The Reverend Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists have selected a former Ulster Unionist as a candidate in the next General Election.
Fermanagh and South Tyrone Assembly member Mrs Arlene Foster vowed last night to win back for unionism the constituency's Westminster seat which was won by Sinn Fein's Ms Michelle Gildernew in 2001. The former UUP honorary secretary is the first candidate in Northern Ireland to be chosen for the next Westminster poll. Mrs Foster defected to the DUP in January along with Lagan Valley MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson and their Assembly colleague Ms Norah Beare after years of feuding with Mr David Trimble and his supporters. She narrowly missed out on becoming the UUP's candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the last Westminster election, losing out to Mr James Cooper. Mr Cooper lost the UUP seat in 2001 by 57 votes to Ms Michelle Gildernew in a controversial election. Accepting the nomination last night, Mrs Foster was grateful that DUP members in the constituency had chosen her to take on the difficult task of unseating Sinn Fein's MP. "I know the damage that having a republican MP has done to the unionist psyche in Fermanagh and South Tyrone," she declared. "We have not been well served by a Member of Parliament who denies us a voice at Westminster, but it is about much more than her refusal to swear the oath." PA