The Conservative Party in Northern Ireland is on the brink of extinction, its former chairman has said.
Alan Dunlop said the party is running just one candidate in May's election compared to 13 in the last Stormont poll in 2017.
The businessman, who quit the Conservatives last year, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson's party has "failed to grasp" the impact of agreeing to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
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He claimed the post-Brexit Irish Sea trade border deal with the European Union had "uncoupled" Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom.
Mr Dunlop said: "This is a wipe-out election for the party. One candidate standing and he has as much hope of getting elected as Michelle (O'Neill) has of securing the leadership of the DUP.
"It's the last throw of the dice for Northern Ireland Conservatives. They're about to become an extinct species.
"The party's failure to deal with the divisive and obnoxious Northern Ireland Protocol is to blame for the party's electoral demise.
"My former party has driven a coach and four through United Kingdom sovereignty.
"They've uncoupled Northern Ireland from the rest of the kingdom and have failed to grasp the enormity of their actions."
The current party chairman Matthew Robinson is standing as their candidate in North Down.
Gary Hynds was their candidate in Lagan Valley, but he quit the party last month in protest over the protocol and is running as an independent.
He accused his former party of being "incredibly out of touch".
Asked about the Conservative Party's future in Northern Ireland, Mr Hynds told Belfast Live: "They don't have one."
He added: "I am standing as an independent to continue my local community work and to continue helping, listening and standing up for anyone who comes to me."
Mr Robinson said: "The party does not comment on the views of former members."
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