Ulster Unionist party announces candidates for General Election

Mr Swann MLA said the candidates "demonstrate the depth and talent of the membership of the Ulster Unionist Party across Northern Ireland".

"People immersed in their local communities who have a commitment to making Northern Ireland a place we can all be proud to call home and are unashamed advocates for the Union."

The candidates are: West Tyrone - Alicia Clarke; East Antrim - John Stewart; East Londonderry - Richard Holmes; Fermanagh & South Tyrone - Tom Elliott; Lagan Valley - Robbie Butler; Mid Ulster - Mark Glasgow; North Antrim - Jackson Minford; North Down - Alan Chambers; South Antrim - Danny Kinahan; South Down - Harold McKee; Strangford - Mike Nesbitt; Upper Bann - Doug Beattie.

Mr Swann added: "This election is not a re-run of last year`s referendum on membership of the EU - that boat has sailed. Instead we should be concentrating on coming together to get the best deal possible for Northern Ireland as part of the Brexit negotiations and resist those who are attempting to use this election as an attempt to destabilise the Union. That means electing Ulster Unionist politicians who will speak up for all the people of Northern Ireland and give them a voice in Westminster. You only have to look at the impact which Tom Elliott and Danny Kinahan have made in their short time since their election in 2015 as a demonstration of this. There is no point in electing people who won`t turn up but are quite happy to keep claiming the expenses.

"I will be asking the electorate to vote for Ulster Unionist candidates who will promote a positive, confident, embracing unionism. The United Kingdom is a nation for everyone. As I said in my inaugural speech as Ulster Unionist Party Leader, no-one has anything to fear from being part of the United Kingdom but a lot to lose from leaving it. That’s why at this election people should go out and vote for it. Vote Ulster Unionist on 8th June.”