Sylvia Hermon is one of the most successful independent candidates in our local history at a Westminster Level.
She won the North Down seat in 2001, held the seat against a DUP surge in 2005, crushed her UCUNF opponent by double digits in 2010 and was safely re-elected in 2015. In 2017, she will continue her record as the MP for North Down.
Now the UUP are realising that it’s not worth the battle and are pulling out in favour of Lady Hermon.
The local candidate Alan Chambers MLA said:
“The Ulster Unionist Party has taken the decision not to stand against the previous sitting MP Sylvia Hermon in the forthcoming Westminster elections. This is a decision which I fully endorse.
Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Robin Swann MLA, said:
“Given Sylvia`s previous links to the Ulster Unionist Party, and the fact that North Down is a unique constituency, the Party decided to withdraw. Sylvia has enjoyed overwhelming support as the Member of Parliament for North Down.”
David McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs