THE Ulster Unionist Party will select its own candidate to stand in Fermanagh-south Tyrone in next year’s general election, The Impartial Reporter can reveal.

It has been widely suggested by some UUP members that Tom Elliott could well be the candidate.

The latest in the battle for a Westminster seat comes after Democratic Unionist Party leader and First Minister Peter Robinson rejected Mike Nesbitt’s proposal for a pact here, saying it would not work.

Last month Mr. Nesbitt, the UUP leader, told The Impartial Reporter of his intention to work with the DUP in an attempt to prevent Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew from winning the election again.

In return for the DUP stepping aside in Fermanagh-south Tyrone and allowing a UUP candidate to fight for the seat, the party would be given a free run in North Belfast. But with the DUP’s refusal to agree, a deal between the two parties was looking unlikely yesterday.

Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott described his party’s proposal as “a reasonable option”.

“We believe this is fair and reasonable and we stand by this position. Unfortunately the DUP have not yet accepted this fair proposal.

“However we hope that they will see the error of their decision not to support this. In the meantime the Ulster Unionist Party are progressing their selection process for a candidate in Fermanagh-south Tyrone,” he said.