The Lagan Valley constituency association of the Ulster Unionist Party decided last night to ask party officers to reverse a ruling preventing the MP for the area, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, from standing in the Assembly elections. At a meeting in Lisburn last night, Mr Donaldson received a standing ovation and it was decided not to go ahead with the selection of candidates until constituency officers asked headquarters to reconsider the decision.
Two other anti-agreement Ulster Unionists were selected to run in the Assembly elections last night.In North Down, Mr Peter Weir was selected along with two pro-agreement candidates, Mr Alan McFarlane and Mr John Gorman, the former chairman of the Northern Ireland Forum. After the meeting Mr Weir, who took a similar position to Mr Donaldson, appealed for party unity.In South Belfast Mr Jim Clarke was selected. He signed a pledge against the Agreement with the Rev Ian Paisley and Mr Bob McCartney during the referendum campaign.Mr Michael McGimpsey and Dr Esmond Birnie, both pro-Agreement, were also selected.In the constituency of dissident MP Mr Willie Thompson, two pro-agreement candidates, Mr Derek Hussey and Mr Alastair Patterson, were selected. The two other candidates for the nominations had also been in favour of the agreement.