaxed”.

Mr Scott’s new party also remains staunchly opposed to relaxing legislation around abortion.

Asked whether his views had changed, Mr Scott last night told The Irish News: “My views have not changed on same-sex marriage or the support for relaxing the abortion laws.”

The DUP has not commented on Mr Scott’s declaration.