Six candidates will battle it out in Fermanagh & South Tyrone in the upcoming UK General Election, a constituency where it's usually a case of every vote really does count.

Regarded as one of the closest electoral races in the UK, Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew narrowly defeated then agreed candidate, the former UUP leader, Tom Elliott by just 57 votes in 2019. In the 2015 poll, Mr Elliott became the first unionist to hold the constituency since 2001, before Ms Gildernew won it back for Sinn Fein two years later.

Ms Gildernew ruled herself out of defending the seat because she stood in the European elections for the Irish Midlands-North West constituency instead. In a surprise move, Sinn Fein announced outgoing Royal College of Nursing (RCN) chief Pat Cullen as its candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Ms Cullen led nurses across the UK into unprecedented strike action last year.

READ MORE: Full list of candidates running in the General Election in Northern Ireland

READ MORE: Royal College of Nursing chief announces Sinn Féin selection bid

DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said his party is endorsing the UUP’s candidate Diana Armstrong in the constituency in an effort to consolidate the unionist vote. The party has not fielded a candidate in Fermanagh/South Tyrone at a general election since 2005.

The DUP had previously suggested fielding a pro-union unity candidate in the constituency, which UUP leader Doug Beattie dismissed saying they would not have a unified message. He cited the return of Stormont and the deal the DUP struck with the UK Government on post-Brexit trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK as one such challenge.

Ahead of the 2005 general election, there was speculation that a single unionist candidate could retake the seat. The UUP and DUP, however, ran opposing candidates and in the event Michelle Gildernew held her seat. She kept the seat at the 2010 general election by four votes over the Unionist candidate, Rodney Connor.

Also in the running this time around are the SDLP's Paul Blake, Eddie Roofe of the Alliance Party, Gerry Cullen (Cross-Community Labour Alternative and Aontú's Carl Duffy.

The full list of candidates running in Fermanagh and South Tyrone:

Diana Armstrong (UUP)

Paul Blake (SDLP)

Gerry Cullen (Cross-Community Labour Alternative)

Pat Cullen (Sinn Féin)

Carl Duffy (Aontú)

Eddie Roofe (Alliance)

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