TUV have announced that Elizabeth Neely will be the party’s Foyle candidate in the upcoming Assembly election.
Announcing her decision to run for TUV Mrs Neely said:
“I was born in Londonderry in 1967 and after being raised in Donemana Co Tyrone I moved back to the area in 1986. I have lived in Newbuildings just on the outskirts the city for some 35 years.
“I worked in the health service for 14 years and cared for many clients in the city and Waterside area of Londonderry.
“In recent years I have pursued education and studied Law at Magee university in Londonderry where I obtained a LMM.
“I have been blessed with six wonderful children and have three grandchildren.
“Like many in Foyle I was a long standing DUP supporter and trusted them with my vote at every election. However, I feel that they have let me and the loyalist people down. Rather than simply complain about that or accept it I decided to do something about it and joined the one party which I saw taking a stand on the issues which mattered to me in October 2020, TUV.
“I feel the DUP have let unionists down by agreeing to an Irish Sea border and implementing it without complaint for the sake of office.
“I am passionate about the removal of the Sea Border and building our links with the rest of the U.K.
“I am also keen to provide a voice for the Unionist community with is feeling increasingly isolated and ignored in Foyle. We have a great history in Londonderry and I promise to demonstrate that that the No Surrender spirit remains undiminished among the minority community if returned as a representative for Foyle.
“With pan nationalism dominating the city it is important that the one Unionist returned in the city is prepared to fight hard for our community and to provide it with a strong and unapologetic voice. I know that many Unionists in Foyle have seen in Jim Allister someone who speaks up for them. I promise that if given the honour to be returned by the Unionists of Foyle I will be a strong advocate for their interests.
“Having worked for many years in the health care sector I am passionate about tackling the mental health issues which plague Foyle and will be a strong voice not just on the constitutional issues but on suicide prevention and the need for a detox centre in the city.”
Jim Allister added:
“I am delighted to be able to offer the people of Foyle the opportunity to vote for Elizabeth. She brings a wealth of life experience and knows the challenges of ordinary people because she lived them. I have no doubt that she will be a passionate and effective voice for her community and I look forward to seeing her elected to serve Foyle in the next Assembly.”