THE DUP and UUP have ruled out a pact for the next month's General Election with the UUP announcing candidates for East and South Belfast.
It had been speculated that a single candidate for the two parties would be put forward in both constituencies in an attempt to maximise the number of pro-union MPs returned on June 8.
The DUP had already said it will not stand in UUP-held Fermanagh-South Tyrone, while the UUP list announced last week had left absent the DUP-held East Belfast.
The Ulster Unionists have also unilaterally stood aside in North Belfast, West Belfast and Foyle.
This morning the UUP named Michael Henderson as its candidate in South Belfast - where he will run against the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly - and Hazel Legge as its nominee in East Belfast, where the DUP's sitting MP Gavin Robinson is expected to face a tough battle to retain his seat against Alliance leader Naomi Long.
In a joint statement released yesterday, Arlene Foster and Robin Swann said they hope to discuss having "better unionist co-operation" following the June 8 poll.
The north's political parties are set to announce their final line-up of candidates ahead of the deadline for nominations on Thursday.
The DUP and UUP have delayed naming some of their candidates amid unionist pact negotiations.
In the statement issued through the DUP press office yesterday, the unionist leaders urged "all those who believe in the union and its benefits to support pro-union candidates".
"While our parties have not concluded any formal pact arrangements on this occasion we are resolved to continue discussions in the interests of better unionist co-operation beyond this election period," they said.
Last week the DUP announced 11 candidates while the UUP confirmed 12, but both parties did not name candidates for South Belfast or Newry and Armagh.
The UUP's full list of candidates:
Newry & Armagh - Sam Nicholson
South Belfast - Michael Henderson
East Belfast - Hazel Legge
East Antrim - John Stewart
East Derry - Richard Holmes
Fermanagh & South Tyrone - Tom Elliott
Lagan Valley - Robbie Butler
Mid Ulster - Mark Glasgow
North Antrim - Jackson Minford
North Down - Alan Chambers
South Antrim - Danny Kinahan
South Down - Harold McKee
Strangford - Mike Nesbitt
Upper Bann - Doug Beattie
West Tyrone - Alicia Clarke
