Crawford to be UUP assemblyman

IT is understood that the UUP has selected Ballymena man Colin Crawford for co-option as the replacement for Robin Swann as North Antrim assemblyman.

Mr Swann was elected to Parliament in the general election.

Mr Crawford, well known in Loyal Order circles, is currently a councillor for Mid and East Antrim.

The co-option must be officially declared to the chief electoral officer before an MLA can be sworn in to the assembly.

The TUV have yet to announce their replacement for Jim Allister at the assembly, but there is a deadline for this to happen within seven days.