Lagan Valley candidate for general election is party matter: Little-pengelly

DEPUTY First Minister Emma Little-pengelly has said the DUP’S choice of candidate for Lagan Valley in the upcoming general election is a matter for the party, following Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s arrest.

Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey is not expected to resign from Westminster and is now listed as an independent. This has so far avoided the triggering of a by-election in the constituency.

It is understood Sir Jeffrey has no intention of appearing in Parliament following his arrest on suspicion of rape and other historical sex offences, which he intends to “strenuously” contest.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to call a general election this autumn.

Alliance MLA Sorcha Eastwood, who finished second in the 2019 general election, will be hoping to win over voters in the traditionally staunch unionist constituency.

She gained a 28.8% share of the vote in Lagan Valley five years ago and lost to Sir Jeffrey by 6,499 votes.

Ms Little-pengelly was asked yesterday if she intends to run for Parliament in Lagan Valley, where she was co-opted as an MLA after Sir Jeffrey refused to take his Stormont seat as part of the DUP campaign against the Northern Ireland Protocol.

She said those matters “are up for discussion in terms of the internal mechanisms that we have in the party”.

When asked about Sir Jeffrey remaining as MP, Ms Little-pengelly said: “I won’t be making any comment in relation to Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.”

Earlier this month, DUP MLA Paul Givan, who also represents Lagan Valley in the Assembly, said the party will have a strong candidate to contest the seat at the next election.

He did not comment on whether he would seek nomination as a candidate.

It comes after TUV leader Jim Allister called on Sir Jeffrey to step down in order to trigger a by-election, as Lagan Valley “deserves better than an absentee MP”.

People Before Profit also urged Sir Jeffrey to quit his parliamentary role, but Alliance, Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists declined to do so.

Mr Allister said: “With Lagan Valley facing months of no voice and no representation in the House of Commons, Jeffrey Donaldson should resign and allow a by-election.

“His days of representing Lagan Valley are clearly over. So he should do the right thing and step aside to facilitate a by-election.”

He added that the constituency already has the “ignominy of having an unelected MLA”.

“Now, it has no voice in Parliament,” said Mr Allister.

“That is not good enough, nor reflective of the interests of the people of Lagan Valley. A by-election is now required.”

Sir Jeffrey, who stepped down as DUP leader last month, is due to appear in Newry Magistrates’ Court next Thursday charged with 11 sexual charges dating back decades.

He is charged with a single count of rape, a single count of gross indecency and nine counts of indecent assault.

Mr Donaldson’s wife, Eleanor, has also been charged with aiding and abetting additional offences in relation to the same case.