UUP withdraws from three constituencies
The Ulster Unionist Party has confirmed they will not be fielding candidates in North and West Belfast and Foyle, in the upcoming general election.
Last updated 22nd Apr 2017
Party leader Robin Swann also ratified Tom Elliott and Danny Kinahan as candidates in Fermanagh and South Tyrone and South Antrim, at a party executive meeting on Saturday.
The news comes after speculation that unionist parties would enter into an election pact.
Mr Swann is now due to meet with DUP leader Arlene Foster on Monday.
Voters will go to the polls on 8 June, after Theresa May announced the snap elections on Tuesday.
Party leader Robin Swann said the decision not to run in the three constituencies was designed to increase the chances of returning candidates who take their seats in Westminster, unlike abstentionist Sinn Fein MPs.
West Belfast has long been held by Sinn Fein, with the DUP and SDLP holding north Belfast and Foyle respectively.
The newly appointed UUP leader said it was a tactical decision.
"We want to see 18 Northern Ireland voices in Westminster,'' said Mr Swann.
He added: "Going forward going into the negotiations around Brexit and what's going to happen around the future of Northern Ireland and our executive, it is important that there are 18 MPs taking their seats and we need those voices to be heard.''
There is expectation that, like 2015, the UUP will again enter a pact with the DUP in a number of constituencies.
After the UUP executive meeting in east Belfast on Saturday morning, Mr Swann was also pressed on media speculation that former UUP leader Mike Nesbitt would run in south Belfast and party veteran Danny Kennedy would stand in Upper Bann.
Mr Swann said Mr Elliott and Mr Kinahan were the only candidates selected to date and no other decisions had been made.