Candidates set for Assembly election show-down

Almost 250 candidates will contest the Northern Ireland Assembly election, to be held on March 7.

The expectation is that the elections will result in selection of 108 assembly members who will form a power-sharing executive to sit on March 26.

With the list of candidates drawn up, the parties will be moving onto a campaign footing. The DUP are fielding the largest number of candidates with 46, followed by the Ulster Unionists with 38. Sinn Fein will have 37 candidates standing and the SDLP 35. Alliance will field 18 candidates.

The UKUP will have 13 candidates, although the party leader will stand in six different constituencies. The Green Party will also have 13 candidates. Conservatives will have nine, the Workers party six, the PUP will have three, and the Socialist Party two.

There will also be 32 candidates for other parties fielding one candidate; this figure includes 26 independents.

(SP)