Mr. Dixon formally announced on Monday night that he will also be a candidate, becoming the third to declare on the Unionist side. He has since revealed that he will be contacting the other two candidates, Mr. James Cooper and Mr. Maurice Morrow, to ask for meetings.

    But, Mr. Dixon says, whatever happens he will definitely be a candidate. Revealing that he had resigned from the UKUP some months ago, Mr. Dixon said he felt a moral obligation to fight the election because he had been approached by so many people.

    Vehemently opposed to the Belfast Agreement, Mr. Dixon said a number of grassroots DUP supporters were among those who approached him.

    “I want to give a voice to the ordinary people of this country who have suffered so much, yet been treated so badly. This country has created victims instead of healing wounds”, said Mr. Dixon.

    “I’m not a political animal. But people are coming to me and I want to give them an option. I feel I can represent the Unionist people”, he added.

    Mr. Dixon said he would contact the other two candidates in a bid “to find common ground”. But he was particularly scathing about Ulster Unionist James Cooper.

    “The Trimbleites are the so-called Unionists who are splitting the Unionists. They are experts at splitting the votes and there is a litany of people who have been forced out of the party. Why is everyone out of step except Mr. Cooper?” asked Mr. Dixon.

    “Nobody has split the party more than him”, Mr. Dixon continued. “The Trimbleites have all the cards to sell this country”.

    The Independent Unionist said that he would also contact the DUP candidate, Mr. Maurice Morrow. “If he was prepared to stand aside for Arlene Foster, then I don’t see why he won’t stand aside for me”, he said.

    Mr. Dixon insisted he had not wanted to stand, prevailing that efforts had been made to find an agreed Unionist. Mr. Peter Weir had been written to, but he declined to stand.

    “Now that I have made my decision, I feel happier”, said Mr. Dixon. “In the event of my offer of meetings being refused, I will submit myself to the electorate on a Unionist unity platform, calling on all those who value the Union and the benefits that flow from it to unite behind me.

    “There is no going back. There is no doubt I will be a candidate”, said Mr. Dixon.

    The other two Unionist candidates say they will not rule out talking to Mr. Dixon. But the more likely scenario is that the DUP would be the ones to give way.

    Mr. Morrow says that it “does not necessarily follow suit” that he will pull out of the race.

    “At this moment, I’m still in the fight”, he said. “But I’m not going to reject the offer of a meeting. Our position has always been that if the Ulster Unionists had selected an anti-Agreement candidate, we would have given that due consideration.

    “So I would give others due consideration”, added the DUP Minister.

    Last week, the Impartial Reporter revealed that a number of sources were suggesting that the DUP was reconsidering his position. This week Mr. Morrow would only say: “I refer to a comment some years ago by Enoch Powell. I never speculate on speculation, and at the moment there is only speculation to speculate on”.

    Mr. Cooper says he will consult with his constituency officers over Mr. Dixon’s offer of a meeting.

    “But if we are disposed to have a meeting, I have to say that it would not be with a view to discussing my withdrawal”, said Mr. Cooper.

    He also said he was “saddened that Jim Dixon has decided to let the DUP off the hook.

    “The simple fact is that the DUP have known all along that the only outcome of their intervention would have been to risk the seat being lost to Sinn Fein. They will now be delighted that another candidate is providing them with an escape route”, said the Ulster Unionist officer.

    He went on: “Every sensible Unionist will know that an independent has no more chance of winning the Fermanagh-south Tyrone seat than the DUP, especially when he is basing his campaign on a protest vote and will not be able to vigorously represent the constituency at Westminster”.

    Insisting that the broad Unionist electorate would support him rather than those so-called Unionists who have lost sight of the battle to beat Sinn Fein”, Mr. Cooper said. “I hope that a clear understanding of what is best for Unionists will cause Jim Dixon to reconsider his position. The physical and mental demands of contesting this seat will be immensely challenging even for a younger candidate”.

    Even at this early stage, it seems highly unlikely that all three Unionists will remain in the race for the June 7 poll. But it also seems increasingly probable that the Unionist vote will be split, with the odds firmly on only one of the anti-Agreement candidates opposing Mr. Cooper.

    This will give fresh impetus to the Sinn Fein campaign which was officially launched in Enniskillen last week. Their candidate, Michelle Gildernew, was backed by party president, Gerry Adams, with both emphasising their belief that the party can win the seat held 20 years ago by hunger striker Bobby Sands.

    The one fly in the ointment is continuing speculation that Republican Sinn Fein will join the contest. The party is already backing a continuity IRA prisoner’s campaign in Belfast and their anti-peace process stance may be tested in Fermanagh-south Tyrone.

    It will be at least the end of the month before they decide. But Sinn Fein’s major challenge will come from Tommy Gallagher of the SDLP, whose campaign is due to be launched soon.