Politics

Jim Wells still not ruling out running as DUP candidate in south Down

Former health minister Jim Wells. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Former health minister Jim Wells. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire Former health minister Jim Wells. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire

ROGUE DUP MLA Jim Wells has still not ruled out running as the party's candidate in south Down.

The former health minister said he was happy to endorse Edwin Poots' candidacy in the constituency but has yet to back Diane Forsythe, DUP headquarters' preferred candidate.

Ms Forsythe is a former Westminster election candidate for the DUP and the daughter of party councillor Glyn Hanna.

Mr Wells, who had the DUP whip withdrawn nearly four years ago, last night told The Irish News he was "keeping my options open" – including the possibility of contesting the May 5 poll.

The south Down MLA's comments come as uncertainty over the DUP's choice of candidates for the election continues.

Less than eight weeks out from election day, the party has still not finalised its candidate list and has yet to say when its ruling executive will meet to make the necessary selections.

Mr Poots was this week selected as the DUP's candidate in south Belfast, replacing the late Christopher Stalford who died suddenly last month, aged 39.

The agriculture minister had previously failed to get selected in his surprise bid to run in south Down. His replacement in Lagan Valley is expected to be named early next week.

Mr Wells said he was reserving any endorsement of Ms Forsythe, at least until she was formally selected as a candidate. He stressed that she did not have the support of the constituency association.

"Diane Forsythe is not our candidate – we did not select her," he said.

He said the chair of the constituency association, Roland Wilson, had said publicly that he did not support Ms Forsythe, a 38-year-old accountant.

When asked if he would give his backing to Harold McKee, a one-time Ulster Unionist MLA standing as the TUV's South Down candidate, Mr Wells said: "I will be urging voters to transfer down the card and support all unionist candidates".

He described Mr McKee, who quit Doug Beattie's party in October last year over its "liberal values", as an "honourable and likeable man".

However, he added: "It's not for me to endorse a member of a rival political party".

Mr Wells said he was considering all his options ahead of May 5, which included not contesting the election, standing as an independent or running as a DUP candidate.

"At this moment in time I am not ruling anything out," he said.