Jim Wells wants to stand again - but faces internal DUP challengers

If he is chosen as the candidate and successful in May’s election, the veteran DUP MLA would be the father of the house, the longest serving member of the Assembly – yet he will only be 59 years of age at that point.

There has been considerable speculation – both within the DUP and in rival parties – as to whether Mr Wells would stand again.

He resigned as health minister last year amid a huge controversy around remarks at a hustings event about homosexuality and a subsequent dispute with a lesbian couple while canvassing in Rathfriland.

The issue relating to the hustings event was reported to police – something which even Mr Wells’s much more liberal constituency rival John McCallister spoke out against at the time – but in October the Public Prosecution Service announced that it would not be prosecuting him.

Mr Wells’s wife, Grace, suffered a stroke last February and had two further strokes in hospital, leaving her critically ill for weeks.

Although she has recovered somewhat, she is being cared for in a nursing home where Mr Wells is a constant visiter.

Some DUP members had believed that Mr Wells may not contest another election due to his wife’s condition.

Mr Wells announced his decision online this afternoon and followed that with a more detailed statement.

In the statement, Mr Wells said: “I have had the privilege of representing South Down at Stormont for 21 years and have also served as a councillor for 17 years.

“I was greatly encouraged to stand again by the unanimous support I received from the DUP’s South Down Association and the many messages from right across the constituency urging me to put the name forward.

“The final decision on who stands for the Assembly election in South Down rests with the DUP Party Officers. I can confirm that they are presently considering my application to stand for the party.”

In a subsequent message on his social media accounts, Mr Wells expanded on his decision to seek re-election: “I was not prepared to give in to those who tried to destroy me last year. The people of South Down stood by me through it all.”

The News Letter was unable to contact Mr Wells today and one of those rumoured to be challenging him for the nomination also could not be contacted.

However, one prominent DUP councillor in South Down, Glyn Hanna, said that the local party was firmly behind Mr Wells. He said that he supported Mr Wells and believed that he was “the strongest candidate” who the party could field.

Fellow local DUP councillor William Walker also welcomed Mr Well’s decision, saying there was “no better man to retain the seat”.

He said: “I also believe that if Jim Gets the go ahead from the party to run he will top the poll for unionism.”

Analysis: Slim margins in South Down

South Down is shaping up to be one of the most difficult constituencies to call – particularly among the unionist candidates.

When he stood in last year’s General Election,Jim Wells’s vote was barely affected by the controversy around his comments about homosexuality, so he is likely to be fairly safe if he stands again for the DUP.

However, if the DUP was to stand another candidate it would open up an already open contest among unionists who are contesting – at best – two seats.

Sitting MLA John McCallister faces a huge battle to keep his seat as an independent. But if he loses the seat and it goes to a unionist it is not clear whether well known former Ukip councillor Henry Reilly – now with the TUV – or likely UUP candidate Harold McKee. The wildly split unionist vote could see the SDLP or Sinn Fein take another seat.