Alliance confident that ‘progressive’ Stephen Farry will be re-elected as MP in North Down

The party was responding to independent MLA Alex Easton’s announcement that he will run in the Westminster election and is the only unionist who can unseat the incumbent.

“In Stephen Farry, I see an MP totally out of touch with his constituents. He seems besotted with a border poll and meetings on a future united Ireland,” Mr Easton said.

“Since his election, he’s been largely invisible on the ground in this constituency. People rarely see him out and about, and they notice it. Politically, he’s missing in action in North Down, and we deserve better.”

Mr Easton also branded Ulster Unionist candidate Colonel Tim Collins an irrelevance.

An Alliance spokesman responded: “Stephen Farry is the single progressive candidate in this contest, who is highly respected across the constituency by people, businesses and organisations of all backgrounds, while advocating daily in Westminster for local people and their issues.

“We are confident the people of North Down will see only he ticks all the boxes regarding skills, experience, local knowledge and delivery, and once again choose him as their MP.

“His experience of decades of work for the people of North Down and being the most qualified candidate to continue being in the role of MP is a fact even recognised by opposition party leaders.”

In an interview with BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback last week, UUP leader Doug Beattie conceded that Mr Farry was a “better qualified candidate” than Colonel Collins, but questioned if that was what the electorate of North Down wanted.

“Maybe they want a change and we are offering them a change and that is Tim Collins,” he said.

Mr Farry was the unexpected winner in the 2019 Westminster election when he beat Mr Easton – then a DUP MLA – by 3,000 votes.