She accused Mr Wells of never accepting her leadership of the DUP as a woman, saying she was “still alive in the 1970s”. The former DUP leader said the party that chose a “capable unionist woman” to run in the South Down constituency in May was “too much for Jim to handle.” Read more: Strike dates for Translink bus services across NI Mr Wells, who has represented the DUP in Stormont in South Down since 1998, resigned after backing TUV candidate Harold McKee for the constituency. The former health minister had been disqualified as a DUP candidate in the region. He had previously backed an attempt by the DUP’s Edwin Poots to move from the Lagan Valley to the South Down, but refused to back Diane Forsythe after being chosen by party officials. Mr Putz later switched to South Belfast, replacing Christopher Stalford of the MLA after his sudden death. Ms Foster resigned from the DUP leadership last year following an insurgency and Mr Wells backed Mr Putz to succeed her. In a series of tweets, Mrs Foster criticized Mr Wells and endorsed Ms Forsythe’s candidacy. The former Prime Minister wrote on Twitter: “If Jim Wells’s partner, Edwin Putch, had been selected to run in the South Down, Jim would not have supported TUV’s candidate. “Jim did not succeed and so he threw his toys out of the stroller and left with the boys. “The fact that Diane Forsyth is a capable trade union WOMAN is too much for Jim to handle.” He added: “As he could never accept the fact that I was the leader of a party as a WOMAN and he continued to oppose me. “Jim is still alive in the 1970s – sad, but he is. “South Down voters have a choice – with principled, competent, active representation in Diane Forsythe (something they have not had in years with Jim Wells) or someone backed by a Jim Wells who believed he could enforce the will. to the South Down voters as if the seat were his and not theirs. “I believe in the sense and sensitivity of ordinary voters that individually, everyone has equal power on May 5. Good luck @dianejforsythe and to all those involved in politics not for themselves but for the country. # AE22 #ThisGirlCan.” Earlier, Mr Wells praised TUV South Down candidate McKee as a “politician of conviction, not expediency”. He said: “As I leave the Convention, it is my sincere wish that South Down continues to have a trade union MLA whose policy is based on belief and principles. Read more related articles Read more related articles “Among the candidates, Harold McKee is the outstanding candidate with these credentials.” Mr McKee, who briefly served as a member of the UUP South Down MLA in 2016, resigned from the party last year after saying his Christian beliefs were at odds with those of Doug Beattie. Newry City Councilor Morne and Down criticized Mr Beattie’s stance on abortions, gay marriage and the Stormont vote on gay conversion therapy. He then surrendered to TUV. Mr McKee was pleased to receive Mr Wells’ approval and commended his “loyal service for decades” in the South Down constituency. TUV leader Jim Allister also welcomed Mr Wells’ support, saying he was “putting the party above the party”. Read more: DUP Jim Wells Supports TUV Assembly Election Candidate Read more: Arlene Foster and Naomi Long in a bitter online brawl For the latest political news directly in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter here.
