DUP leader proud of her four candidates

Mrs Foster, who joined candidates Jonathan Craig, Paul Givan, Brenda Hale and Edwin Poots on a market day walkabout in the city centre, said she was proud of her team in Lisburn and optimistic about the outcome of next week’s election.

However, she said the party was not complacent and encouraged its supporters to get out and vote.

“I am feeling confident,” she said. “We don’t take anything for granted but each of the candidates complement each other and have established themselves very well.

“Every single vote has to be sought for and won.

“We are not complacent in any way and we know that the electorate are kings.

“The candidates use every day to seek out votes and they have been working very hard on the campaign trail.

“If we want to be the largest party I need to get as many of my colleagues elected as I can.”

Mrs Foster said she realised the largest party would be either the DUP or Sinn Fein, with either herself or Martin McGuinness becoming First Minister.

“He has a very different vision for taking Northern Ireland forward,” she added.

“It is important that we have a First Minister that represents the majority, which does not want an Irish Republic.” Mrs Foster said she was pleased with the response the DUP had received in Lisburn and enjoyed meeting local voters during her visits to the city in recent weeks.

“The response has been very good,” she said. “I have felt that the response is as warm as it has always been in Lisburn,”

The DUP leader concluded by encouraging the electorate to vote for her party at next week’s Assembly election on May 5. “We have a job interview every four or five years and it is important that we pass that,” she added.