Sinn Féin's Gildernew to stand for EU election

Elections take place June 6-9.

Sinn Féin's Michelle Gildernew is to stand for election to the European Parliament.

The Sinn Féin politician formally announced this morning she will seek a nomination to contest the Midlands/North West European Parliament constituency in the upcoming European election.

Elections for the European Parliament take place June 6-9.

As a result Ms Gildernew is set to stand down and vacate her position as MP for Fermanagh-South Tyrone.

Cavan-Monaghan TD, Matt Carthy, confirmed the news to the Celt over the weekend.

'Big news this morning as Michelle Gildernew announces that she will be seeking the nomination to be a SF candidate for MNW in June’s EU elections', he posted on social media earlier this morning after the announcement was made.

Ms Gildernew was elected as Sinn Fein MP for Fermanagh-South Tyrone in 2001. She lost her seat to the UUP’s Tom Elliott in 2015, but regained it again in 2017 by defeating Mr Elliott by just 57 votes.