FORMER Ulster Unionist MP Tom Elliott now works for his Stormont successor Rosemary Barton, The Impartial Reporter can reveal. 
Mr. Elliott, who lost his Westminster seat to Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew following the snap election in June, is part of the UUP MLA’s constituency support team. 
Mrs. Barton, who once taught Mr. Elliott when she worked as a school teacher, replaced her former pupil at Stormont when he was elected to Westminster in 2015.
“The position was publicly advertised and after due process Mr. Tom Elliott was successfully appointed,” said Mrs. Barton, when asked about the role this week by The Impartial Reporter.
“He has both a wide and varied experience in the world of politics and will be a great asset to not only myself but the constituents of Fermanagh and South Tyrone,” she said. 
Meanwhile, a libel claim brought by Attorney General John Larkin against Mr. Elliott has been settled in the High Court.
The case concerned Mr. Elliott’s contribution to the BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show last year on the subject of the re-opening of investigations and inquests into Troubles related killings.
A statement read in open court on behalf of Mr. Elliott, the defendant, said: “On April 20, 2016, during the course of a live debate on the Stephen Nolan BBC Radio Ulster show, Mr. Elliott made a number of statements which may have been taken to imply that the Attorney General, John Larkin, had failed to discharge his professional duties impartially and with fairness.
“Mr. Elliott wishes to confirm that he did not intend to impugn the integrity of Mr. Larkin or for any such inferences to be taken from his statements.
“Mr. Elliott regrets any embarrassment which this may have caused Mr. Larkin.”