Michelle Gildernew to pursue European bid in Midlands-North West

Michelle Gildernew has confirmed that she will not be seeking re-election as an MP.

Instead, she will concentrate on her bid to win a seat at the European Parliament in the Midlands-North West constituency.

The Dungannon woman, a Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh-South Tyrone, is campaigning to be elected as an MEP on June 7.

Ms Gildernew said this is now her 'sole focus' and she will not seek to retain her seat in the House of Commons after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a snap election for July 4.

She said: “I want to represent the people of Midlands-North-West in the European Parliament; and hope that the voters will put their faith in me when they go to the ballot box on 7th June.

“That is my sole focus. I will not be running in the forthcoming Westminster election.”

In 1998, Ms Gildernew was elected as an MLA and in 2001 she became the first woman from Sinn Féin to be elected to the Commons since Constance Markievicz in 1918.

Ms Gildernew lost her seat in 2014 only to win it back in 2017.

She said: “In 2001 when I was first elected by a margin of 53 votes to the seat held by Bobby Sands in 1981 I was humbled.

“It has been both a privilege and an honour to represent the people of Fermanagh South Tyrone since; and I will be forever grateful for the trust they have placed in me.”