Northern Ireland

Ulster Unionist MLA resigns after 7 months 'due to stress'

 MLA Neil Somerville has resigned his Fermanagh and South Tyrone seat
 MLA Neil Somerville has resigned his Fermanagh and South Tyrone seat  MLA Neil Somerville has resigned his Fermanagh and South Tyrone seat

THE MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Neil Somerville has stepped down due to stress, the Ulster Unionist Party has said.

The former councillor had been picked in June to replace Tom Elliott after he was elected to Westminster as an MP.

Mr Somerville, who was as a councillor on Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, will be replaced before the end of the month.

He remains a member of the UUP.

Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt, said: “I am very sorry it didn’t work out for Neil.

“I was highly impressed with him during the course of the canvas that saw Tom Elliott returned as the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone and I look forward to working with him in the constituency in the future.”

Tom Elliott, former party leader and MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, added: “I am sorry that Neil is standing down.

“He has always been very helpful to me and others and it is unfortunate that he is unable to continue as an MLA.

“He always has the best interests of Fermanagh and South Tyrone at heart and I hope that we will see him play a full role in his local community in the future.”