DUP backs UUP candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone
The DUP is encouraging all unionists in the constituency to vote for the UUP's Diana Armstrong
- Published
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said it will not stand in the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency and is instead encouraging unionists to vote for the Ulster Unionist candidate Diana Armstrong.
Gavin Robinson confirmed the news after being ratified as the party's new leader.
The DUP did the same in 2019, when Sinn Féin held on to the seat by just 57 votes.
It was the smallest margin of victory of any seat in that election.
The DUP, which has not stood a general election candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone since 2005, also backed the UUP's Tom Elliott in 2015, when he won the seat from Sinn Féin.
Earlier, it emerged that Pat Cullen, the head of the Royal College of Nursing, had stepped down to run for Sinn Féin in the constituency.
Fermanagh and South Tyrone is the most marginal seat in the UK, external, as of the 2019 general election results.
The DUP also confirmed it will not stand a candidate in North Down, instead opting to endorse independent unionist Alex Easton.
Pat Cullen has been general secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing since 2021
What did Gavin Robinson tell DUP party officers?
Mr Robinson addressed his party executive in Lisburn, after it was confirmed he would lead the DUP into the election.
The East Belfast MP was appointed interim leader by party officers in March.
It came after the resignation of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, after he was charged with rape and other historical sex offences.
Mr Robinson said that in the interests of "trying to win the seat for a unionist candidate the party has decided not to field a DUP candidate for this election only" in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
He said the DUP would encourage all unionists in the constituency to vote for the UUP's Diana Armstrong.
Apart from Sinn Féin, she will face candidates from the SDLP and Alliance - both parties have confirmed they will stand in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
Mr Robinson also said he was looking forward to leading his DUP team into the election with "energy and purpose".
He addressed Northern Ireland’s place in the union, following arrangements agreed by the DUP and the government aimed at addressing the Irish Sea border.
He said the party would send a clear message to the next government - whether Labour or Conservative - that there was still work to do to improve those new arrangements.
“We will continue to fight to fully restore Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom, including removing the application of EU law in our country and the internal Irish Sea Border it creates."
He said he was urging all unionist voters to set aside “internal debate” in the aim of maximising unionist representation at Westminster.
How many seats do the DUP have?
In the 2019 Westminster election, the DUP won the most seats in Northern Ireland with eight.
But it now has seven after former party leader Sir Jeffrey was suspended from the party.
The DUP is also the second largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly, which sits at Stormont.
Earlier this month, Sir Jeffrey's solicitor confirmed the former DUP leader will not be standing in the next general election.
John McBurney said his client will be "concentrating on the case and defending the charges".
A full list of candidates standing in all 18 constituencies will be available on BBC News NI when nominations close on 7 June.
