McClarty to run for Stormont as an independent

The East Londonderry MLA was de-selected by the UUP Constituency Association in September and resigned from the party at the turn of the year.

He said: "I have been overwhelmed by the messages of support – by phone, Facebook, email, personal and at my constituency office – with people totally puzzled by the de-selection decision and asking me to contest the elections in May.

"It has been suggested that, with my moderate views, I should go Alliance like Harry Hamilton in Upper Bann.

"But Alliance are luke warm on the union and I will be fighting as an Independent Unionist."

Former Westminster candidate Lesley Macauley and Mr McClarty's fellow Coleraine councillor David Harding were given the nod by the East Londonderry selection committee, leaving Mr McClarty "devastated, as my heart and soul was in the UUP and serving East Londonderry on their behalf".

Mr McClarty was elected to Coleraine Borough Council in 1989, served as mayor from 1993 until 1995, and made the assembly in 1998. He has been returned in all subsequent polls and was the only UUP member elected in the constituency in 2007. His running mate Norman Hillis failed to make it.

"I believe that the UUP selection system is all wrong," he said. "The choice of candidates is up to the constituencies.

"The party leadership has little say and that is all wrong.

"I am confident I will be returned in May to keep serving the constituency with which I have had such a terrific rapport for so long."

Mr McClarty follows Harry Hamilton, Paula Bradshaw and Trevor Ringland out of the UUP door, all three having been Westminster candidates last May.