Deborah Erskine replaces Arlene Foster as Fermanagh-South Tyrone MLA

Former Democratic Unionist Party press officer Deborah Erskine has officially replaced Arlene Foster as MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, the Electoral Office has confirmed.

Mrs Erskine, a Fermanagh and Omagh District councillor, was returned to fill Mrs Foster's seat on Thursday.

The DUP councillor previously worked in Mrs Foster's constituency office.

Mrs Foster said she had intended to step down as an MLA by the end of September.

Mrs Erskine had been widely tipped for co-option to Mrs Foster's seat.

She is expected to sign into Stormont this week.

Talking to BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra, she said she was looking forward to the challenges ahead and working for the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

"I love this constituency and I really want to work for them and build upon the work that Arlene Foster did in this constituency over 20 odd years," she said.

"Arlene has been such an encouragement to me, through my university days and, whenever I became an elected councillor in Fermanagh and Omagh Council, she was there for advice and support and I've huge respect for Arlene.

"I'm not going to dwell on what has went before, what happened - today is about me and taking on a role where I'm able to represent the most westerly constituency in Northern Ireland, to be their voice up in the assembly."

Mrs Foster tweeted that she was pleased that the constituency "has this wonderful, hardworking, capable woman as their new MLA".

The former first minister stepped down as party leader in May, but remained as first minister until 14 June.

Mrs Foster served as first minister from January 2016 to January 2017, when the Northern Ireland Assembly collapsed, and again from January 2020.

She was ousted earlier this year and was replaced as leader by Edwin Poots, who resigned after 21 days due to an internal party dispute.

Mrs Erskine was elected in the Erne North in 2019 and Mrs Foster served as her election agent in the council poll.