TUV targets Alliance seat in North Antrim election push

TUV party leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister, new party candidate Kirk Wilson, and current North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston

The TUV has unveiled its two-candidate team for next year’s Assembly election in North Antrim, setting out an explicit strategy to win a fourth unionist seat in the constituency by targeting Alliance representation.

Sitting MLA Timothy Gaston will once again stand for the party, joined by first-time Assembly candidate Kirk Wilson from Cloughmills as the TUV attempts to build on recent electoral momentum following Jim Allister’s Westminster victory in North Antrim.

The announcement signals a more aggressive electoral push by the party ahead of the 2027 Stormont contest, with TUV openly framing the election as a battle to reclaim what it describes as an “Alliance seat for unionism”.

The party said it believes unionist voters using disciplined transfers between candidates could help deliver four unionist MLAs in the constituency — a result that would come at the expense of Alliance.

TUV looks to build on recent North Antrim gains

North Antrim has become one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in Northern Ireland politics following a series of strong performances by the TUV in recent elections.

The constituency is already represented at Westminster by Jim Allister, while Timothy Gaston currently serves as the party’s MLA at Stormont.

In announcing the new ticket, the TUV said it sees North Antrim as a key opportunity for further growth within unionism.

Kirk Wilson, who is originally from Cloughmills, was described by the party as part of a younger generation of unionist activists and someone active within the local community.

The strategy being outlined by the party centres heavily on maximising transfers between unionist candidates under the Single Transferable Vote system used in Assembly elections.

The TUV argued that unionist voters transferring across parties could be decisive in securing a fourth unionist seat in North Antrim.

Timothy Gaston says voters can judge him on Stormont record

Speaking after his selection, Timothy Gaston said he intended to contest the election based on his record at Stormont.

“In putting myself before the electorate I do so on the basis of my record in Stormont as your strong voice,” he said.

“When others have ducked the hard issues, I’ve been the dependable voice to stand up and speak out against wokery and the aggressive Sinn Fein agenda.”

Mr Gaston added that he believed he had been “faithful and hardworking throughout the constituency” and said voters should judge him on his record representing North Antrim.

His comments underline the TUV’s intention to continue positioning itself as a more hardline unionist alternative within Northern Ireland politics ahead of the Assembly campaign.

Young candidate aims to attract next generation of voters

New candidate Kirk Wilson said it was “a great honour” to have the opportunity to stand for the party in North Antrim.

“With my family embedded in North Antrim for generations it would be an immense privilege to represent in Stormont my local community, alongside our remarkable sitting MLA, Timothy Gaston,” he said.

Mr Wilson said he wanted to focus particularly on engaging younger voters and argued that younger people within unionism needed stronger political representation.

“As a young person, I am particularly passionate about reaching young voters and giving them the voice they desire and deserve,” he said.

“TUV is the only Unionist party that can safeguard our Union for the next generation.”

The emergence of younger candidates has become an increasingly important issue across Northern Ireland politics as parties attempt to engage younger voters and address declining political participation.

Jim Allister frames election as battle for unionist majority

North Antrim MP Jim Allister described the two candidates as “skilled and impressive” and said the election presented an opportunity for unionism to strengthen its position in the constituency.

He praised Timothy Gaston’s performance at Stormont and said Kirk Wilson possessed “the same capacity and drive”.

“In the upcoming election voters will have the opportunity through the TUV ticket to not just choose strength over weakness, but to lay the basis for winning the fourth seat for unionism,” Mr Allister said.

He also renewed calls for unionist voters to transfer preferences across unionist parties in order to maximise representation.

The Assembly election is expected to become one of the most significant electoral tests yet for the TUV following its recent growth in support across parts of Northern Ireland.

In North Antrim, where unionist politics remains highly competitive, the battle for seats is likely to intensify as parties position themselves ahead of next year’s campaign.