Sylvia Hermon pulls out of UUP leadership contest

The Ulster Unionist Party’s only remaining MP, Sylvia Hermon, announced that she does not want to succeed David Trimble as party leader.

Sylvia Hermon, the MP for North Down cited family commitments for her decision.

Last weekend she was one of three people –tasked with heading the party until a successor to Mr Trimble was decided by a meeting of the ruling Ulster Unionist Executive next month.