Tom Elliott, UUP
FORMER UUP leader Tom Elliott has received the backing of the DUP in the Westminster elections for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
This comes following a pact between the DUP and the UUP.
Speaking to the Fermanagh Herald, Mr Elliott said:
“Obviously they want to maximise the opportunity to have a representation in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. So that’s what I’m about, that’s what I’m here to do. I try to represent everyone at the Assembly and I will try to do that at Westminster.”
Mr Elliott is to stand against current MP, Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew, the SDLP’s John Coyle, the Green Party’s Tanya Jones and the Alliance Party’s Hannah Su.
“As always it will be an interesting competition, it will be an interesting election: It always is in Fermanagh South Tyrone. But again I’m looking forward to it. I’m confident that the Ulster Unionist party can win and that unionism in general can win,” he said.
And, also speaking tonight, current MP Michelle Gildernew told the Fermanagh Herald:
“We knew that that the DUP, the UUP and the Orange Order were frantically looking for a candidate to try and win back the Fermanagh and South Tyrone seat. The sectarian pact didn’t work in 2010 and I’m hoping it won’t work this time.
“The fact is that people have an MP in Fermanagh and South Tyrone that works for every single person in the community, who is really dedicated to people in the constituency and hopefully that will continue.
“Our campaign has begun anyway and we’re working very hard in the constituency so there’ll be no change in that – we never take our electorate for granted. We’ve been out on the doorsteps talking to people about the issues in the constituency. This announcement tonight doesn’t change anything. We’re working and we’ll continue to work, we’re working hard for every single vote.”
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