The DUP’s Jim Wells has ruled out running as an independent candidate May’s Stormont Assembly election.
The outgoing South Down MLA confirmed his plans ahead of the deadline for nominations on Friday.
Mr Wells had previously said he was keeping his options open after being deselected as the DUP candidate for his constituency.
Read more:Edwin Poots fails in to bid to become DUP Assembly candidate for South Down in latest blow
He had endorsed an attempt by Edwin Poots to contest South Down for the DUP but has yet to back Diane Forsythe after she was chosen instead by party officers.
Mr Poots later switched from Lagan Valley to South Belfast to run as a DUP candidate after replacing party MLA Christopher Stalford following his sudden death.
Mr Wells told Belfast Live: “I’m not taking part in the election in any way, and I’m not standing as a candidate, so I have a completely blank diary.
“I’m not standing in any capacity. At the weekend I had a retirement do with my family and pictures of that appeared all over the internet.”
Mr Wells, a former Health Minister who has represented South Down in the Assembly since 1998, said he was bowing out “against my own will”.
But he added: “To be honest I’m not missing the doors and the insults and the posters being ripped down.”
Mr Wells said he would be voting in Upper Bann as he lives just within the boundary of the constituency.
He expressed his support for DUP incumbent Jonathan Buckley.
“Jonathan and I have been quite friendly. Jonathan I think has really shone as an MLA for Upper Bann,” he said.
Asked about Mr Buckley’s running mate, former Economy Minister Diane Dodds, Mr Wells at first responded: “Jonathan Buckley is an excellent candidate.”
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Pressed further on his thoughts on Mrs Dodds, he added: “Diane Dodds is also a candidate for the DUP in Upper Bann and I think is worthy of a preference.”
Mr Wells added: “I will not be voting for (Ulster Unionist leader) Doug Beattie or the Alliance candidate.”
The former MLA remained tight-lipped on who he is backing in the South Down contest, saying he plans to reveal his intentions next week.
Read more:Edwin Poots fails in to bid to become DUP Assembly candidate for South Down in latest blow
Read more:DUP MLA Jim Wells says he has ‘nothing to apologise for’ over past LGBT comments
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Articles may come from parliamentary reports, various public news feeds and Google News Search. Content is republished here for context. Copyright is respected and remains with the original author at all times. Original Article:https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/dups-jim-wells-says-whether-23624520
