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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Foster 'would step aside in poll' | Foster 'would step aside in poll' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Arlene Foster has said she is willing to step aside in Fermanagh/South Tyrone at the general election if an agreed unionist candidate can be found. | Arlene Foster has said she is willing to step aside in Fermanagh/South Tyrone at the general election if an agreed unionist candidate can be found. |
| The DUP candidate made her comments as speculation continues over a possible electoral pact between her party and the Ulster Unionists. | The DUP candidate made her comments as speculation continues over a possible electoral pact between her party and the Ulster Unionists. |
| The seat is held by Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew. | |
| Ms Foster said she would like to see it back in the hands of unionists. | Ms Foster said she would like to see it back in the hands of unionists. |
| "Well I'm not happy to give my Westminster ambitions up because obviously I believe as a unionist that the mother of parliaments is the ultimate if you like," she said. | "Well I'm not happy to give my Westminster ambitions up because obviously I believe as a unionist that the mother of parliaments is the ultimate if you like," she said. |
| "And so if I do step aside or need to step aside for a unionist unity candidate it's something that I will do because it's in the better interests of unionism. | "And so if I do step aside or need to step aside for a unionist unity candidate it's something that I will do because it's in the better interests of unionism. |
| "It doesn't mean necessarily that I wouldn't want to be there on occasions, but if it has to be done it has to be done and I will do it." | "It doesn't mean necessarily that I wouldn't want to be there on occasions, but if it has to be done it has to be done and I will do it." |
| Ms Gildernew has been Sinn Fein MP for Fermanagh/South Tyrone since 2001, winning by just 53 votes to take the seat previously held for 18 years by Ulster Unionist Ken Maginnis. | Ms Gildernew has been Sinn Fein MP for Fermanagh/South Tyrone since 2001, winning by just 53 votes to take the seat previously held for 18 years by Ulster Unionist Ken Maginnis. |