UUP announce candidate for Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP race

THE Fermanagh and South Tyrone Ulster Unionist Association last night (Tuesday) chose Councillor Diana Armstrong as their candidate for the forthcoming Westminster Election.

Diana Armstrong is currently a councillor on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council for the Erne North DEA. She was co-opted onto the Council in 2016 following party member Rosemary Barton becoming an MLA. She is the daughter of former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and Minister of Agriculture Harry West.

Councillor Armstrong said, “Fermanagh and South Tyrone Constituency has a history of being a very marginal seat. For many years the people of this area haven’t had any representation at Westminster.

“We have heard a lot about no representation at Stormont in the past two years, however with the exception of a two-year period, Fermanagh and South Tyrone have not had representation at Westminster for over 20 years.

“I ask that you all help to change that. We need strong representation at Westminster – that is where the finance comes from to support departments, the economy, jobs and employees in Northern Ireland.

“Being part of the United Kingdom is positive for the people.”

A spokesperson for the Fermanagh and South Tyrone Unionist Association said, “Diana Armstrong will be an exceptional parliamentary candidate for this constituency and will restore our representation in Parliament.

“Diana’s family has a deep political connection to Unionism, with her late father Harry West, former Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and former Stormont Agricultural Minister serving as Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone in 1974. Her cousin James Cooper LLB served with distinction as chairman of the Ulster Unionist Party under the late David Trimble.”