The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has appointed Tom Elliott as its Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development spokesperson.

Mr. Elliott, who is heavily involved with farming outside of politics, completed one of his first duties when he met with Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) President and Fermanagh farmer, David Brown.

A UUP spokesperson said: "Following the appointment of Tom Elliott as our spokesperson on Agriculture, Environment & Rural Development, the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA has met with David Brown and parliamentary officer Alexander Kinnear."

Mr. Elliott said: “Party colleague Steve Aiken and I were pleased to have an early meeting with the newly-elected UFU President.

“One of the key issues for discussion was the impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol on the agricultural sector, including the concerns that, unlike human medicine, there has been a failure to get agreement between the UK and EU to suspend implementation of new guidelines to import and use certain veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland.

“Other issues of discussion included the soaring input costs to the farming sector and potential legislation that might come forward in any new Executive and Assembly.”