Allister to contest key unionist seat
TUV leader Jim Allister has been selected to contest the North Antrim parliamentary seat.
The former MEP was nominated at a party meeting of the Traditional Unionist Voice on Wednesday night.
Mr Allister is expected to face veteran MP Ian Paisley or his son Ian Paisley Jnr, who will be looking to defend the long-time DUP seat.
Speaking after his selection, the TUV leader said he was looking forward to facing whichever candidate his former party chooses.
"I look forward to offering the people of North Antrim the same hands-on representation and presence in Parliament as I was privileged to provide for all of Northern Ireland in Europe," he said.
"Of course, the electoral challenge of overturning one of the biggest majorities in the country is significant, but I believe the solid traditional unionist principles which TUV now represents are exactly those which hitherto North Antrim so strongly embraced. So, we go forward with confidence in this election."
Mervyn Storey, a DUP MLA in the constituency, claimed the TUV and Mr Allister have no strategy to take Northern Ireland forward.
"The reality is that Joint Authority Jim is a man without a plan," he said.
"He wants to moan from the sidelines but TUV's only strategy is to make Sinn Fein the largest party and take Northern Ireland into unaccountable Direct Rule."
The traditional unionist stronghold will be seen as one of the key indicators of the current mood within the pro-Union electorate.
The News Letter understands that the DUP's North Antrim selection meeting will be held by the middle of March.
It is not clear at this stage which Paisley will run for the party.
The General Election is predicted to take place at the beginning of May.
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