McClarty not chosen to stand for UUP Assembly elections

The party has chosen former Westminster candidate Lesley Macauley and the Coleraine councillor David Harding to fight the Assembly election next May.

Ironically, the two Davids - McClarty and Harding - sit next to each other in the Chamber as Coleraine councillors and it was David McClarty who helped campaign for Lesley Macauley when she stood for election to Westminster last year.

Mr McClarty, who has been an MLA since 1998, said he was "devastated" by the decision of the East Londonderry election committee.

The UUP said the decision has to be ratified by its Executive Committee.

The East Londonderry election committee is made up of representatives from the local constituency association and the central party election committee.

A spokesperson for the Ulster Unionist Party said: "Firstly, and most importantly, the selection process is not complete.

"Nominations were sent for consideration to the East Londonderry Elections Committee, which includes representatives from the local association and the central Party Election Committee.

"However, before the process can be considered complete, the nominations which were then put forward by that committee must be approved by the Executive Committee."

Ulster Unionist Party East Londonderry Constituency Chairman, Norman Hillis, has responded to speculation surrounding the outcome of the recent selection meeting.

"Despite continued media speculation I must emphasise that the selection process for East Londonderry UUP candidates is not complete.

"On that basis no further comment will be made at this time."

Over the weekend, one newspaper reported that the votes may have been miscalculated and suggested that former Coleraine Mayor Mr McClarty had, in fact, topped the first round of voting.

Indeed, Mr McClarty "tweeted" his own feelings about the subject last Tuesday on Twitter: "Very confused by the result as I was the clear lead in the early stages of the selection and I am the sitting MLA."

And later he "tweeted" the comment: "Not surprised to discover there has been a numerical error in the candidate selection process! Hopefully will be resolved asap."

Another paper reported that members may have assumed that he was a "safe bet" to be voted in and, therefore, transferred their votes to Miss Macauley and Mr Harding.

The Coleraine Times spoke to Mr McClarty's press officer yesterday (Monday) as the MLA was unavailable for interview.

His spokesman said that there was no change in their position and simply repeated that the selection process is not complete.