Edwin Poots 'has no plans to contest Lagan Valley seat'

Edwin Poots briefly led the DUP in 2021

The DUP's Edwin Poots has told colleagues he has no plans to contest his assembly seat in Lagan Valley.

It follows his failure to secure the nomination to stand in the South Down constituency.

Sources close to the agriculture minister have said he is extremely disappointed with the outcome of Friday night's selection meeting.

DUP party officers endorsed Diane Forsythe as the South Down candidate at the meeting.

The sources claim Mr Poots had several discussions with party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson ahead of Friday's meeting and had agreed to stand aside in Lagan Valley on the understanding he would secure the South Down nomination.

But others in the DUP insist there was no prior agreement.

It is understood 11 party officers voted at the selection meeting and Mr Poots, a former leader of the party, believes he was narrowly defeated.

'Not going back on his word'

On the prospect of Mr Poots now contesting the assembly election in Lagan Valley, the source said "he is not going back on his word".

Supporters of Mr Poots say a large number of executive members are supportive of him and it may be reflected in the process.

Earlier, party colleague Jim Wells said he has no plans to run as an independent after being deselected as a candidate for May's election.

Mr Wells, who has represented South Down for 24 years, said he was hurt by the decision.

He said he did not believe the selection of Ms Forsythe was a "done deal" and that Mr Poots would challenge the decision.

All selected candidates are subject to ratification by the party executive.

Analysis: There may be surprises in story yet

We're being told that there's no suggestion, in terms of the leadership, that there was any prior agreement or arrangement with Edwin Poots over South Down.

So, for the party around Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, it was a pretty straightforward operation on Friday night; of course those around Edwin Poots are not so sure.

They feel there was an arrangement in place and it didn't follow through as expected.

Those close to Edwin Poots are now suggesting the selection of Diane Forsythe may not be a done deal.

So there may be some surprises in store yet.

It's safe to say there are shades today of the DUP last year, with two distrinct sides within the party giving us very different versions of what happened within internal meetings.

Ninety candidates will be elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 5 May.

• Poots not selected as DUP South Down candidate

• Former DUP leader in constituency switch for election

Speaking to The Nolan Show, Mr Wells said he wanted to see Mr Poots nominated and dismissed suggestions he would stand as an independent candidate after his deselection.

"I am not contemplating any other party, I have no plans to run as an independent. I want Edwin Poots on the ballot paper for South Down," he said.

"Edwin has a better chance than I have, I have to accept that I wouldn't have the same reach."

Diane Forsythe has been selected by the DUP to run in South Down

Mr Poots was elected leader of the DUP in May 2021 - narrowly beating Sir Jeffrey to the job - after the ousting of Arlene Foster, but he resigned just 21 days later.

His appointment and the process that led to it had caused divisions within the party and several members of the South Down constituency office quit the party including Ms Forsythe.

They later returned when Sir Jeffrey was ratified as leader, saying they felt happier under his leadership.

Mr Wells was elected to the old Northern Ireland Assembly in 1982 and has represented the South Down constituency as an MLA (member of the legislative assembly) since 1998.

'It does hurt'

A member of the DUP for more than 40 years, he became health minister in September 2014 before resigning less than a year later following a controversy over remarks about gay couples.

Mr Wells told Mr Nolan this was the "low point" of his career.

It was disappointing that such a huge part of his life was now over, he added.

"I have to accept that this aspect of my career, this 27-and-a-half years at Stormont is over, come to terms with that, clear my desk and move on with life," he said.

"My identity is an MLA and I am going to lose that identity.

"It is going to take a while to come to terms with what has happened. It does hurt."

Mr Wells said he hoped to find alternative paid work and added that care home fees for his wife Grace, who suffered two strokes in 2015, were now £43,000 per year.

"Those bills have to be paid," he said.

"I would have to draw upon savings and ultimately the family home would have to go.

"I am not in that position yet, I am definitely not."

When questioned about suggestions he had properties across Northern Ireland, Mr Wells confirmed he did own several properties.

"I am fortunate and I can fall back on that but my main asset is my family home," he added.