DUP will pick Wells to fight election

DUP will pick Wells to fight election

2 March 2016

THE DUP will confirm within days that Jim Wells will be its South Down candidate at the forthcoming Assembly election.

After weeks of speculation, it’s understood the party leadership is planning to announce it will finally endorse the former health minister’s nomination ahead of the DUP’s annual spring conference this weekend.

The announcement will bring to an end a stand off between the party hierarchy and the South Down Constituency Association which has lasted several weeks and was in danger of causing a major rift.

Mr Wells was selected by the party’s South Down Constituency Association a number of weeks ago but the decision was not ratified by the party leadership.

The delay was blamed on a major fall out in the wake of the South Down ML’s highly publicised, but misinterpreted remarks on same sex marriage at a Westminster hustings event in Downpatrick last April which subsequently resulted in him resigning as health minister.

It is known that a number of senior party officials did not want Mr Wells to stand in South Down but the Constituency Association has stood firm and refused to nominate an alternative. The Recorder understands that senior Association figures have been touch with party leader, Arlene Foster, in a bid to have Mr Wells’ nomination formally recognised by the DUP

With the DUP’s spring conference taking place this Saturday, the party has accepted it must resolve the issue before a photo call which has been arranged during the conference featuring all the Assembly election candidates.

The bottom line for senior DUP officials has been the possibility that failing to back Wells could have resulted in him running as an independent which would have almost certainly led to the loss of what was a safe seat. The party is very aware the TUV has targeted South Down and is putting considerable resources into the campaign being run by candidate, Henry Reilly.

Sources close to the DUP’s South Down Constituency Association have confirmed that contact was made with party leader Arlene Foster making it clear that Mr Wells was the only candidate for the South Down seat.

“Jim Wells is the only candidate as far as we are concerned,” said a source within the Constituency Association.”He has the full support of the Association and is the man for us. This issue has been allowed to drag on for too long and the speculation surrounding this issue has not been at all helpful for the party.

“The fact Jim’s nomination has not yet been confirmed has encouraged speculation in the media. All the party’s Assembly’s candidates will be at this weekend’s spring conference and we in South Down fully expect Jim Wells to be among them.”

The party source said the South Down Association is “100 per cent behind Mr Wells”  and that his nomination for the Assembly seat must be immediately endorsed by the party leadership.

The source continued: “We need the leadership to confirm Jim’s nomination to bring an end to endless speculation and press reports, some of which have been inaccurate. Speculation is damaging the party and it must stop.

“It was reported recently that a meeting between Jim and senior party officials to discuss his nomination resulted in ‘fiery exchanges.’ As far as we are aware, the meeting was in fact cordial. The continuing speculation is unhelpful to Jim, the party and indeed the South Down Association.”

The party source added: “It is vitally important the party retains the South Down seat. No one has else has put their name forward and Jim has our unanimous backing. He is the best man for the job. Stormont is dissolved at the end of the month when the election campaign begins in earnest with the South Down Association determined to do all it can to ensure Mr Wells retains his seat.”