FERMANAGH and South Tyrone's new MP has insisted she will be an "work for all" in the local area, despite having no plans to relocate to the constituency. 

Sinn Féin's Pat Cullen polled a total of 24,844 votes in the recent general election, seeing off opposition from main rival, the UUP's Diana Armstrong, who polled 20,273.  

Speaking to the Impartial Reporter, Mrs. Cullen described being elected as a "true honour", and said that she will "fight for everyone in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, from every community, as your MP".

Mrs. Cullen was asked if she felt she could properly represent the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone as an 'MP for all', having indicated that she is abstaining from Westminster. 

"For the past three years, I have dealt directly with the British government and brought them to my table in a fight for better pay and conditions for nurses," said Mrs. Cullen, who has left her role as chair of Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

"I never sat on a green bench in Westminster to do so. But I ensured the voices of nurses were heard where it mattered most.

"Our MPs are in London on a regular basis representing our constituents with offices there also, and we meet with members of the British government and have relations with all other parties."

Mrs. Cullen was asked to detail how she would work for 'all sides of the community' in the constituency, despite representing a party that 26,232 people chose not to vote for. 

"Over the past number of weeks I have talked to people about my vision for hope, and a better future," Mrs. Cullen said, "That is what drives my determination to work for all.
 
"Whether you voted for me, someone else or no one at all, I will work night and day to deliver for everyone across Fermanagh and South Tyrone."

Mrs. Cullen was then asked if she intended to move to Fermanagh and South Tyrone, having been elected as an MP to represent the area. She currently lives in Belfast. 

"As the leader of the largest nursing union in the world, I travelled the length and breadth of these islands to fight for our nurses," said Mrs. Cullen. 

"I represented people from Belleek and Belfast, to Bristol and Blackpool, and ensured their voice was heard by British Prime Ministers and Health ministers.
 
"Just as I did for nurses, I will bring the voices of the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone across these islands and beyond."

Following the election, James Cooper, Chairman of Fermanagh Ulster Unionists, said that Sinn Féin has "hoodwinked" the Nationalist community, stating that: "I believe that this simplistic and bold policy of Sinn Féin has, to some extent, hoodwinked the Nationalist community."

When asked for her opinion on these claims, Mrs. Cullen refused to comment.

Instead, a statement was later received by the Impartial Reporter from a Sinn Féin press officer.

“James Cooper should respect the huge mandate of 24,844 people that voted for Sinn Féin in Fermanagh and South Tyrone,” the statement read.