PUP to run 11 election candidates

The Progressive Unionist Party has announced plans to run 11 candidates in the upcoming elections to the Northern Assembly.

Party leader David Ervine and MLA Billy Hutchinson will defend their seats in east and north Belfast, while former leader Hugh Smyth will make a second bid for a seat in west Belfast.

Deputy leader David Rose is also due to contest the north Down constituency, while Tom Morrow will stand in south Belfast, Billy McCaughey in north Antrim, Ken Wilkinson in south Antrim, Caroline Howarth in east Antrim, Colin Neill in Strangford, Andrew Park in Lagan Valley and Roy Reid in west Tyrone.

Andrew Park, the PUP's director of elections, said: "We believe it is important that the progressive message gets out to the people of Northern Ireland and that they are given a lot of options."