102 candidates to do battle in crucial election

SOME 102 candidates will stand in Northern Ireland’s 18 constituencies at the General Election. The DUP will run in 17 constituencies, standing aside in knife-edge Fermanagh South Tyrone in support of Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott. After nominations closed last night, it emerged that Alliance is the only party running in all 18 constituencies. The UUP will contest 16, despite earlier vowing to stand in all 18. Sinn Fein and SDLP will stand aside in three constituencies to help fellow Brexit opponents.

MORE than 100 candidates are to contest Northern Ireland’s 18 Westminster constituencies in next month’s general election.

Nominations closed yesterday — 102 candidates handing in completed nomination forms to the electoral office.

Alliance is the only party running in all 18 constituencies here, but following a unionist electoral pact and a pro-Remain poll agreement, the other major parties have all stepped aside in at least one constituency each ahead of the December 12 election.

UUP leader Steve Aiken said his party will fight 16 constituencies across Northern Ireland, while the SDLP will contest 15 seats.

Mr Aiken had previously suggested the party would run in all 18 constituencies.

He later rowed back from that position following pressure in North Belfast over standing a candidate against DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds, who is expected to face a tight race against Sinn Fein’s John Finucane.

Police were also called in to investigate threats made against UUP staff as tensions rose in the constituency.

The other constituency that the UUP will not run in is West Belfast, a seat which has traditionally been dominated by Sinn Fein with only a small unionist vote.

The DUP decided not to stand a candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, instead lending its support to UUP candidate Tom Elliott. Mr Aiken also came under pressure for his party to stand aside in South Belfast where the DUP’s Emma Little-Pengelly is expected to come under pressure from SDLP candidate Claire Hanna.

Sinn Fein and the Green Party have stepped aside in South Belfast in order to maximise support for Ms Hanna as a Remain supporter in the Brexit debate.

Mr Aiken described next month’s poll as the “most important election in generations” and said he wants to offer pro-Union voters a choice.

The SDLP is stepping aside in three constituencies in support of other Remain candidates.

Those are North Belfast, East Belfast and North Down.

The Green Party is stepping aside in East, West and North Belfast in support of pro-Remain candidates.

Sinn Fein, which previously had seven absentionist MPs, has pulled out of the electoral contests in North Down, East Belfast and South Belfast.

Aontu, an Irish nationalist party led by former Sinn Fein figure Peadar Toibin, will field seven candidates in this, its first Westminster elections.

Like Sinn Fein, none of Aontu’s candidates will take their seats at Westminster if they’re elected.

The TUV is not running any candidates in this election.

People Before Profit is running two candidates, the NI Conservative Party is contesting four seats, and Ukip — Unionists for Brexit is standing in two constituencies.

There are also three independent candidates.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said she believes it will be a “close election”.

“The DUP has a strong team of candidates who have a plan to get Northern Ireland moving again,” she said.

“We will stand on our record as the only party to have delivered £1.5bn more to support hospitals, schools, broadband and roads.

“Real investment in real lives.” The deadline for registering to vote is November 26.

The postal or proxy vote applications must be made by November 21.

Documents released by the electoral office revealed some intriguing endorsements, with Mrs Foster signing the nomination form for Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

The seat held by Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew is too close to call.

Green Party in Northern Ireland leader Clare Bailey also put her name to SDLP hopeful Claire Hanna’s nomination papers in South Belfast.

Foyle Sinn Fein candidate Elisha McCallion’s candidacy was formally endorsed by Bernadette McGuinness, the widow of the late IRA leader and former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness.

She was also backed by Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson and her husband — former Sinn Fein Stormont special adviser and convicted murderer Paul Kavanagh.

Prominent anti-abortion campaigner Bernadette Smyth of Precious Life was among those who nominated the DUP’s North Antrim candidate, Ian Paisley, as was former TV football pundit Jackie Fullerton.