Ulster Unionists in South Antrim tonight selected businessman Mr David Burnside to contest the seat in the next general election. The candidate, who lost the seat for the Ulster Unionists in a by-election in September, defeated the party's Assembly chief whip Mr Jim Wilson after two counts. He will be seeking to overturn an 822 majority held by the DUP's Reverend William McCrea.
Mr Burnside's victory will be a blow for the Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble. Party rules changed to enable Mr Wilson to seek the nomination to contest the Westminster seat. Under party rules, the Ulster Unionists do not allow members to hold more than one elected post without a special dispensation.
Mr Burnside topped the poll in the first count with 70 votes. Mr Wilson received 44, Councillor Roy Thompson got 29 and constituency chairperson Ms Avril Swann was eliminated with 21 votes.
It is the second time that Mr Burnside has been chosen to fight the seat in the past six months.
The vote angered one local pro-Good Friday Agreement Assembly member, Mr Duncan Shipley-Dalton. He said: "I am deeply, deeply disappointed by the decision made tonight.
"I think it is the wrong decision. I think he is a man who cannot win the seat and I think we have consigned South Antrim to four more years of Willie McCrea."
PA