General Election: Ulster Unionists to run Ballymena councillor in North Antrim

By David Thompson
Published 31st May 2024, 11:07 BST
Jackson Minford was elected to Mid and East Antrim council in the last local elections, representing the Bannside ward.Jackson Minford was elected to Mid and East Antrim council in the last local elections, representing the Bannside ward.
Jackson Minford was elected to Mid and East Antrim council in the last local elections, representing the Bannside ward.
The Ulster Unionist Party will this afternoon announce Councillor Jackson Minford as the party’s general candidate in North Antrim, replacing Robin Swann.

Mr Minford has run for the Westminster constituency previously, in 2017.

While the UUP will argue they are fighting for every vote in the constituency, Mr Swann running in South Antrim leaves open the prospect of a head to head battle between the DUP’s Ian Paisley and Jim Allister if, as expected, the TUV leader Jim Allister runs in the constituency.

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TUV-Reform UK candidates will be unveiled on Friday afternoon.

Some in the Ulster Unionist Party believe that much of the vote taken previously by Robin Swann may go to the TUV leader rather than Ian Paisley.

Jackson Minford is a former civil servant whose family were involved in the Ulster Unionist Party in the old Stormont.

He has dedicated much of his professional and personal life to road safety. The issue is close to his family’s heart after his daughter Lauren died in a car accident in 2013. She was a teacher at Culcrow Primary School in Agahdowey near Ballymoney.

Lauren is survived by her father Jackson, mum Allison and sister Emma.

Related topics:Robin SwannUnionistsUlsterBallymena

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