TUV reveals election candidates and constituency that party will not contest to leave lone unionist (2024)

TUV leader Jim Allister will be running in North Antrim, while former DUP MLA Jim Wells is standing for the party in South Down.

The party, which has formed a partnership with Reform UK for the July 4 poll, will also not be standing in Upper Bann, which is held by the DUP’s Carla Lockhart.

At a selection event in Antrim on Friday, Mr Allister said his party made it clear earlier this year that, if there was a risk of Sinn Fein winning a seat held by a unionist, “we would calibrate our approach accordingly”.

“That is why Upper Bann is the one unionist held seat we have decided not to contest,” he said.

“The relative strength of Carla Lockhart’s stance contributed to this decision but the compelling reason was not to assist a Sinn Fein victory.

“We realise this decision will disappoint many TUV/Reform UK supporters in Upper Bann but we believe on this occasion it is in the interests of the greater good.”

Elsewhere, former DUP director of policy Dan Boucher is standing for the TUV in Belfast South and Mid Down, while former DUP councillor David Clarke is running in North Belfast. TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell is running in Strangford.

The party is also not running in North Down.

Mr Allister used a large part of his speech on Friday to hit out at the DUP, who he accused of “lying” to its voters. His comments came after DUP leader Gavin Robinson accepted that his party had “oversold” the deal which restored power-sharing earlier this year and said the so-called Irish Sea border remains in place.

“Voters are entitled to have honesty from those who seek their votes,” Mr Allister said.

“Yet in recent hours the DUP was shamed into admitting they lied to the people. This raises a fundamental question of trust and who unionist voters should trust.

“Those who sought to mislead the people in February do not deserve their vote in July.

“A real distinction between TUV/Reform UK and both DUP and UUP is that they, sadly, have, through their operation of and resulting support for the Protocol, accepted that the Union as we knew it is gone.

“That never again should NI be a fully integral part of the UK, but rather should be a condominium part ruled by U.K. laws and part by foreign EU laws.”

On Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Mr Allister said his party “sought to maximise the opportunity to regain that seat through an agreed non-party candidate”.

"Sadly, that was vetoed,” he said, referencing the UUP’s decision to field a candidate in the constituency.

Mr Allister added: “We, through our partnership with Reform UK, embrace pan-unionism across the nation, believing that for too long Northern Ireland has been treated as a place apart and many unionist politicians have indulged in parochialism, even to the point of joining Sinn Fein in ‘Brit-bashing’.

“The UK is our country. We want to play a full and equal part, caring about immigration, defence and our place in the world.

“Hence the TUV/Reform UK alignment offers involvement in national politics, taking a stand on key issues like protecting our borders, reversing the economic destruction of blind allegiance to ‘net zero’ and repudiating the woke agenda on transgenderism.

“Our overriding mission is to restore the Union, so damaged by the betrayal of the Protocol and the ineptitude of rollover unionism.”

The TUV leader said his party will run in Foyle and West Tyrone “if we can yet find suitable candidates”.

Full list of TUV General Election candidates:

Lagan Valley: Lorna Smyth

South Down: Jim Wells

West Belfast: Ann McClure

Strangford: Ron McDowell

South Antrim: Mel Lucas

Mid Ulster: Glenn Moore

East Londonderry: Allister Kyle

Newry and Armagh: Keith Ratcliffe

North Antrim: Jim Allister

East Belfast: John Ross

South Belfast: Dr Dan Boucher

East Antrim: Matthew Warwick

North Belfast: David Clarke

News Catch Up: Wednesday 29th May 2024