Unionist voters in one of the North's most closely contested constituencies will have a choice of pro- and anti-Agreement candidates after the North Down UUP selected the wife of a former RUC chief constable to run for Westminster.
Lady Sylvia Hermon defeated the anti-Belfast Agreement candidate, the Rev Eric Culbertson, by 112 votes to 29 at a constituency selection meeting in Bangor last night.
The meeting was called after the original candidate, Mr Peter Weir, was deselected after being suspended from the party for defying its whip at the Assembly. Mr Weir had defeated Lady Hermon in a closely fought battle 14 months ago.
Lady Hermon, the wife of former RUC Chief Constable Sir John Hermon, said she was confident of overturning the 1,449 majority of the sitting MP, the leader of the anti-agreement UK Unionist Party, Mr Robert McCartney.
"I think I will be able to bring out the silent majority. It's no secret I'm pro-agreement and it's no secret North Down is pro-agreement," she said.
The Rev Culbertson, a chaplain in the Orange Order, said he would support Lady Hermon in her campaign "against the negativity of Mr McCartney and the DUP". Highlighting the divisions that remain in the party, other delegates were less magnanimous in defeat. "She'll get whopped," one shouted at reporters as he left.
After being selected, Lady Hermon denied the move was an attempt to paper over cracks within her party.
"There's a focus now, we have four weeks to fight the election and they [party members] will rally around."