Sammy Wilson and Ian Paisley, two candidates from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), have gained the endorsement of Nigel Farage despite his Reform UK party’s alliance with rival party Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV). Wilson is running in East Antrim against TUV candidate Matthew Warwick, whereas Paisley is running in North Antrim against TUV leader Jim Allister. The TUV is running without its joint banner of “TUV/Reform UK” after the Electoral Office rejected the name.
New leadership brings change, according to Farage, who replaced former leader Richard Tice last week. Despite Reform UK’s alignment with the TUV, Farage stated that he will throw his support behind Wilson and Paisley, both of whom he fought with during the Brexit campaign. The two DUP candidates have urged the TUV to abandon its Reform UK branding. A photo of Farage and Paisley appears on the DUP candidate’s election leaflet.
The endorsement has been highly welcomed by the DUP. They said that Farage is a well-known figure and recognised their record of delivering results for the public. The leadership of the Reform UK party believed that Wilson and Paisley are the best pro-union candidates in their constituencies. It is notable that Allister, the TUV leader, did not secure Farage’s support. So far, the TUV has not responded to the endorsement by Farage.
Gareth Gordon, a political correspondent for BBC News NI, has reported that Wilson is running in East Antrim, while Paisley is running in North Antrim. Buckinghamshire-based upstart Reform UK announced an electoral alliance with the TUV in March, when Richard Tice was leading the party
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