Danny Kennedy has confirmed he will be the Ulster Unionist Party’s candidate for the upcoming European elections.
Mr Kennedy, who lost his seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly back in 2017, will stand for election to the European Parliament on Thursday, May 23.
Initially, the elections were not planned as the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union was set for March 29.
However, the British government requested a delay and the European Council approved it following a European summit on 11 April.
It comes after Armagh man Jim Nicholson announced his retirement from politics.
Delighted to confirm I will be the Ulster Unionist Party’s candidate in the European election. I look forward to leading a positive campaign #VoteKennedy ????
— Danny Kennedy (@DKennedy_UUP) April 18, 2019
The 74-year-old veteran unionist has been one of Northern Ireland’s three MEPs for the past 30 years.
He was elected in 1989 and has stood successfully at each poll since.
With news that a European election will take place later in May, Mr Nicholson confirmed he was standing aside.
Mr Kennedy, who was the party’s deputy leader between 2005 and 2010, will be hoping to re-ignite his political career with election next month.
