Neil Somerville, the UUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Neil Somerville, one of the Assembly’s newest MLAs has stepped aside due to stress after less than seven months at Stormont.
This week the UUP issued a two sentence statement and refused to elaborate
“Neil Somerville is off work with stress and wellbeing issues,” it said.
“The party both locally and at leadership level is fully committed to doing what it can to support Neil at this time and would ask that everyone respect his privacy.”
No date was set for his return but if he has not recovered by early in the new year it is likely that the party will have to co-opt a replacement to allow them time to build a profile before the May election.
If that happens, victims’ campaigner Kenny Donaldson or Erne West councillor Rosemary Barton could be in contention.
They were the two initially chosen to go before the UUP executive for final selection in June.
The co-option came after Tom Elliott was elected to Westminster in May and needed an Assembly replacement.
But the UUP admitted votes had been miscounted and Mr Somerville was also allowed through to the final stage and was selected.
Mr Somerville (42) is a native of Aughnacloy but lives in Clogher and is an MLA in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
He is married with four children
He and Mr Elliott are close friends, and last night the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP said: “Neil needed a break and he is getting the support he needs.”
At the time of the co-option there was some disquiet in UUP ranks locally because it was felt he was ‘parachuted’ in from outside.
He polled 1,022 first preference votes, slightly more than fellow UUP candidate Robert Mulligan who beat him on transfers.
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