No matter what the result of tonight’s count in Fermanagh South Tyrone the UUP will have at least one member from the constituency in Westminster after it was announced tonight that MLA Tom Elliott has been appointed a life peer in the House of Lords.
The former UUP leader, and former MP who narrowly lost the FST seat to Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew in the last general election, has said he is humbled by the nomination. He has not indicated whether he will remain as an MLA for FST.
He is latest Fermanagh politician to be appointed to the red benches in recent years, with former First Minister Arlene Foster appointed the Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee in 2022.
Counting is due to begin at the Magherafelt count centre for the FST constituency shortly, with Mr Elliott’s party colleague Diana Armstrong and Sinn Fein’s Pat Cullen expected to be the front runners.
Make sure to tune into our live blog here for all the news at it happens from the count centre.
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