McCusker tops UUP selection poll

Colin McCusker, whose late father was elected as the first MP for Upper Bann when the seat was created in 1983, emerged on top in a meeting to decide on candidates for next year’s assembly election.

However, the selection meeting looks like it could spell the beginning of the end for veteran UUP man George Savage’s assembly career, as he only mustered enough internal votes to come fifth out of seven candidates.

The 68-year-old’s MLA colleague Sam Gardiner, 70, only came third as both men were usurped by younger opposition. Both will however go through to the next stage of the selection process.

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UUP councillor Jo-Anne Dobson came second while Westminster candidate Harry Hamilton came fourth in the vote on Wednesday night.

The next stage of the process will see the five whittled down to either two or three by a panel made up of four constituency association representatives and three figures from the UUP centrally.

That meeting is not expected to be convened until next month, after the new leader is decided.

Mr McCusker said that he was “very pleased” with the outcome of Wednesday night’s selection meeting but did not want to comment further as the selection process was not yet complete.

Mrs Dobson said she was “absolutely elated” that she had been voted into second place.