I am extremely pleased that the DUP have selected Arlene Foster as their candidate in the Fermanagh council by-election. My reasons for being so pleased is not that I have any confidence in Mrs Foster, nor do I have any desire for the DUP to win; I am pleased that she is standing as it shows exactly how desperate the DUP are at this time.

Anyone who has been watching the events from the sidelines will see how laughable the entire DUP bid is. They call for unionist unity, when it was them who split the vote. They try and 'DUPe' the electorate, again, with petty scare tactics and spin. They are putting forward a "unionists" candidate who, on previous occasion, insulted the unionist electorate through deception, ignorance and opportunism for personal gain, if we consider a jump to the DUP as gaining anything.

If that wasn't enough to be embarrassed about, in the extremely unlikely event that Mrs Foster is elected, she will most likely have to resign her seat due to her ministerial responsibility, and the question will remain – who will the co-option be? Perhaps they will try to use the candidate they tried to slip in through the backdoor the first time, the one who is not even mentioned in the proper election. Surely if he was good enough for a co-option, why is he not considered good enough for the real thing? Perhaps this is another case of an internal spilt in the DUP where there is not sufficient support or confidence in there candidate, leaving the case where a nut has to be cracked with a sledge-hammer.

I would have thought that from a party which boasts itself to be the "largest unionist party," they would have been able to select a candidate with more tact, professionalism and personality, if it is possible to get a DUP party member with tact, professionalism and personality, that is.

I have full confidence in the Ulster Unionists and believe that they are fully capable of taking the seat in Enniskillen.

Ryan Moses

Castlederg