Parties are looking forward to Westminster poll contest

Ulster Unionist branch nominee Harry Hamilton said he was aware of the speculation surrounding a possible deal but nothing official had been said and he had not been asked for his opinion.

He said: "A lot of people are waiting to see what's happening at Stormont."

He went on to point out: "I have been selected by the UUP and that's going to be ratified, it's a formality, I'm under the impression I'm the candidate."

A spokesman for the DUP was equally bullish: "The DUP has selected Mr Simpson as our candidate. we are looking forward to canvassing on his behalf, forward to the count and, while we're not taking the electorate for granted, we look forward seeing him returned in the constituency."

Given the voting patterns in the constituency there seems little likelihood of the parties agreeing a single candidate as it would be regarded as a safe unionist seat - unlike more marginal seats where a split unionist vote would see a nationalist elected.

Upper Bann DUP MLA Stephen Moutray has welcomed the fact the DUP, UUP and Conservative Party have been in discussions over the issue of greater unionist co-operation.

Speaking of the positive benefits of such co-operation Stephen Moutray said: “Divisions in unionism have been and ever present factor for over 100 years – right back to the early part of the 20th century. Yet the fact remains that all unionists share certain core principles and goals.

“For our part here in Upper Bann we in the DUP recognised long ago that there needed to be a re-evaluation of relationships between and among unionists.

"That was why in the 2007 Assembly election we took the unilateral step of urging our supporters to transfer immediately to the UUP in order to save the fourth unionist Assembly seat. It was the right decision and it worked. Instead of three unionists and three nationalist/republican MLAs we were able to retain a four two breakdown.

“According to the government of the Irish Republic the constitutional question is now settled. There is only one way that republicans can re-open that question; that is if they make substantial electoral gains. It is in the wider and long term interests of the unionist family if we can work more closely together to maximise unionist electoral strength and representation.”