Wells to run for DUP in South Down

Wells to run for DUP in South Down

THE 2015 election campaign got underway in South Down this week with the DUP pulling off the first surprise.

Health Minister and South Down MLA Jim Wells has announced he will be standing in the election, scotching strong rumours that the party would be fielding Kilkeel man, Glynn Hanna, in the May 7 poll.

Mr Wells’ wife, Grace, is seriously ill having suffered two strokes, and given the workload he has in the Assembly it had been thought the veteran politician would not stand. But he has announced he will run in the poll and becomes the third unionist to declare as a candidate — the others are Henry Reilly for UKIP and Harold McKee for the UUP.