‘A genuine man for a new political era’

NEW DUP leader, Edwin Poots is a “genuine man” who won’t mind getting “bogged in” when there is work to be done.

That is the view of West Tyrone MLA, Tom Buchanan who said the party is looking forward to a new era of leadership.

Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots became the Democratic Unionist Party’s new leader on Friday, succeeding Arlene Foster who will step down at the end of the month.

Mr Poots beat another party colleague, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to take the top job, with North Belfast MLA Paula Bradley taking the new deputy leader berth.

Edwin Poots had previously said that if elected, he would like to remain as agriculture minister and would not take on the role of first minister.

In a message to MPs and Northern Ireland Assembly members, Mr Poots also remarked that leading the DUP “would be my greatest honour”.

Congratulating Mr Poots, Tom Buchanan said, “I welcome Eddie as the new leader of the party.

“When a new leader comes into any party, it’s a new era. It will certainly be a new era for our party moving forward… I congratulate him on that and as a member of the Assembly team, I wish him well.”

Mr Buchanan said he has known Mr Poots for a long time and as such, he says the new leader will take the party forward in a positive fashion.

“Behind the scenes he is someone who is very genuine and someone whose heart lies within the party…” Mr Buchanan continued.

“He is someone that I believe has the experience to be a good leader… he has got the potential from past experiences in different ministerial offices that will stand by him to take the DUP forward.

“He is someone who is very down to earth and someone who is very easy to talk to.

“And he’s someone who is not going to stand on the sidelines. He’s someone who will get bogged in when there is work to be done.”