UUP/Tory candidates are selected
THE Ulster Unionists and Conservatives last night selected half of their joint General Election candidates in a historic first for both parties.
The Conservatives and Unionists selected nine of the 18 candidates who will go to the polls in coming months.
The move, which was agreed by both the UUP and Conservative executives last night, will go a considerable way to assuaging Tory doubts abADVERTISEMENTout the UUP's commitment to the electoral alliance, given chronic delays in selections.
It is understood that eight more final selections will be made in coming days with just the North Down candidate outstanding. However, that selection is expected within ten days.
All of those selected last night came from the UUP side of the alliance.
Among those agreed last night, former Irish rugby international and anti-sectarianism campaigner Trevor Ringland will stand in DUP leader Peter Robinson's East Belfast constituency.
As expected, former UTV news anchor Mike Nesbitt will challenge for Iris Robinson's old Strangford seat.
Former News Letter journalist Bill Manwaring will take on Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in West Belfast while Harry Hamilton will challenge DUP MP David Simpson in Upper Bann, a seat which the new alliance believes it can win.
Former UUP leader David Trimble's wife Daphne Trimble will go up against sitting DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson, who has a huge majority, in Lagan Valley.
UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy will challenge sitting Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy in Newry and Armagh while John McCallister will stand against sitting SDLP MP Eddie McGrady in neighbouring South Down.
Mid Ulster UUP Assemblyman Billy Armstrong's daughter, Sandra Overend, was selected in Mid Ulster and Omagh councillor Ross Hussey was chosen to run in West Tyrone.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
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