The DUP will not contest the general election in Fermanagh South Tyrone and has give its backing to Ulster Unionist candidate, Diana Armstrong.

DUP leader, Gavin Robinson made the announcement this evening as the party gathered to ratify candidates.

He said that the DUP would “encourage all Unionists in the constituency to “set aside internal unionist debate and vote for the Ulster Unionist candidate in the interests of returning a Pro-Union Member of Parliament.”

Mr. Robinson told those gathered that the DUP will not field a candidate in Fermanagh South Tyrone or in North Down.

“We previously supported the non-party aligned campaign of Rodney Connor and we supported, campaigned and helped elect Tom Elliot in 2015 and supported his re-election campaign in 2017 and subsequent attempt in 2019.

“It is our strong view that the best chance of maximising the election of a Pro-Union candidate to give Parliamentary representation to the most westerly constituency in the United Kingdom would have been through a process of agreement between the unionist parties. For our part we were engaged in such a process last year.

“However, the Ulster Unionist Party selected Erne North Councillor Diana Armstrong as their candidate and they have made clear that they do not intend to withdraw their candidate from the election.

“On that basis and in the interests of trying to win the seat for a Unionist candidate we have decided not to field a DUP candidate for this election only and we would encourage all Unionists in the constituency to set aside internal unionist debate and vote for the Ulster Unionist candidate in the interests of returning a Pro-Union Member of Parliament.

Mr. Robinson thanked DUP Associations in Fermanagh South Tyrone and North Down “for their wise counsel on these issues and to acknowledge their readiness at this election to agree to wider Pro-Union co-operation.”