DUP select MLA Jonathan Buckley for the Lagan Valley constituency

The 32-year old is a rising star in the party and has made a name for himself in media appearances on a range of issues, foremost among them the issue of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools.

Mr Buckley is a member of the Orange Order and socially conservative.

He currently represents the Upper Bann constituency at Stormont.

Jonathan Buckley, DUP candidate for Lagan Valley, Emma Little-Pengelly, Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister, and Gavin Robinson, interim DUP leader, at DUP headquarters, East Belfast, this afternoon

Other names in the frame for the role were the deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly and the Education Minister Paul Givan – both of whom represent the constituency at the Assembly.

His selection solves a problem for the DUP by allowing the ministers to remain in post. However, it is also a loss of a talented and popular MLA from Stormont.

His main rivals in the contest will be the Ulster Unionist Party’s deputy leader Robbie Butler and the Alliance MLA Sorcha Eastwood whose campaign began in earnest several weeks ago.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson had a huge personal vote in the constituency, which followed him from the Ulster Unionists to the DUP.

The TUV are expected to announce their candidate in the coming days. Names mentioned include previous Assembly candidate Lorna Smyth and the party’s press officer Samuel Morrison.

Making the DUP announcement in Belfast, interim party leader Gavin Robinson described Mr Buckley as the “next generation advocate” for unionist voters in the area.

He also repeated the call for unionist unity in the election, stating there were several seats that presented opportunities for co-operation with other unionist leaders.

Announcing that Mr Buckley would run, he said: “With recent changes in Lagan Valley boundaries, almost 7,000 who were formerly in his Upper Bann constituency have now moved to Lagan Valley.

“Jonathan has strong links, including through family, to the Lisburn and wider Lagan Valley area.”

Mr Buckley said: “I am running in Lagan Valley because I am putting country first.

“I am running in Lagan Valley to ensure pro-union voters can unite behind a candidate and ensure Lagan Valley has strong representation at Westminster.”

Mr Robinson rejected any suggestion of criticism that his party was running a candidate who does not represent Lagan Valley at Stormont.

He said: “Let me say I am not parachuting anybody in.

“Johnny, along with the 7,000 individuals that he represents in Upper Bann, have been moved outside of their choice through Boundary Commission changes.

“All our constituencies are different and people recognise that.

“So, if Johnny is a blow-in and any candidate in Lagan Valley would like to suggest he is, then they are dismissing the 7,000 that are walking with him.

“They are in Lagan Valley together. He is standing with the people he represents today as their candidate for Westminster in Lagan Valley.”

Mr Robinson said he believed that unionist unity was something which resonated strongly with voters.

However, other unionist parties in the region, the Ulster Unionists and the Traditional Unionist Voice, have said they are not interested in electoral pacts.

Mr Robinson sad: “Whilst I will do what I can to respect and honour the wishes of the people we have the privilege of representing, if other parties can’t see beyond themselves, if other parties can’t bring themselves to set aside person for country, then that is a matter for them.

“But that gives the people a choice and it is a choice I know in previous elections they have made strongly of their own view that if the parties can’t do it then they can, they will plump for those that stand up and speak out for Northern Ireland positively and powerfully.”

The party also announced that Belfast City councillor Tracy Kelly would be the candidate in the Belfast South and Mid Down constituency.

Mr Robinson also confirmed that all of the party’s seven current MPs have been reselected.