Naomi Long: No decision yet over general election position

Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long has insisted she has not decided whether she wants to seek her party’s nomination to run as a general election candidate.

Ms Long was pressed on her intentions regarding the East Belfast constituency in the wake of Health Minister Robin Swann announcing that he will step down from the Executive when the election is called to concentrate on his bid to win the South Antrim seat for the Ulster Unionists.

The Alliance Party leader, who is a former MP for East Belfast, insisted Mr Swann’s move did not affect her own considerations.

Ms Long has been heavily tipped as her party’s likely candidate to take on sitting DUP MP Gavin Robinson, who is his party’s interim leader.

Facing reporters at Stormont on Monday, she was asked whether Mr Swann’s announcement on his intention to step down had put pressure on her to do likewise.

“It puts no pressure on me whatsoever because the discussions about who will represent East Belfast are still ongoing,” she said.

“Those are not finalised at this point in time. And I will make my decision, as will the party, when it’s right for us and not in the wake of any decisions made by the Ulster Unionist Party or Robin Swann.”

She added: “I have reached no conclusion as to whether or not I want to run in East Belfast at this point in time, as I said, it’s still under consideration.

“When I reach the point where that is under consideration we will make the required decisions in our own time and based upon our own experience.”

North Antrim MLA Mr Swann returned to the job of Health Minister following the return of powersharing at Stormont.

He previously held the portfolio during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, the UUP announced that Mr Swann would be switching constituencies to run as a candidate in South Antrim in the general election, expected later this year.

Elected representatives are not allowed to hold seats at Stormont and Westminster at the same time.

On Sunday, Mr Swann told the BBC he would be stepping down as Health Minister when the general election campaign begins.

His party colleague Mike Nesbitt is widely expected to succeed him as minister.