Unionist Hermon Rejects Tory Ticket

Lady Hermon will not stand as the joint Unionist and Tory candidate for North Down at the next General Election.

The announcement came amid reports two UUP members have already positioned themselves for nomination in the constituency.

Speculation is mounting that incumbent MP, Lady Hermon, (pictured) will now contest the seat as an Independent Unionist as the popular parliamentarian has been a vocal opponent of the Ulster Unionists' electoral link-up with the Conservative Party.

A pact made in 2008 will see the parties select joint candidates to run in every Westminster constituency in Northern Ireland.

Tories have already put forward Alliance Party defector Ian Parsley as their preferred candidate for North Down.

He and the UUP's eventual contender will face a joint UUP/Conservative committee which will decide who stands under the Ulster Conservative and Unionists - New Force banner.

The successful candidate - if elected - will take the Tory whip in the Commons, and could face the prospect of a Cabinet or ministerial position under David Cameron's potential premiership.

Two men, from outside the Bangor constituency, have applied for the UUP ticket, according to the BBC.

They have been named as Johnny Andrews and Bill McKendry.

Mr Andrews from Comber, Co Down, is a grandson of former Northern Ireland Prime Minister JM Andrews.

Mr McKendry had made a bid for the party's candidacy in Strangford, losing out to former UTV presenter and victims' commissioner Mike Nesbitt.

Lady Hermon informed party colleagues this week that she would not seek the nomination as a Conservative and Unionist candidate.

UUP leader Sir Reg Empey and party chairman David Campbell last night said they wished to record their regret at her decision.

(PR/GK)