UUP election candidate quits race over '˜efforts to hinder'

Rumours that the former Dromore councillor and one-time chair of Banbridge District Council had withdrawn her candidacy began to circulate late last week.

Mrs Mercer confirmed yesterday that she was no longer seeking election.

She pointed no fingers and declined to elaborate on how, or by whom, her campaign had been hindered. She wished the other candidates well.

A member of the UUP’s Garvaghy/Skeagh branch, Mrs Mercer was one of seven Ulster Unionists elected to Banbridge District Council in 2011 and served as the old authority’s penultimate chairman.

She failed to win election to the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon supercouncil in 2014. In a return to the political arena, the local woman emerged in December as one of three UUP candidates in Lagan Valley, standing alongside Lisburn councillors Jenny Palmer and Robbie Butler.

On Monday Mrs Mercer said: “Due to recent endeavours to hinder my campaign I have withdrawn my name and am no longer seeking election as an Ulster Unionist MLA for the Lagan Valley constituency.

“I would like to convey my sincere thanks to everyone who has supported me during the selection process and throughout my term as an elected representative. I wish all my fellow candidates well.”